About Us

Consultants Providing Strategic Management Solutions

Our Mission

At ITM Consulting, we prepare our electronics assembly clients for tomorrow’s challenges by teaching and applying the principles that underlie the issues of today. We strive to earn your trust and respect by providing innovative, effective, and successful solutions to both technical and business challenges.

We are committed to providing prompt, responsive, and effective advisory services in the most cost-efficient manner possible. Our primary goal is to create a long-lasting collaboration and a mutually rewarding relationship with every client.

ITM Consulting

Our Mission

At ITM Consulting, we prepare our electronics assembly clients for tomorrow’s challenges by teaching and applying the principles that underlie the issues of today. We strive to earn your trust and respect by providing innovative, effective, and successful solutions to both technical and business challenges.

We are committed to providing prompt, responsive, and effective advisory services in the most cost-efficient manner possible. Our primary goal is to create a long-lasting collaboration and a mutually rewarding relationship with every client.

ITM Consulting

Philosophy

Capability, Experience, Expertise, and Accomplishments

ITM Consulting is dedicated to providing strategic management and technical solutions to advance our clients' performance, competitive edge, and understanding of their unique market position and scope.

Rest easy knowing that our consultants are dedicated to providing you with superior consulting services. This commitment to excellence means:

  • A Practical, Business-Oriented Approach
  • Accurate and Timely Professional Advice
  • Clear, Direct, and Responsive Communications
  • Efficient, Result-Oriented Services
  • Highest Standards of Integrity and Ethics
  • Innovative and Creative Problem-Solving Skills
  • Insightful and Advanced Technical Analysis
  • Precise, Correct, and Complete Documentation
The ITM Consulting Difference

 

We believe that our clients are best served when our services not only solve today's problems but also prepare your company for tomorrow's challenges. ITM Consulting's belief in continuous improvement obligates our firm to invest in continuing education, professional development, and community involvement for every consulting associate.

Our commitment to continuous improvement keeps us abreast of innovative concepts, new technologies, and any changes in the electronics industry that may affect the way our clients do business, market new ideas and products, and how they prepare for the future. We work hard to create deep-rooted, collaborative, and mutually beneficial relationships with all our clients.

History

ITM Consulting was founded in 1993 by Phil Zarrow and Debra (Kopp) Dresser. Phil was formerly the director of Technology Development for GSS Array Technology, a California-based contract assembly firm. On the other hand, Debra worked as a principal scientist with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland. Our company was incorporated in 1994.

From its inception, ITM Consulting worked with both electronic assemblers as well as suppliers of electronic assembly equipment and materials. Much of the early end-user business centered around education at in-house seminars and tradeshows and conferences through the SMTA, IPC, and NEPCON. Education is still at the core of our business.

Experience and Expertise

The ITM Team's vast experience with equipment manufacturers facilitates techno-marketing work with many leading equipment manufacturers. One service, unique to electronics consulting, is equipment benchmarking. This service, often copied but never duplicated, thoroughly tests and evaluates equipment performance, the level of technology, and substantiates or refute claims made by the manufacturer. Regardless of the service provided, ITM Consulting practices the edict:

We don’t tell you what you want to hear — we tell you what you need to know.

 

With our Consultants' extensive manufacturing experience, much of our work for both OEMs and contract assemblers (CEMs) are projects that focus on assembly process troubleshooting as well as Risk Assessment.  ITM Consulting is also well known for our thorough and comprehensive process audits wherein an electronic assembler’s entire process is reviewed and evaluated resulting in  yield improvement recommendations..

ITM Consulting also works with OEMs in helping them evaluate and select the CEM that best fits their needs. Once again, our Consultants'  experience working with a major CEMs and OEMs have given us insight into the intricate details that matter.  Our experise has time and time again proved beneficial to clients who did not want to make mistakes in their outsourcing endeavors.

ITM Consulting

Turn to Us to Learn More About Case Studies

Case Studies

Military and Commercial Manufacturer of Microwave Devices - USA

  • OEM Manufacture of highly complex PCBAs for use in AWACS satellite systems
  • Low Volume / Low Mix
  • Q/R Class 3; NASA and other specs
  • End user wanted 3rd-party assessment and certification of Fabrication and Assembly Processes
  • ITM audited both PCB fabrication and PCB assembly processes.
  • Recommendations included areas of material handling, operating procedures, and other documentation, calibration control, and inspection criteria.
  • Recommendations were implemented and client received both ITM Fabrication and Assembly Certification.
  • Improved yields realized.
  • The end user was satisfied with the improvements.
  • Client has since been re-certified.
ITM Consulting
ITM Consulting

Fortune 100 Automotive Electronics Manufacturer - USA

  • OEM Manufacture of automotive engine management control systems, auto entertainment systems.
  • Very High Volume / Medium Mixv
  • Q/R Class 2; Automotive
  • Corporate wanted SMT and Through-hole assembly process and quality systems reviewed.
  • Weak areas to be identified and assessed with goal to improve throughput and yields.
  • ITM audited two facilities in the US (engine control module assembly) and two facilities in Mexico (automotive entertainment systems).
  • Recommendations included areas of documentation not be adhered to and process control problems.
  • Implementation of Lean Manufacturing had gone too far and was impacting quality.
  • Recommendations generated improved product quality and higher first pass yield.

Fortune 50 Medical Equipment Manufacturer - USA and Italy

  • OEM Manufacture of medical equipment.
  • Low volume / Medium Mix
    Q/R Class 3; FDA and other specs
  • Field failure of heart/blood perfusion system manufactured for client in Italy prompted investigation of supply chain.
  • Possible root cause(s) of failure to be identified and assembly and quality systems rectified to assure highest quality and prevent future occurrences.
  • ITM audited design and box-build/test facility, PCB fabricator, and PCB assembler (CEM), all located in Modena, Italy.
  • Documentation was found to be weak in key areas.
  • Root cause was determined to be in assembly due to lacking ESD procedures and best practices.
  • While other improvements were also recommended in Test, Box-build/Final Assembly as well as DFM, another CEM was ultimately qualified based upon ITM guidelines.
ITM Consulting
ITM Consulting

Fortune 100 Manufacturer of Power Conversion Equipment - USA and Philippines

  • OEM Manufacturer of Uninterruptable Power Supplies and Battery Backup Systems
  • Assembling in the Philippines with a Korean CEM
  • High Volume / Low Mix
  • Q/R Class 2; Consumer and industrial applications
  • Client was in the final stages of converting their assembly processes and materials to lead-free for the purpose of being in compliance with the EU RoHS directive.
  • ITM performed a process audit / lead-free gap analysis to assure world-class practices in electronic assembly as well as identify possible weak points in assuring RoHS compliance.
  • Recommendations included areas of quality systems, material control and documentation adherence as well as several process procedures.
  • Follow-up audit saw improved quality yields and reliable RoHS compliance.
  • ITM certified the Lead-free assembly process.

Tier 3 EMS Provider - USA

  • CEM of integrated manufacturing services
  • Low volume / high mix
  • Class 3 and Class 2; Medical, industrial and commercial applications
  • This Tier 3 CEM had the objective of incorporating selective soldering into their assembly process.
  • Prior to contacting ITM, there was a great deal of confusion.
  • Due to the cost of the equipment and the specialized nature of the process, the client decided to minimize their risk.
  • ITM was called in to assess their situation.
  • ITM did a complete on-site business review including process, quality, and economic perspectives.
  • Through a comprehensive ITM examination combined with ITM's extensive equipment knowledge base as well as equipment and process expertise, the proper decision was made.
  • A very quick ROI was realized and the equipment selected continues to perform reliably expanding the client's manufacturing capability.

Tier 4 EMS Provider - USA

  • CEM of integrated manufacturing services
  • Low volume / high mix
  • Class 2; Military, automotive, industrial, and commercial applications
  • This Tier 4 CEM was under new management, looking to improve performance of existing equipment set which had been configured solely as "islands of automation" with a significant diversity in equipment capabilities.
  • ITM did a complete Process Audit.
  • It was identified that the entire assembly operation was being limited by specific pieces of equipment which were significantly inferior in capabilities.
  • ITM assisted in selection of new, state-of-the-art equipment and in reconfiguration into a continuous automated SMT line.
  • Order of magnitude improvements was achieved in both throughput capability and quality.