Utilizing a contract manufacturer can save a significant amount of time and money over handling production in-house. The right CM helps improve product quality, reduces time to market, and helps businesses expand into new markets. While outsourcing typically costs less than purchasing equipment, hiring and maintaining staff, and ensuring optimal quality through advanced testing techniques and practices, using a U.S. based CM can save more on the soft costs of production over outsourcing overseas.
Quality Assurance
Businesses spend a lot of money assuring the quality of finished products and components. This is important, as most U.S. consumers have extremely high expectations for quality and service. Releasing a new product that does not meet consumer expectations can have a negative effect on brand reputation. When it comes to electronic devices created for the medical and aerospace industries, poor quality could affect the health or well-being of the people that use the finished product.
Unfortunately, most overseas manufacturers do not have access to the same equipment or resources as local, U.S. based manufacturers. In order to ensure products and components meet quality standards, companies often must test products themselves. Using a U.S. based CM like Means Engineering ensures all products meet strict requirements for quality. This eliminates the cost of having to test products in-house.
Ease of Communication
Communication is one of the biggest complaints companies have when outsourcing overseas. Language barriers and varying time zones creates issues with communication that could affect product quality and/or time to market.
When working with a contract manufacturer, it’s important that companies maintain clear lines of communication throughout the entire process. Working with a U.S. based CM eliminates language barrier and time zone concerns.
Monitor Progress
Companies that outsource production overseas typically do not get the opportunity to meet with the CM or see the facility. Aside from the communications they receive, the company has no way to actually track progress.
Working with a local CM makes it possible to visit the facility and meet the people who will work on the project. This ability to “mind the shop” creates peace of mind and ensures everyone is on the same page.
Means Engineering offers a wide range of contract manufacturing services designed to cut costs and increase the quality of finished products and components. Please contact us for more information about our services.
