The two models
In consignment (来料加工), you source and ship the components; the CM only assembles. In turnkey (代料/交钥匙), the CM sources everything from BOM to finished board. The right choice shifts with volume, part scarcity and how much you trust your supply chain.
Key takeaways
- Turnkey saves time and working capital because one partner owns procurement, assembly and test.
- Consignment makes sense only when you hold rare, allocated or security-sensitive parts yourself.
- Turnkey's trade-off is less direct control over the BOM — mitigate with an approved-supplier list.
- For most small and mid teams, turnkey's single accountability beats consignment's control.
| Aspect | Turnkey | Consignment |
|---|---|---|
| Who buys parts | Factory | You |
| Lead time | One accountable timeline | Gated by your kit |
| Supply risk | Factory owns it | You own shortages |
| Working capital | Less tied up | More tied up |
| Best for | Speed, small teams | Rare / secure parts |
Consignment: you keep control
You pick the exact parts, manage obsolescence, and avoid markup on components. The cost is logistics: kitting, verifying incoming parts, and the risk that a missing reel stalls the line while it is your problem to fix. Best when you already have negotiated pricing or proprietary/allocated parts.
Turnkey: one throat to choke
The CM handles procurement, often at better pooled pricing, and absorbs sourcing delays. You get a single quote and a single responsible party. The trade-off is a component margin and less visibility into exactly which reels were used. Best for speed, low volume, or when you would rather not run a purchasing desk.
Where quality lives
Turnkey does not mean lower quality — a good CM applies IQC to all incoming parts regardless of who bought them. Ask for first-article inspection and a traceable BOM. With consignment, incoming verification is still the CM's job, but the substitution risk is yours.
Decision guide
- Small runs, scarce parts, no procurement team → turnkey.
- High volume, negotiated pricing, allocated parts → consignment.
- Need speed above all → turnkey (one PO, one date).
Our take
We run both. Send the BOM and target price; we will quote turnkey and flag where consignment would save you money. See how we handle sourcing on our PCBA assembly page, then talk to us about your volumes.
