Circuit boards are the foundation of modern electronic hardware, connecting processors, sensors, power systems and other components within products ranging from industrial equipment and robotics to connected devices and specialized machinery. Yet moving from a completed circuit board design to tested production units can involve sourcing, fabrication, assembly and inspection across multiple suppliers, adding time and coordination to the manufacturing process.

Production schedules can become difficult to manage when components are sourced separately from board fabrication and assembly. Delays at one stage can hold up the next, while international sourcing can add logistics and lead-time considerations. For hardware companies working toward product launches, engineering milestones, or larger production runs, the time between approving a build and receiving tested boards can therefore become an important part of the manufacturing schedule.

Modern PCB manufacturing also requires specialized capabilities. High-layer-count HDI boards, RF and microwave circuits, rigid-flex designs, and miniature components require specialized fabrication and assembly processes. Inspection methods such as automated optical inspection and X-ray help identify production issues, while functional testing, firmware loading, and bring-up may be required before boards are ready for integration into finished products.

A coordinated manufacturing process can reduce the number of handoffs between design files and finished hardware. When sourcing, fabrication, assembly, and testing are managed through one production process, hardware companies can have greater control over production schedules, particularly when specialized boards must be produced, tested, and shipped within a defined timeframe.

ProvenMetal is a San Francisco-based electronics manufacturer that manages PCB sourcing, fabrication, assembly, inspection, testing, and delivery through a single production process. The company sources every part against the customer’s bill of materials (BOM), manages fabrication through qualified domestic or overseas partners, and completes assembly and testing in the U.S. Fully domestic builds are available when required.

The standard turnaround runs seven days from quote approval to shipment. Sourcing, fabrication, assembly and testing are organized across that seven-day schedule, replacing the multi-week waits that can delay hardware programs. ProvenMetal manages the production facilities involved from the initial sourcing decision through final testing and delivery.

Sourcing, Fabrication and Testing

The first phase, Source & Verify, runs from day zero through day two. Every component is purchased against the BOM and verified before production begins. Sourced or customer-consigned parts are received against the BOM, kept lot-traceable, and handled under moisture sensitivity level (MSL) and electrostatic discharge (ESD) controls.

The second phase, Fabricate & Assemble, runs from day two through day five, followed by Test & Ship from day five through day seven. Fabrication and assembly are managed through vetted partners, with fully domestic production available when required. Acceptance criteria and test fixtures are agreed upon before production and made available at the test site, allowing failures to be reworked before shipment. Every board receives automated optical inspection (AOI) and X-ray inspection, with functional testing, bring-up and firmware loading available when required. A full quality record ships with the order.

Built for Demanding Hardware

ProvenMetal handles high-layer-count HDI, RF and rigid-flex circuit boards across a range of board materials and package types. It produces circuit boards with stackups of up to 32 layers, including blind, buried and stacked vias. The company assembles SMT components as small as 01005, along with BGA, µBGA and flip-chip packages down to 0.3 mm pitch. ProvenMetal also produces rigid, flex and rigid-flex circuit boards.

RF and microwave production reaches frequencies of up to 30 GHz, with Rogers, Megtron 6 and polyimide laminates available for applicable designs. Inspection and testing cover AOI, X-ray, and functional testing before shipment. ITAR requirements can be handled through certified partners, while qualified U.S. partners offer ISO 9001 and AS9100 capabilities.

ABOUT | JOHNNY DOYLE

Johnny Doyle, co-founder, is the CEO of ProvenMetal, a San Francisco-based electronics manufacturing company focused on fast-turn circuit board production. He is a mechanical and manufacturing engineer with previous experience in IoT building management systems, enterprise hardware, and software.

Doyle studied Engineering with Management at Trinity College Dublin and co-founded ProvenMetal with electrical engineer Will Carkner. Before ProvenMetal, Doyle and Carkner worked on Syncra Technologies, an IoT-focused venture. In 2026, Doyle and Carkner moved to San Francisco and joined Y Combinator’s Summer 2026 batch with ProvenMetal.