Key Tronic Corporation

Founded in 1969 as a keyboard manufacturer, Keytronic has sustained extensive growth over the years and is now one of the most successful Engineering Design and Manufacturing Service providers in the industry. Keytronic’s customers are some of the world’s leading OEMs. The company has core competencies in circuit card assembly (CCA), plastic injection and blow molding, metal stamping, fabrication and finishing, and complete product assembly. Keytronic has facilities worldwide, with three manufacturing locations in the United States (Oakdale, MN; Fayetteville, AR; Corinth, MS) and three international sites (Juarez, Mexico; Shanghai, China; DaNang, Vietnam). The company manufactures products in a wide variety of markets, including consumer, medical, industrial, education, gaming, automotive, aerospace, and defense. Aerospace and defense customers are concentrated in Oakdale, MN, and Fayetteville, AR, which are both ITAR registered and AS9100 certified.

“The Keytronic engineering design team has the capabilities and skills required to assist clients at any phase of product development— from the initial statement of work through production and lifecycle support”, says Chad Orebaugh, VP of Engineering. Their services include a formal design and new product introduction (NPI) process, which includes development methodologies such as FMEA and DOE, Design for Manufacturing, Test to Failure, and Management Checkpoint Reviews. Also, Keytronic has a full-service reliability and test lab at its headquarters in Spokane, WA.

“We have been manufacturing Aerospace and Defense products for over 18 years in Oakdale, MN. We specialize in low to medium volume and high mix manufacturing, whereas AR is better suited for higher volumes. We understand quality is essential in the aerospace and defense sector. Keytronic has a team of talented engineers and production people, as well as the necessary certifications like NADACAP and AS9100 and associated processes in place to ensure high quality products,” says Tony Meger, VP and General Manager of the Oakdale, MN facility.

Keytronic’s clients appreciate their high-quality, cost-effective, and timely delivery. “We ensure quick turnaround time with the best possible quality and cost from both our Arkansas and Minnesota facilities,” according to Meger. The company also focuses on delivering personalized production services specific to clients’ needs. “Every client has their own unique challenges. You can’t approach clients with a one-size-fits-all solution. We always customize our approach to meet the clients’ specific needs,” Meger adds.

The defense sector also demands highly reliable electronic components resistant to harsh environmental conditions. These components should be able to perform against extreme low and high temperatures, chemicals or contaminants, and shock or vibration with a zero-failure guarantee. Keytronic operates as a full-service provider that supports prototypes and low-volume work and assists OEMs with component selection and obsolescence mitigation. “We work with clients and their original design to help them modify or enhance the design according to DO160 or DO254 design guidelines,” says Meger.

Recently, Keytronic designed a control system to help an aerospace client inflate evacuation slides within eight seconds. The client was looking for a company that could design based on the statement of work, build prototypes, and work through the FAA product realization cycle. Keytronic designed the product, developed the prototypes and conducted the required testing.

“We continue to expand our offerings and drive value for our customers in aerospace and defense. The combination of our engineering and program management teams enables us to conceptualize, design, prototype, test, and ramp clients’ products successfully into production,” says Meger.

Currently, Keytronic is observing an increasing demand for building line replaceable units (LRU), circuit card assemblies (CCAs), and prototypes to production requirements.