southern california Archives - Page 4 of 12

Investing in Quality Manufacturing

July 5, 2019 By meiadmin

Consumers today have extremely high expectations when it comes to quality. In addition to excellent product performance, consumers expect products with an increasing number of features and functionality. Products that fail to meet consumer expectations frequently fall behind the competition. Just one defect can lead to loss of business and reputation.

Producing High Quality Products

Poor quality products are subject to recall. These recalls cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. It’s crucial that organizations do all they can to ensure the production of high quality products.

Working with a contract manufacturer can help improve product quality. Contract manufacturers have years of experience creating products for a wide range of industries. They know what works and what doesn’t. When utilized during the design process, an experienced contract manufacturer knows how to adjust design plans to improve quality. They have the people, equipment, and processes in place to ensure the production of high quality products.

Many people worry that investing in a contract manufacturer isn’t worth the cost. While using a contract manufacturer might require an initial investment, this is nothing compared to the costs associated with recalls and defect repairs.

Quality Assurance

In order to ensure the production of high quality products, testing must take place throughout the entire manufacturing process. Testing at every stage of production ensures each component meets strict requirements for quality and reliability.

When choosing a contract manufacturer to work with, it’s important to select one with quality assurance processes in place. These are the processes that occur before, during, and after production to ensure each product conforms to company standards. This is different than quality control which refers to the testing of products for functionality and form. Quality assurance helps catch potential defects before they are able to affect the performance of the finished product. Catching these defects early helps mitigate problems and allows for continuous improvements throughout production.

Means Engineering uses technology and techniques to ensure the production of high quality products time and time again. Please contact us for more information about our contract manufacturing services.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Contract Manufacturing Partnership

June 28, 2019 By meiadmin

Companies today are under a lot of pressure to reduce costs while meeting high demands for both quality and service. This is especially true for companies responsible for the creation of electronic devices. Outsourcing is one of the best ways to reduce production costs. A quality contract manufacturer can also help improve the quality of finished products. This increases customer satisfaction and the chance of repeat business and referrals.

Deciding to partner with a contract manufacturer is one of the smartest decisions a company can make. This partnership provides access to experts able to produce complex devices in less time and at a lower cost than possible with in-house production. This partnership allows companies to grow and expand into new markets. It also improves consumer opinion, increasing brand recognition and performance.

It’s important to take your time and do your research before selecting a contract manufacturer to work with. Once a quality contract manufacturer has been found, the following can help you get the most out of your contract manufacturing partnership.

Contract Agreements

Agreeing on a contract is an important first step in your partnership. The contract determines the milestones, requirements, and cost of your project. The goal is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between your company and the contract manufacturer. Make sure you understand the contract manufacturer’s limitations and that you clearly express your expectations.

Establish a Relationship

Building a meaningful relationship with your contract manufacturer ensures they’ll be there when you need them later down the line. The relationship between a company and a contract manufacturer is symbiotic; your success equals their success.

Establish Stringent Quality Parameters

One of the biggest benefits of working with a contract manufacturer is enhanced quality of the finished product and/or components. It’s important to establish stringent quality parameters from the start so that everyone is on the same page. For best results, look for a contract manufacturer that has quality assurance parameters similar to your own.

Means Engineering has years of experience providing a wide range of contract manufacturing services. We work directly with each of our clients to develop a long-lasting mutually beneficial relationship. Please contact us for more information about our services.

More Companies Using U.S. Contract Manufacturers Over Asian Firms

June 21, 2019 By meiadmin

Contract manufacturers produce products under the label or brand of the company that hires them. Businesses often enlist the help of a CM to fulfill orders in periods of high demand and to reduce costs and time to market.

Utilizing a contract manufacturer is an extremely smart business move. Businesses across a wide range of industries turn to contract manufacturers to help with the production of a wide range of products and components.

Until recently, companies frequently outsourced their manufacturing to Asia. However, labor rates in Asia have risen steeply over the past few years, causing manufacturing costs to rise. This has bridged the gap between Asian and American contract manufacturers. In fact, when you consider manufacturing costs, customs fees, shipping charges, duties, and other fees, producing products in Asia costs about the same as producing them in the United States.

Outsourcing Production to a U.S. Based Contract Manufacturer

When outsourcing production to another country, it can be difficult to know for sure what’s happening with your order. Communication problems are common due to time differences and language barriers. Shipping issues can delay the time it takes to receive products. Products traveling from Asian countries must pass customs and businesses must meet strict requirements before receiving their product. Costs can add up if additional paperwork is required. Delays can lead to expensive storage charges while problems get sorted out.

There are numerous benefits to partnering with a U.S. based contract manufacturer. When you work with an American firm like Means Engineering, you’ll always know the status of your order. You’ll also have intellectual property protection. American CMs operate under U.S. law which ensures compliance with labor laws. When you outsource the work to another country, you risk contracting a firm that uses unethical labor sources.

At Means Engineering, we provide clear communication throughout the entire process. We work directly with you from concept to completion to ensure you get exactly what you want when you want it.

Means Engineering provides a variety of contract manufacturing services. Please contact us for more information.

Using Contract Manufacturing to Grow Your Business

June 14, 2019 By meiadmin

New technologies have changed the way that people shop for products. More people purchase products online than ever before. The availability and ease of online shopping has made it possible for businesses to reach more clients in a shorter amount of time.

If you’ve considered selling your products online you’re not alone. Millions of companies have already began offering products through the Internet. In fact, if you don’t have a way for people to buy your products online, you’re already missing out on a lot of business.

Before offering your products online, you need to make sure you can keep up with demand. This can be difficult with the high cost of machinery, people, and supplies. Many businesses simply do not have the resources needed to produce products in house. This is where a contract manufacturer can help.

Contract Manufacturers Help Companies Reduce Costs and Time to Market

The right contract manufacturer can help your company produce more products in less time and at a much lower cost than producing products in house. This makes it possible to grow and expand your business through online sales without having to worry about the logistics of production.

In addition to a variety of production and design services, contract manufacturers can also help improve the overall quality of products produced. Contract manufacturers are experts in their field with years of experience creating a wide range of products. The right contract manufacturer will review your design plans to locate areas that could benefit from improvement. This might mean switching a type of material or adjusting a measurement. Generally, these changes help reduce the costs of production while improving overall quality of the finished product.

By working with a contract manufacturer, your business can produce enough products to fill even high periods of demand. This is important as you move to Internet sales, which increase your company’s visibility and the chance of sales. A contract manufacturer can help improve the quality of your products, increasing customer satisfaction and the likelihood of repeat sales.

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

How Organizations Utilize Contract Manufacturing

May 31, 2019 By meiadmin

Businesses around the world utilize contract manufacturing. These businesses understand the benefits of partnering with a quality CM. For new businesses or businesses just starting to look into the opportunity of outsourcing, the concept of contract manufacturing can be hard one to grasp. While most people understand the general idea behind contract manufacturing, many don’t understand how or when to utilize these services.

What is a Contract Manufacturer?

A contract manufacturer helps with the production of products and components. Businesses utilize contract manufacturers during various stages of production. Some businesses use CMs to handle all parts of production from design to manufacturing.

Although other services exist, the following are the most common ways in which organizations utilize contract manufacturing.

Design Services

When utilized in the design process, a quality contract manufacturer provides a second set of eyes for design plans. The right CM will work with you to help locate areas of the design that could benefit from improvement. This is usually minor changes that improve quality and/or reduce the cost of production.

Many contract manufacturers provide a variety of design services. However, not all companies provide the same level of service. Make sure you choose a CM with experience working with the type of product you wish to offer. This is especially important when designing complex electronics products.

Production Services

Contract manufacturers produce parts or products under the name of the company that hires them. This helps reduce costs, improve time to market, and increase the overall quality of the finished product. An experienced contract manufacturer provides a variety of production services including complex box builds, precision machining, high purity welding, clean room assembly, and more.

When choosing a CM to work with, make sure you locate a respected company with robust NPI processes in place.

Product Testing

Testing helps ensure the quality and consistency of parts and products. An experienced CM will test parts and components several times throughout production. This makes it possible to catch potential issues long before they are able to cause a problem.

Means Engineering, Inc. provides a wide range of contract manufacturing services to businesses both large and small. Please contact us for more information about our design, production, and testing services.