From your drawing to finished harness, 12 steps stand in between. Knowing them tells you where cost and lead time live — and how to judge a supplier.
Steps 1-3: IQC, cutting, stripping
IQC verifies UL markings and lots. Auto cutters cut to length (1010mm cut for 1000±30mm finished), strippers strip without nicking strands.
Steps 4-6: crimping, insertion, soldering
Crimping with first-article cross-sections, terminal insertion into housings, and soldering where required. This is the quality core zone.
Steps 7-9: twisting/shielding, molding/shrink, assembly
Twisting, foil and braid application; injection molding or heat shrink; branch assembly on fixture boards with tape and ties.
Steps 10-12: electrical test, visual check, packing
100% continuity/withstand/mis-assignment testing with fixtures, full visual check, then coiled packing with lot labels. Key processes 100%, others by AQL.
Where the lead time goes
Sampling: 3-7 days after materials ready; production: 1-4 weeks by volume. The bottleneck is usually special wire or imported connectors — confirm material lead times first.