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

Environmental Management Systems

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Environmental Management Systems

Technology is always changing. The electronics industry is under a lot of pressure to create new products. High demand combined with fierce competition in the industry has created a number of challenges for electronics manufacturers. Many electronics companies turn to questionable practices in an effort to save money. These practices often produce poor quality products.

Until recently, manufacturing practices have been based around improving efficiency and profitability, and environmental issues were seen as added costs. However, there is more pressure than ever before for electronics manufacturers to reduce their environmental impact. Fortunately, many manufacturers are learning the benefits of increased sustainability. Reducing environmental impact is good for both the manufacturer and the consumer.

What is an EMS?

An Environmental Management System (EMS) refers to the practices and processes used by an organization to reduce their environmental impact. An EMS is commonly used to decrease the impact of products, processes and services. An EMS can be designed in compliance with ISO 14001 standards. This ensures reduced environmental impact and increased product performance.

ISO 14001

There are a number of practices that can be used to improve efficiency and sustainability. Some of these practices are better than others. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed ISO 14001 to specify the international requirements for an EMS.

Sustainability is crucial to the electronics industry. ISO 14001 was specially designed to help businesses decrease their environmental impact. ISO certification helps consumers locate companies that are taking the necessary steps to ensure sustainability. ISO 14001 certified companies have proven they are doing all they can to reduce their organization’s impact on the environment.

Choosing a contract manufacturer

When choosing a contract manufacturer to work with, you should select a company that has strict quality control measures in place. ISO 14001 certification ensures the contract manufacturer has met the international Environmental Management System requirements. ISO 14001 is designed to help business owners become more aware of their impact on the environment.

Means Engineering, Inc. is an ISO 14001 certified contract manufacturer. This allows us to create high quality products while increasing sustainability of our products and practices.

Importance of Quality Control in Electronics Manufacturing

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Importance of Quality Control in Electronics Manufacturing

Outsourced manufacturing is one of the fastest growing trends in the electronics industry today. Many businesses throughout the world use contract manufacturing as a way to cut costs and reduce time to market. This widely accepted business strategy helps businesses of all shapes and sizes remain competitive in an ever-changing marketplace. As a result, many contract manufacturers are strengthening their position by upgrading their facilities and improving their practices.

Using a Contract Manufacturer to Produce Electronic Parts

While contract manufacturers used to only provide assembly of electronics components, many now offer design and full production of products. This often includes testing for quality. Contract manufacturers that offer testing must be extremely careful to follow good manufacturing practices, especially when producing products for demanding fields.

Outsourcing your manufacturing and testing of products has a number of benefits including capital risk reductions, increased asset productivity and access to the latest technologies. When you use a contract manufacturer, they handle everything for you, allowing you to focus your attention on other aspects of your business. Using a contract manufacturer also allows you to catch production issues early, when they can be addressed more effectively.

ISO 9001 Certified Contract Manufacturer

The quality of parts produced is extremely important. Effective quality control measures must be in place to ensure overall quality and reliability of electronic parts produced. In addition to quality, other requirements must also be met such as product yields and time to market.

When selecting a contract manufacturer to work with, you will need to ensure they have the proper certifications and standards in place. Compliance with nationally recognized standards such as ISO 9001 ensures consistent, high quality production.

Final Thoughts

As electronic assemblies become more complex, more and more emphasis is being placed on standardizing quality measurement. However, this can be difficult across multiple assemblies and components.

The contract manufacturer you use should have multiple capabilities and certifications. Means Engineering, Inc. is ISO 9001, AS 9100 and IOS 13485 certified to ensure consistent quality of all parts produced. We are committed to meeting and exceeding our customer’s ever-changing quality requirements. We work directly with you throughout the entire manufacturing process.

Using a Contract Manufacturer for New Product Development

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Using a Contract Manufacturer for New Product Development

 As a leading Southern California contract manufacturer, Means Engineering, Inc. has a lot of experience with new product development. We understand what’s important when looking for a company to design and build your product. We also know which details are essential to a positive experience.

Choosing a Contract Manufacturer

 You have many options when it comes to selecting the company responsible for the design and build of your product. However, there are a few things that should be considered before partnering with a contract manufacturer.

The contract manufacturer you choose needs to have the capability you require and should have multiple capabilities. Even if you do not think you need it now, it’s a good idea to select a company that has experience with a wide range of materials and processes. The company you choose should be able to provide engineering support. Having an experienced engineering team on your side can help you spot design flaws you might have missed. They can also suggest ways to reduce cost and time to market.

In order to ensure the highest quality, it’s crucial to select a contract manufacturer that is ISO certified. ISO standards are extremely strict in terms of quality control. Producing a part quickly and inexpensively does you absolutely no good if it does not meet quality standards.

Means Engineering, Inc. is ISO 9001, AS9100 and IOS 13485 certified. This ensures high quality products, time and time again.

Realistic Expectations

It’s not uncommon for companies to have unrealistic expectations when starting the product development process. Many companies underestimate the cost and time it will take for the product to go to market. Before assuming anything, it’s important to make sure that you have all of the facts.

Talk to your suppliers, vendors and contract manufacturers. They are in the best position to provide you with accurate cost and time to market estimates.

Final Thoughts

Before selecting a contract manufacturer for new product development, make sure that you check their references and view their previous work. Respectable companies will be happy to share this information with you.

Means Engineering, Inc. has extensive experience working with a variety of industries including the medical, industrial, semiconductor and defense industries. We provide smart, turnkey solutions and work directly with our clients from concept to completion.

Machining in the Electronics Industry

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Machining in the Electronics Industry

 Modern electronic devices are smaller than ever before. In order to produce these products, electronics manufacturers must be able to create electronic components that are smaller, stronger, lighter and more powerful. This creates a unique challenge for manufacturers.

Electronics machining makes it possible to produce the high quality parts necessary to create modern electronic devices. Precise machining allows electronic components to be smaller, more reliable and stronger than previously possible.

Tight Tolerance Precision Machining

 Means Engineering, Inc. provides tight tolerance precision machining services. We are able to accommodate even the most stringent requirements. Our expert team is well prepared to solve a number of machining issues. We are able to produce parts that other companies cannot. We have the capabilities to handle a variety of volumes no matter how small, large or complex the project.

We offer our precision machining services to a variety of industries. Our expertise and first-rate equipment allows us to create high quality products from even the most complex designs. We offer prototypes, one offs and full production runs. We have experience working with a wide range of industries including aerospace, medical, semiconductor and defense. We are able to quickly and efficiently produce quality parts that meet and exceed the expectations of our clients.

High Quality, Reliable Parts

Every year, the electronics manufacturing industry faces more pressure to produce better, faster and stronger products. This is especially true for the semiconductor industry. In order to remain successful and competitive in the marketplace, companies need to be able to meet the growing needs of their customers.

Since our expert staff has extensive experience with the machining process, we are able to evaluate plans before any manufacturing takes place. This puts us in the best possible position to address areas of concern before production. This helps us ensure that our customers receive high quality parts time and time again.

 Means Engineering, Inc. is able to handle a wide variety of projects regardless of their size, material or quantity requirements. We maintain ISO 9001 and AS 9100 certification. This ensures you receive the best quality available today.

How Do Printed Circuit Boards Work?

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How Do Printed Circuit Boards Work?

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are used to support and wire the components in many electronic devices. In fact, almost every electronic device available today contains at least one PCB. While many simple electronic devices use single layer PCBs, the PCBs in complex devices may have as many as twelve layers. PCBs provide electricity and connectivity to the parts of an electronic device.

How PCBs Are Made

PCBs are made by mounting components on a non-conductive board. These components are connected by small pathways called traces. In addition to the traces, PCBs have several small holes. These holes allow components to sit flush with the surface of the board.

When creating PCBs, electronic engineers must fit several components on a very small space. Components added to printed circuit boards may include microchips, diodes, registers and switches. The traces connect each of the components and provide them with electricity. These connections are crucial to the proper operation of electronic devices. This is why printed circuit boards are so important to electronic engineering.

The bottom layer of a PCB is non-conductive. The top layer is made from a sheet of metal. The metal layer is printed with etch-resistant ink. It is then etched with special chemicals that remove all but the printed design. The components are then connected through soldering. Thousands of printed circuit boards can be printed at one time.

PCB Design

PCBs are typically designed on a computer. This allows electronic engineers to thoroughly test the PCB before it is produced. It also allows for the ideal arrangement of the parts. After design, the printed circuit board can be printed. PCBs are typically designed with a Computer Aided Design or CAD program. CAD software has replaced the need for manual drafting, which is often inefficient.

 

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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