Means Engineering, Inc.

Product development engineering in medical, industrial, semiconductor equipment & military with a standard of excellence in form, function and design.

(760) 931-9452 | info@meanseng.com
5927 Geiger Court, Carlsbad, CA 92008-7305

Benefits of Reverse Engineering

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Companies today are under a lot of pressure to create new products. While the design process requires a certain level of creativity and innovation, many new ideas come from older, existing products. Through reverse engineering, manufacturers can find new ways to utilize old ideas.

What is Reverse Engineering?

Reverse engineering involves taking a product apart and analyzing each individual component and the way it works. Manufacturers then use this knowledge to create new products.

In the electronics industry, electronics manufacturers often use reverse engineering to make improvements or upgrades to existing products. While some similarities between the new and existing product may exist, the two are never exactly the same. Reverse engineering isn’t about recreating an exact match, it’s about figuring out how to produce a better and more efficient product.

Benefits of Reverse Engineering

Reverse engineering makes it possible for manufacturers to incorporate older inventions into new products. This improves time to market and enables product enhancements and improvements. Simply put, the reverse engineering process expands the knowledge and capabilities of electronics manufacturers.

There are numerous reasons why contract manufacturers utilize reverse engineering:

  • Incorporate old ideas into new products
    Reverse engineering allows contract manufacturers to take existing parts, processes, and structures and re-purpose them for other uses.
  • Product improvements
    Reverse engineering involves a detailed analysis of the various components of a product. This helps locate areas that could benefit from improvement. This is one of the most common reasons electronic manufacturers utilize reverse engineering.
  • Locate vulnerabilities in an existing product
    An important part of product improvement, reverse engineering helps locate any faults in existing products that could affect the safety and well-being of the people that use them.
  • Bring less expensive products to market
    Reverse engineering helps lower manufacturing costs and helps electronic manufacturers improve the overall quality and consistency of products produced.
  • Inspire innovation
    Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of reverse engineering is that it inspires innovative design. Electronics manufacturers often find systems and processes during reverse engineering that could benefit a completely different product or industry.

Means Engineering offers a variety of contract manufacturing services. Please contact us for information about our services.

 

Testing Materials

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Consumers today expect high quality products that perform as expected time and time again. Unfortunately, companies often struggle to meet consumer demand.

Testing finished products helps catch potential problems that consumers might experience after purchase. However, testing shouldn’t only take place at the end of production. Testing each component throughout production helps catch issues sooner when they are easier to fix.

Regular testing provides important information about materials, prototypes, and product samples. This information can help engineers, designers, and production managers meet the requirements of regulatory agencies, evaluate product design, and verify a production process.

Proving Compliance

Products used in critical applications such as those used by the medical, aerospace, and defense industries must meet extremely strict requirements for both quality and reliability. This is because failure of these products could cause harm or affect the livelihood of the people that use them.

In order to prevent problems, government agencies set compliance guidelines that manufacturers must meet prior to sale. Companies responsible for the creation of certain products must adhere to these guidelines which include test procedures used to prove compliance.

Material Testing

The quality of materials used is as, if not more important, than the processes used to produce new products. With so many different types of materials available, it can be extremely difficult to know which type is best for each application or use. Testing materials helps manufacturers determine whether a specific material is appropriate for its intended application. This can have a significant impact on the quality and reliability of finished products.

Design Improvements

Regular testing helps locate areas that could benefit from improvement. This might include a simple change of material type, or it could mean changing the design completely. It’s much better to make these changes before or during production than waiting until you’re faced with a defective product or prototype.

There are several different ways to test products and materials. The method used depends on the intended use of the finished product.

Working with a quality contract manufacturer ensures testing takes places and potential issues are resolved quickly and efficiently. This helps prevent defective products which can lead to costly returns and/or recalls. Please contact us to learn about our testing policies.

 

 

How Can a Contract Manufacturer Help Your Business?

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Contract manufacturers provide a wide range of services. While some companies utilize the help of CMs to fulfill periods of high demand, others enlist their help for all parts of production. Contract manufacturers provide numerous benefits regardless of when or how a company uses their services.

Choosing to Work With a CM

Deciding when to use a contract manufacturer depends on several factors. Start with a thorough evaluation of your business needs and requirements. For example, your company might not have the time or resources needed to produce the products your consumers demand. Maybe you’d like to launch a new product but aren’t sure where to start. These are both excellent reasons to consider enlisting the help of a CM.

Contract Design and Manufacturing Services

Quality contract manufacturers provide assistance with all parts of production. When used during the design process, the right contract manufacturer can help locate ways to improve the quality of finished products and/or reduce the costs of production.

Experienced Contract Manufacturer

When you work with an experienced contract manufacturer, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. Contract manufacturers often work with several different industries. This puts them in the best possible position to assist with numerous projects. Many companies use contract manufacturers to help them grow and expand into new markets.

Manufacturing Services

Manufacturing requires a lot of equipment, machinery, people, and space. Many businesses simply do not have what it takes to produce products in house. This is especially true for new businesses just starting to consider the possibility of production. These companies are often surprised by the amount of space and resources required to produce even simple products.

Using a contract manufacturer for production eliminates the need to purchase and maintain expensive equipment and technology. It also reduces the amount of staff and space required by your business.

Product Testing

Contract manufacturers often have processes and procedures in place to help ensure the quality and consistency of every product produced. They thoroughly test all components throughout the entire production process. This helps catch issues sooner, when they are cheaper and easier to fix.

Mean Engineering provides turnkey contract manufacturing solutions to businesses across a wide range of industries. Please contact us to learn how we can help your business succeed.

Should Your Electronic Business Use a Contract Manufacturer?

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Hiring a contract manufacturer provides numerous benefits to businesses in the electronics industry. Working with a quality CM has been shown to reduce costs, improve quality and customer satisfaction, while reducing time to market. With access to experienced professionals and high quality tools and technology, the right partnership can provide the extra boost you need to grow and expand into new markets.

If you’ve been wondering if your electronics business could benefit from hiring a contract manufacturer you’re not alone. Many people struggle with the decision of outsourcing. While outsourcing might not be the right choice for every business, failing to explore your options could cost you a lot of time and money. Read on to learn whether your electronic business could benefit from working with a contract manufacturer.

Your Design Process Could Benefit From Streamlining

The electronics industry is extremely competitive. Consumers today expect new products to hit the shelf at an alarming rate. Electronics businesses often find it difficult to keep up with consumer demand. This can cause problems when the competition consistently beats your products to market.

An experienced contract manufacturer can help streamline your design process and reduce holdups that are common in house. This makes it possible to bring new products to market sooner.

You Can’t Fulfill Large Orders

If your business struggles to fulfill large orders it’s probably time to consider outsourcing. It takes a lot of time, people, space, and equipment to produce large amounts of electronic products. Outsourcing takes the stress and expense off your shoulders, making it possible to fulfill large orders without requiring additional time or money.

You’re Spending Too Much on Design or Production Problems

Problems with design or production can cost your business a lot of time and money. A contract manufacturer can help if you’re spending too much money and effort fixing design or production problems. The right contract manufacturer helps you spot problems sooner, when they are easier (and less expensive) to resolve.

Means Engineering provides contract manufacturing services designed to help our clients succeed. Please contact us to learn how we can help your electronics business.

 

Trends Impacting Medical Device Manufacturing

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The medical device industry plays an important role in the lives of humans. Medical devices perform a number of functions designed to enhance and enrich the lives of the people that use them. Some devices even assist with lifesaving procedures. Regardless of how they are used, humans would be much worse off without these important devices.

Every year new trends emerge that impact the medical device industry. Medical device manufacturers have had to adjust to meet changes to rules and regulations and shifting economies.

Miniaturization

Medical devices get smaller each year. This trend isn’t going anywhere either. As the medical industry utilizes more laparoscopic and catheter-based technologies, medical device manufacturers will need to continue to improve functionality of these miniature devices.

Automation

As technology evolves, we’re seeing an increase of automation in the medical device manufacturing process. Manufacturing employees today must know how to operate the technology used to by computer-directed machinery.

Partnerships With U.S. Based Contract Manufacturers

The cost of manufacturing overseas is becoming more expensive. In fact, outsourcing costs can reach as high if not higher than keeping production in the United States. This is leading to an increase in partnerships with U.S. based contract manufacturers.

Quality Assurance

Partnering with an experienced contract manufacturer helps ensure the consistency and reliability of finished products. This is extremely important in the medical device industry as manufacturers of these important devices are under a lot of pressure to comply with strict rules and regulations. The right contract manufacturer will have quality assurance processes in place to determine consistent quality throughout every stage of production. This allows manufacturers to catch issues long before they cause a problem with the finished product. It also allows for continuous improvement.

Contract Manufacturing for the Medical Device Industry

Means Engineering provides a variety of contract manufacturing services. We have years of experience working with the medical device industry and understand the strict rules and regulations of the medical device industry. Our team works directly with you to design, produce, and test a wide range of products. Our services enable growth and improve the likelihood of repeat sales and referrals.

ABOUT US

MEI features depth of experience in medical, industrial, semiconductor equipment and military products. All product development efforts start with a unique set of requirements, yet we deliver results that share a common standard of excellence in form, function and design.

Our turn-key capabilities provide smart, simple solutions to cumbersome outsourcing issues, and provide our clients with an intelligent route from concept to market.

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