Short answer: for a simple board with consigned components (you supply the parts), expect 10–14 working days door-to-door — 5–7 days of factory production, ~2 days customs, and 3–5 working days international shipping. Complex prototypes with BGA or FPC flex boards take 12–16 working days (7–9 days production).
The part most buyers miss: production is only about half the clock. Most schedule overruns happen before the board reaches the line — slow quotes, part shortages, and DFM approvals that sit in someone's inbox. A DFM-checked quote in 24 working hours is the first thing to secure.
Real prototype lead times from our Shenzhen line
These are the working-day figures we commit to for prototype runs when components are consigned, excluding DFM/review time. Volume orders are quoted by quantity, with express runs available on request.
| Board type | Factory production | Customs | International shipping | Total (door-to-door) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple boards (standard SMT, consigned parts) | 5–7 working days | ~2 days | 3–5 working days | 10–14 working days |
| BGA / FPC complex prototypes (consigned parts) | 7–9 working days | ~2 days | 3–5 working days | 12–16 working days |
Why the split? BGA assembly adds X-RAY verification and rework-process checks. FPC flex assembly needs stiffener handling and a feasibility review of board thickness before the line can be scheduled — send thickness and stiffener requirements with your RFQ to avoid a round-trip.
Where the days actually go
A prototype's calendar is three stages, and only one of them is manufacturing:
- Pre-production (the silent killer). Quote turnaround, DFM questions, stencil cutting, component program loading, first-article inspection (FAI). None of this shows up on a "production lead time" sticker, but a slow quote or an unanswered DFM query can quietly add a week.
- Factory production. Solder-paste printing (SPI-checked), pick-and-place on YAMAHA lines, reflow, AOI optical inspection, X-RAY for BGA, DIP and hand soldering where needed. On a healthy schedule this is 5–7 days for simple boards.
- Logistics. Export handling and customs from Shenzhen (~2 days), then air express to your door (3–5 working days for most destinations). Sea freight saves money but adds weeks — wrong tool for a prototype.
How to compress each stage
| Stage | What slows it down | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Quoting | Incomplete files; back-and-forth about the BOM | Send Gerbers + BOM (with qty per part) + position map + coordinate file in the first email. Expect a DFM-checked quote within 24 working hours. |
| DFM / approvals | Questions sitting unanswered for days | Agree a response SLA with your team. DFM issues found before production cost hours; found after, they cost days. |
| Components | Out-of-stock parts discovered mid-run | Pre-approve drop-in substitutions. In turnkey mode a good assembler reviews the BOM up front and notifies you immediately when a part is short — production starts only after your confirmation. |
| Production | Process surprises (BGA, FPC) discovered late | Flag BGA/FPC/thickness requirements in the RFQ so the line plan is right the first time. |
| Shipping | Defaulting to economy freight | Use air express for prototypes; reserve sea freight for volume. Confirm your importer-of-record details early. |
Consigned vs turnkey: which is faster?
Consigned can be faster if you already have every part on the shelf — the factory starts when your box arrives. But if one reel is missing or arrives wrong, your schedule becomes your problem. Turnkey shifts sourcing to the assembler, who buys from vetted distributors daily and flags shortages during the quote instead of after. For most overseas teams, turnkey's total timeline is more predictable even when the quoted production time is identical.
What "working days" means — and common traps
- Working days exclude weekends and Chinese public holidays. Golden Week (early October) and Chinese New Year (late January/February) pause factories nationwide. Plan around them; ask your assembler for the holiday calendar.
- Clock starts on file completeness. A quote can't be DFM-checked from a screenshot of a Gerber. Complete files on day one, or day one never happened.
- Customs in your country is on you. The 3–5 day shipping figure is door-to-door express; duties and import paperwork for commercial quantities can add time if you're a first-time importer.
Key takeaways
- Simple consigned prototypes: 10–14 working days door-to-door; BGA/FPC: 12–16.
- Production is only ~half the clock — quoting, DFM and part availability cause most overruns.
- Complete files on day one + pre-approved substitutions are the two biggest speed levers.
- Air express is the right default for prototypes; plan around Chinese public holidays.