Electronic manufacturing companies: 6 pointers to choose the right one! OptimaTech

It is a huge task to develop a conceptual hardware product into reality. You may have an ideal prototype on your work bench, however, it is when you are dealing with one unit to thousands of devices that are ready to be taken to the market that the real test starts. It is here that electronic manufacturing companies come in.

That is why outsourcing your manufacturing means that you can concentrate on design, marketing and sales so that the complex assembly can be done by professionals. Not every EMS provider, however, is equal. Unhealthy alliance might culminate in expensive delays, quality management nightmares and even theft of intellectual property. The right partner on the other hand serves as a continuation of your team, eliminating supply chain bumps and getting your product to the shelves on time.

In case you are considering outsourcing your production, these six tips will give you an idea of what to look at in order to settle on the best electronic manufacturing companies to do business with.

1. Experience and Niche Expertise in the industry

Experience in general manufacturing is good, whereas industry-specific experience is better. Consumer electronics needs are totally different as compared to medical equipment or aerospace parts needs.

During the assessment of prospective partners, request references or case studies concerning your industry. An EMS is already knowledgeable about the regulatory framework, the usual lifecycle of the standard components, and what exactly your product will have to meet in terms of reliability. They would in many cases be able to identify design mistakes early in the design process that a generalist would have overlooked.

2. Quality Guarantees and Certifications

Quality is not a buzzword, it is a quantifiable criterion. Your manufacturing partner should be equipped with strong tests to make sure that no unit coming out of the line is defective.

Find certain certifications that prove the allegiance to quality management. They must at least be certified to ISO 9001. Additional industry-specific standards may be required depending on your industry, e.g. ISO 13485 of medical equipment or AS9100 of aerospace. Besides certificates, inquire about their test possibilities. Do they carry Automated optical inspection (AOI)? Will they test more complex PCBs (through X-rays) with them? Knowledge of their rigor of testing will make you relaxed.

3. Supply Chain Management Capabilities

We are in the age of turbulent supply chains. Without the preparation of your manufacturer, component shortages will stop production immediately. A good EMS provider is not merely a part assembler; they have to be effective in their procurement of parts.

Examine their vendor associations. Are they a networked supplier world wide? What is their mitigation of counterfeit components? Having a good procurement department to play to would enable you to predict shortages beforehand and get the inventory booked in advance, so your production line doesn’t get halted by a ten cent resistor.

4. Technology and Equipment

The technology of manufacturing is changing at a high rate. You require someone who invests in the recent equipment to deal with the growing sophistication of the electronic parts.

Visit their facility, either directly or by tele. Search in modern Surface Mount Technology (SMT) lines that have the ability to put on the small things with a lot of accuracy. Confirm that they have equipment that is compatible with your specific build, for example selective soldering machines or conformal coating robots. The high equipment will usually produce more efficiency, reduce the rate of defects and an improved final product.

5. Scalability & Flexibility

The needs you have now may be minor but what about tomorrow? New Product Introduction (NPI) and small prototype production typically require a partner capable of managing these types of projects who can also scale to mass-scale production.

Enquire into their capacity to fill. There are those manufacturers who strictly produce by high-volume, low-mix and those that produce high-mix, low-volume. The perfect investor to an expanding firm is the one which is scalable. They ought to be in a position to hold you during the first stages of low volume without compelling you to change manufacturers once you attain the big time.

6. Communication and Culture Fit

This is the most neglected aspect but can destroy a project. It is a long-term relationship and communication is essential.

Determine how responsive they are in the quoting process. Do they disclose costs and risks that can be involved? Is there a project manager fluent in your language? In case of a huge difference in time zone, are they equipped with measures to guarantee effective cooperation? You would want someone who will take action on issues and not that one who would conceal issues to the point that it is late to resolve them at low costs.

Conclusion

One of the best decisions you will make concerning your electronics business is the choice of electronic manufacturing companies. It asks that it gets beyond the price-per-unit way of thinking and considers the overall value of the partnership.

When you drill down to industry knowledge, quality metrics, resilience of a supply chain, technical capacity, scalability, and communication, you are able to filter through the improper fits and even locate a manufacturer that cares about your success. You have to take your time, do your due diligence, and find a partner that will assist you to create a high-quality product that your customers will appreciate.

A fine EMS company to try is Optima Technology.

Simon Fox is a tech lover and writer who creates innovative Flipbook Software solutions for interactive digital publishing. With expertise in SaaS product.