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

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.

How a Contract Manufacturer Saves You Money

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Working with a contract manufacturer takes a certain level of trust. After all, these companies are responsible for the creation of your products. It’s important to learn all you can before hiring a CM.

In addition to finding a CM with the tools necessary to handle the unique demands of your project, it’s also important to find a contract manufacturing company that can save you money as well. The right CM can provide you with the long term savings you require, while increasing the overall profitability and reputation of your business. This is crucial to success.

Choosing a Quality CM

Considering the basic elements during the proposal process can tell you a lot about the contract manufacturer you’re considering. This is especially true if you wish to reduce the number of suppliers your business requires.

The basic elements for consideration include:

  • Production Costs
  • Lead Times
  • Warranties and Support
  • Validation of Business Processes

While the right CM can help you save money through product and process improvements, you need to consider the potential long term value of using a CM as well. Although elements beyond the basics are harder to quantify, these elements represent the greatest value to your business.

Consider the Entire Manufacturing Team

It’s critical to ensure the capabilities, procedures, and business practices of the outsourced manufacturing partner you choose. However, the most valuable long term gains will come from the entire manufacturing team.

When considering a CM, look at the company as a whole. Factors such as ethics, tenure length, and employee satisfaction can say a lot about the firm. The manufacturing team should consist of engaged, empowered, long term employees. You need to know that the people responsible for the creation of your project have the drive and experience needed to continually examine both the product and process to discover ways to improve them.

Instead of simply auditing the processes, make sure you take the time to actually talk to the manufacturing team. This typically provides all the insight you require.

Please contact us for information about our contract manufacturing services.

 

 

 

Best Practices for New Product Introductions

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Companies today must continually release new products to keep up with consumer demand. This can be difficult when you have distributed teams working with external suppliers. Slip ups are common. Unfortunately, one mistake can create numerous problems for your business. It’s important to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to new product introductions.

What is NPI?

New Product Introduction (NPI) includes all of the processes and activities involved with the design, development, and launch of a new or improved product.

New product introduction (NPI) processes affect every part of production from concept through competition. It’s crucial that companies review and refine these processes to ensure smooth and efficient product development and introduction.

Importance of NPI Best Practices

Around 80% of new products fail. This is an unsettling statistic for any company responsible for the design and creation of new products. Fortunately, there are some NPI best practices that can improve your chances of success. These processes revolve around understanding the consumer, clear communication, and ensuring high quality design and development.

Customer-Focused Approach

The creation of every product begins with design and innovation. During the design process, companies should consider the needs of the consumer. For best results, figure out how your product can solve a problem or relieve a pain point for the customer.

Taking a customer-focused approach to the design process improves the odds of success exponentially. Talking to existing and potential customers provides a unique opportunity to learn what’s needed and what’s important. Performing market research helps define product requirements.

Communication is Key

Clear communication is key to the successful design and creation of new products. This is especially true when working with an external partner. Everyone should know what is expected and what’s going on.

Quality and Consistency

It doesn’t matter how well a company knows the needs of their consumers or how well they communicate these needs with their suppliers if they don’t have the processes in place to ensure the quality and consistency of each product produced.

Utilizing the help of an experienced contract manufacturer ensures the production of high quality products. Partnering with a CM early in the process helps improve design. The right contract manufacturer tests every component throughout the production process. This helps catch issues early, when they’re easier to fix.

Means Engineering provides a wide range of contract manufacturing services. Please contact us to learn how we can assist with New Product Introductions.

 

 

 

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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