Means Engineering, Inc.

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


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

Understanding the Difference Between Private Label and Contract Manufacturing

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Despite the differences, many people believe that Private Label and Contract Manufacturing are the same. Both forms of manufacturing are prevalent in numerous industries. Each has its own benefits. When looking to outsource, organizations must decide which solution works better for their situation and business.

Private Label Manufacturing

A Private Label Manufacturer provides organizations with products marketed under the brand name or label of the company that partners with them. With this type of manufacturing, the manufacturer retains control over the product, including its specifications and quality.

Private Label Manufacturers often sell low-cost alternatives to popular products branded as the company that hires them. This makes it possible for big box stores to offer their own brand beside other well-known brands.

Contract Manufacturing

Contract Manufacturing involves outsourcing the manufacturing process to another company. Contract Manufacturers do not own the product and cannot change the specifications without prior approval from the company that hires them.

Benefits of Private Label

Private Label allows stores to offer their own brand at a lower price point than other, more popular brands. This can improve sales and increase consumer respect for store brands. With Private Label, organizations do not need to worry about developing design plans or tweaking formulas.

Benefits of Contract Manufacturing

Utilizing the help of a Contract Manufacturer allows organizations to produce high quality products that meet their exact specifications and requirements. Using a Contract Manufacturer costs less than producing products in-house. It also puts organizations in reach of experienced professionals. CMs often provide advice and guidance, allowing OEMs to improve product quality and reduce time to market.

Final Thoughts

Both Private Label and Contract Manufacturing allow organizations to bring quality products to market. While Private Label does not allow the purchaser to modify or change the product, Contract Manufacturing enables companies to produce products to their own specifications. Having control over the production process allows organizations to adjust to meet the needs of consumers.

The type of manufacturing an organization chooses will depend on numerous factors. Organizations should fully evaluate their needs before making a decision.

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

 

Using a Contract Manufacturer to Turn Ideas Into Reality

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Entrepreneurs and inventors come up with new ideas all the time. Although many of these ideas could potentially improve quality of life for people around the world, most never make it off the drawing board.

Creating new products takes a lot of time and money. Inventors must obtain the right amount of space, people, equipment, and technology to produce products in-house. They also need to ensure compliance with state and federal rules and regulations. This often requires obtaining ISO certification. It is for these reasons and more that many inventors believe that they simply do not have the resources needed to turn their ideas into reality. Fortunately, entrepreneurs and inventors have another option.

Enlisting the help of a contract manufacturer not only gets ideas off the ground, it can help ensure the quality and consistency of products produced. This can make even start-ups look like they’ve been in business for decades.

Product Design

Before contacting a contract manufacturer, it’s important that inventors put together their design plans. Using CAD software is the easiest way to create drawings to share with others. It’s also important that inventors consider the types of materials they’d like to use to create their product.

The contract manufacturer you choose will review the design plans and make suggestions. It’s important to listen to these suggestions as they could improve the quality of the finished product or reduce the costs involved with its creation.

Locate an Experienced Contract Manufacturer

When searching for a contract manufacturer, inventors should look for a CM with experience working with the type of product they’d like to produce. If the product contains electrical or mechanical components, the inventor will want to find an experienced electrical contract manufacturer (ECM).

Expect the Unexpected

Even the simplest design can run into problems during production. It might be impossible to procure parts or there could be problems with the design. While these issues might seem like a major problem, the contract manufacturer has probably dealt with similar issues before. They’re well positioned to make suggestions to keep the project moving in the right direction.

Working Towards Mass Production

Once inventors have a fully functional prototype, they can start thinking about moving to production. The right contract manufacturer can provide advice and guidance as inventors take this important step.

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

4 Ways Contract Manufacturing Can Help Your Organization

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Contract manufacturing offers numerous benefits to organizations both large and small. Contract manufacturing reduces the costs associated with the design, production, and testing of a wide range of products. Utilizing a contract manufacturer also makes it possible for businesses to grow and expand into new markets without having to invest in additional people, training, and equipment.

Improved Design

An experienced CM provides a variety of services. When utilized during the design phase, a contract manufacturer acts as a second set of eyes for design plans. This can help organizations locate new ways to improve the design of the product. Changes suggested by a CM often help reduce the costs associated with production and improve the quality and reliability of finished products. This can benefit both the OEM and the end user.

Better Quality and Consistency

Contract manufacturers often have strict quality control standards. They keep up with changing rules and regulations regarding product creation for different industries. The right CM has the people, experience, and expertise needed to improve the quality of a wide range of products.

Lower Costs

In order to produce products and components, organizations must obtain appropriate space, people, equipment, and machinery. Using a contract manufacturer allows OEMs to produce a wide range of products without spending a lot of money on labor, supplies, equipment, and equipment maintenance. Cost savings is one of the top reasons that organizations utilize contract manufacturing.

Faster Turnaround

Contract manufacturers have established relationships with suppliers. This allows them to obtain materials faster. Because CMs have experience working with several different companies, they understand how to reduce production time and ensure high quality products. This allows organizations to bring new products to market faster.

Experienced Southern California Contract Manufacturer

Means Engineering provides a variety of contract manufacturing services to businesses across a wide range of industries. Our team of experienced professionals works directly with each of our clients to improve product quality, reduce time to market, and help organizations as they grow and expand into new markets.

Please contact us to learn how our services can help your organization fulfill periods of high demand or launch a new product.

 

Recent Changes to IEC 60601-1 Impact Medical Device Manufacturers

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When creating devices for the medical industry, it’s crucial that manufacturers take care to ensure the quality, consistency, and reliability of every part produced. This isn’t just important for consumer satisfaction, it’s crucial for the health and safety of those that use these important devices.

Medical devices are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In order to prove compliance, medical device manufacturers must meet the standards for the safety and essential performance of medical electrical equipment.

The internationally recognized standard, IEC 60601, was first published in 1977. Since that time, the standard has been updated and restructured several times. The most recent update to IEC 60601-1 was published earlier this year and includes several changes and clarifications. It’s important that medical device manufacturers learn and understand these changes to ensure compliance.

The most recent amendment, A2:2019, will mark the standard for medical devices for the next few years. The next change is not expected until 2024.

Important Changes to IEC 60601-1

While some of the changes to IEC 60601-1 seem minor, they could result in previously certified devices not meeting the new requirements for compliance. It’s crucial that medical device manufacturers take some time to make themselves familiar with A2:2019.

IEC 60601-1 A2:2019, also known as Version 3.2, includes 78 changes. The most important changes are listed below.

  • IEC 60601-1 A2:2019 updates out-of-date references to ISO 14971 and IEC 62304
  • Amendment 2 includes important changes that align IEC 60950-1: A2 and IEC 62368-1 in regards to safety requirements for audio/video, information, and communications technology
  • A2:2019 includes error rectification and clarifications
  • The Amendment includes changes affecting the design and layout of medical devices
  • The Amendment also includes changes to standards for labelling, electrical hazards, mechanical hazards, thermal hazards, hazardous situations and fault conditions, and ME systems.

It’s important to note that these changes apply to both manufacturers and those responsible for testing medical devices and medical device components. Testers can only accept components that comply with IEC 60950-1 until December 20th, 2020. After this date, in stock medical devices and components can no longer be used.

Medical Device Contract Manufacturing Services

Working with an experienced contract manufacturer can help ensure compliance with FDA requirements. An experienced CM has the tools, experience, and technology needed to keep up with changing regulations.

Means Engineering offers contract manufacturing services to OEMs and organizations in the medical industry. Please contact us for information about our services.

 

Grow Your Business with Contract Manufacturing Services

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Businesses today face tough competition. In addition to keeping up with technological advancements and improvements, businesses must bring new products to market faster. Organizations wishing to remain competitive need to continuously locate ways to reduce costs and production time. Businesses often find this extremely difficult, especially during periods of economic downturn.

Outsourcing enables businesses to produce products faster and at a lower price than possible with in-house production. Utilizing the help of an experienced contract manufacturer provides access to the people, equipment, and technology needed to produce a wide range of products. These individuals often have years of experience and know how to produce high quality products quickly and efficiently.

What is Contract Manufacturing?

Contract manufacturing is a form of outsourcing between a manufacturing firm and a hiring company. The hiring company contracts with the manufacturing firm to produce parts and/or complete products. Depending on the needs of the hiring company, contract manufacturers might handle many different parts of product development and production including:

  • Product Design
  • Prototyping
  • CNC Machining
  • Tooling
  • Production

Benefits of Contract Manufacturing

In addition to improved quality and reduced time to market, contract manufacturing services eliminate many of the costs associated with in-house production. Hiring a CM reduces the amount of capital spent on the maintenance and operating costs of equipment and machinery. It also reduces the costs associated with hiring, salaries, wages, HR, and benefits.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of outsourcing is that it provides the hiring company with access to the people, equipment, and technology needed to ensure the production of high-quality parts and products.

What Types of Businesses Hire Contract Manufacturers?

Although most people assume only large companies hire contract manufacturers, nothing could be further from the truth. Many entrepreneurs and start-ups utilize contract manufacturing to bring new products to market.

Larger companies utilize contract manufacturing to fulfill periods of high demand and to test out new markets. Hiring a CM allows organizations to discover the profitability of new products, without having to invest the time and money into producing new products in house.

California Contract Manufacturer

Means Engineering offers contract manufacturing services to businesses across a wide range of industries. Our services reduce costs and time to market. Our team understands the unique challenges faced by organizations today. We work directly with each of our clients to ensure a mutually beneficial and long lasting relationship.

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

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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