california Archives - Page 2 of 17 - Means Engineering, Inc.

U.S. Based Contract Manufacturer

May 8, 2020 By meiadmin

Businesses around the globe are attempting to figure out how to recover and continue business as normal during this difficult time. Currently, many businesses that source components overseas are realizing that importing products is taking much longer than usual. This can create bottlenecks and lead to serious problems with order fulfillment. Unfortunately, the longer consumers have to wait for products, the less likely they are to order again.

Another major problem, many industries can’t access the devices and components they need. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like these sourcing problems will resolve anytime soon. This can create major issues, especially for necessary industries like medical, aerospace, and defense.

Benefits of Working with An American CM

Many people mistakenly believe that U.S. based production either doesn’t exist or costs too much. While U.S. made parts and products may cost a little more, companies can actually save quite a bit of money on shipping costs, cargo insurance, and customs fees. Another benefit of sourcing from the United States, businesses have more control over the quality of products produced and the production process. While it’s unlikely a business owner will travel overseas to view factory conditions themselves, traveling to a U.S. based manufacturing plant is much easier.

Working with a U.S. based contract manufacturer eliminates the language barriers commonly experienced when dealing with companies overseas. This makes it much easier for businesses to monitor progress and keep up-to-date with changes. It’s also easier to schedule meetings and calls.

Companies often find when partnering with a CM overseas that they must adjust their work schedule and come in early or stay at the office late to contact their contract manufacturer. This can lead to fatigue and place a lot of stress on both business owners and staff.

Carlsbad CA Contract Manufacturer

Means Engineering provides contract manufacturing services to businesses across a wide range of industries. Our team has years of experience and utilizes the very best tools and technology to ensure the production of consistent, high quality products.

Means Engineering specializes in complex engineering projects. Please contact us for more information about our U.S. based contract manufacturing services.

Top 5 Challenges Faced By Electronics Manufacturers

April 17, 2020 By meiadmin

Technology changes extremely fast. This creates challenges for those responsible for the creation of electronic devices. In order to remain successful in today’s market, electronics companies need to be both flexible and quick. They must also be able to overcome existing and future challenges in the electronics market.

Dwindling Margins

The electronics industry remains one of the most competitive markets in the world. Global competition combined with emerging innovations and technology continue to drive prices down, reducing operating margins significantly. In order to remain profitable, companies must continuously improve processes and become more cost-efficient.

Complex Global Supply Chain

Companies often source components from several different sources. In fact, it’s not uncommon for components to visit multiple countries before reaching their final destination. This creates challenges for electronics manufacturers that must prove compliance with national standards.

Limited Product Lifecycles

As technology changes so do consumer preferences. In order to keep up, electronics manufacturers need to have effective New Product Introduction (NPI) processes in place.

Changing Demand

Consumer demand fluctuates all the time. Economic downturn can cause reduced sales and decreased demand for new products. Alternatively, consumer preference can cause spikes in demand, making it difficult for electronics manufacturers to keep up. It’s crucial that electronics manufacturers have efficient lean capacities in place to keep inventory aligned with consumer demand.

Sustainability

Electronics companies today must consider multiple factors when designing new products. As consumers and government agencies focus more on product disposal and its impact on the environment, companies need to consider complete product lifecycles.

Southern California Contract Manufacturer

Companies looking to create electronic products could benefit from consulting with an experienced contract manufacturer. The right CM could help these companies overcome several of the challenges mentioned in this blog post. In addition to reducing costs and time to market of new products, an electronics CM can also help electronics companies keep up during periods of high demand.

Contract manufacturers like Means Engineering offer a variety of services. Contacting a CM provides access to experienced individuals able to provide advice on a wide range of issues commonly experienced by electronics manufacturers.

Please contact us for more information about our contract manufacturing services.

Reducing Component End-Of-Life Risks

April 3, 2020 By meiadmin

Component end-of-life (EOL) is a common problem with electronics manufacturing. During the design process, designers must consider the likelihood that specific components will be discontinued at some point during production. Unfortunately, there’s often no way to know when the manufacturer of certain components will run out of stock or discontinue production. When this occurs, companies that rely on these components to create their product face rising costs and costly redesign when the component manufacturer eventually runs out of stock.

Although EOL can impact all industries, it tends to hit highly regulated industries like medical and defense much harder. This is because companies responsible for the creation of products for these industries must gain certification for each product they produce. Even small changes to the design can necessitate an expensive and time-consuming re-certification process.

Ideally, designers should only select components they know will be around for quite some time. Fortunately, there are a few things designers can look for when determining component EOL.

Supplier Reputation

When choosing components for use in an electronic device, it’s important to look at the reputation of the supplier. A reputable supplier will stand behind their components. Another factor to consider is the number of suppliers offering the specific component. It’s much riskier if the component used only has one supplier. With more than one supplier, there’s always a back-up if one or more goes out of business.

Avoid Counterfeits

Counterfeit components often enter the market as parts become harder to source. Although companies are often tempted to purchase counterfeits, doing so can negatively affect the quality of finished products. This is another reason why it’s extremely important that designers make sure they purchase components from a reputable source.

Consult a Contract Manufacturer for Advice

Although there isn’t any guarantee that components will remain available forever, an experienced electronics contract manufacturer like Means Engineering can provide information about reliable sources and components. Contract manufacturers deal with suppliers on a daily basis and can provide valuable advice on potential EOLs. The earlier you consult with an experienced CM the better equipped you’ll be in the future.

Choosing a Contract Manufacturer for Complex Box Builds

March 20, 2020 By meiadmin

Box-build, or system integration, is an electromechanical assembly process which includes enclosure fabrication, installation and routing of cabling or wire harnesses, and installation of sub-assemblies and components. A complex box-build includes a fully integrated electro-mechanical system with pneumatics and electronics.

Box-builds generally include several steps. Companies often find the process too difficult and/or costly to handle in-house. This is perhaps the biggest reason why many companies enlist the help of an experienced contract manufacturer. Using a contract manufacturer not only keeps costs and production times low, it also ensures the correct assembly and testing.

When selecting a contract manufacturer to work with, it’s important to look for a CM with complex box-build experience. Make sure the company you choose has a quality management system in place and ISO certification.

Once you’ve selected a contract manufacturer, it’s important to prepare everything they need to complete the box-build.

Bill of Materials (BOM)

Be prepared to present the contract manufacturer with a Bill of Materials. The BOM is extremely important to the overall success of your project. The BOM helps ensure the contract manufacturer knows all the key components. It also lets them know which materials the company will provide and what the CM must source. Defining even smaller items in the BOM such as nuts, bolts, adhesives, tie wraps, washers, wires, etc. helps avoid unexpected delays and cost changes.

Assembly

3D CAD models help the CM visualize the finished product. These should be provided to the CM if possible. At the very least, you should provide the CM with a layout drawing. Many experienced CMs have CAD programs that allow them to easily convert drawings into build instructions.

Dimensions

It’s important to inform the contract manufacturer of the size and weight of the unit. This will help the CM determine handling and storage throughout the build process.

Testing

When working with electrical systems, it’s important to define basic electrical safety testing like earth bond and flash tests. It might be helpful to speak with your contract manufacturer to determine any additional testing required.

Means Engineering has extensive experience in both module level and product level manufacturing of complex box builds. Our skilled staff has the tools and experience necessary to provide a wide range of manufacturing services for fluid and gas handling systems, commercial and military displays, high tech vacuum systems, aviation electronics, and electro-optical systems.

Please contact us for more information about our services.

Making the Most of Your Relationship with Your Contract Manufacturer

February 14, 2020 By meiadmin

Companies must make strategic decisions to keep costs low. One of the biggest decisions facing companies today is the choice between manufacturing in-house and outsourcing to an experienced contract manufacturer.

Utilizing a CM makes it possible for companies to develop high quality products without having to acquire additional equipment, machinery, space, or people. This provides significant benefits to companies of all shapes and sizes.

The right CM not only helps keep manufacturing costs low, they also help improve the quality and consistency of products produced. Contract manufacturers often have years of manufacturing experience and utilize advanced technologies for testing and quality assurance. These are experts in their field, able to help companies grow and expand into new markets. Perhaps the greatest benefit of outsourcing is that it frees up time, allowing companies to focus on growing their brand. This can make all the difference in the world in today’s competitive landscape.

In order to take full advantage of the benefits of outsourcing, companies must develop and maintain a good relationship with their CM. That starts from the first interview with a potential CM.

Contract Negotiations

The contract helps determine the specifics of the project including important details like cost. This part of the process is crucial to the development of a mutually beneficial relationship with the CM. Contract negotiations is the best time to determine and identify any limitations of the CM in regards to production capacity and the time required for quality control.

Establishing a Mutually Beneficial Relationship

It’s important that both company and contract manufacturer realize they share a symbiotic relationship; the success of one contributes to the success of the other. This is why it’s so important that companies take the time and effort necessary to build a lasting relationship with the CM.

Quality Parameters

Utilizing a contract manufacturer can significantly improve the quality of products produced. However, it’s important that companies establish stringent quality parameters right from the start. Even better, companies should choose a contract manufacturer that already has quality check parameters in place.

Means Engineering offers contract manufacturing services to businesses across a wide range of industries. Please contact us for information about our services.