california Archives - Page 17 of 17 - Means Engineering, Inc.

What is Contract Manufacturing?

June 16, 2017 By meiadmin

What is Contract Manufacturing?

Many companies require help to manufacture their products. These companies often enlist the assistance of a contract manufacturer. A contract manufacturer builds and distributes products under the label or brand of the company that hires them. Contract manufacturing is sometimes referred to as private label manufacturing.

Benefits of Contract Manufacturing

Contract manufacturing has many benefits. It frees up time so that companies are able to focus on other aspects of their business. It also allows them to expand into new markets. Companies that use contract manufacturers save money in two ways. Since contract manufacturers work with multiple companies, they are able to procure parts at a fraction of the cost. When companies use contract manufacturers, they do not need to have products produced in-house. This helps them save on wages, training as well as the facility and equipment necessary to manufacture their products.

When demand for a specific product is high, contract manufacturing can be used to meet that demand. By using a contract manufacturer to meet short-term demand, companies are able to avoid the additional costs involved with increased production. Contract manufacturing can also be used to test a product before it goes to market.

Contract manufacturing is useful in a number of industries. It is commonly used in the aerospace, defense, semiconductor and pharmaceutical markets. Contract manufacturing can be used to manufacture a variety of products or their components.

Choosing a Contract Manufacturer

The quality of a product says a lot about a business. This is why it’s extremely important to select a contract manufacturer with the skills and experience necessary to fulfill your arrangement. The contract manufacturer you use should have the capabilities to complete your request in a timely and cost-effective manner. They should have access to the equipment and the technology necessary to produce a wide variety of products.

Contract Manufacturer in Carlsbad, CA

Means Engineering, Inc. offers contract manufacturing for a variety of industries. Our superior quality control measures ensure high quality products and consistent results. Our experienced team has many years of experience designing and producing. We work directly with our clients from concept to completion.

RGA and the Cleanliness of Vacuum Components

June 2, 2017 By meiadmin

RGA and the Cleanliness of Vacuum Components

Regardless of the industry, all companies strive to run a safe operation and minimize production downtime. Even the microscopic contamination of manufacturing equipment and parts can negatively affect their performance in their integrated assemblies. Dirty equipment is less reliable and more prone to wear and breakdown.

Outgassing of materials and the generation of particles can have a significant effect on assembly. Material outgassing is of particular concern in applications where vapors can affect performance. Material selection and appropriate cleaning processes are an essential part of managing outgassing.

Understanding Residual Gas Analysis

Residual Gas Analysis is an analytical technique used for identifying gasses in a vacuum environment. During the process, a Residual Gas Analyzer (RGA) creates a beam of ions from the sample of gas being analyzed. These ions are separated into individual species based on their charge-to-mass ratios. The three main parts of an RGA are the ionizer, the mass analyzer and the ion detector.

Residual Gas Analyzers Detect and Quantify Contaminants

RGAs are used to monitor the quality of a vacuum and to detect minute traces of impurities in a low-pressure environment. A residual gas analyzer is specially designed to be used in either a laboratory or on the shop floor. They are primarily used for process control and contamination monitoring in vacuum systems. Gas analyzers can distinguish leaks from outgassing, detect helium, fingerprint the process background and determine the effectiveness of gas line purging.

Outgassing is the detachment of volatile molecules which can be absorbed or adsorbed on the surface or in the volume of a material. Outgassing prohibits fast achievement of low pressure valves and outgassing materials can deposit on surfaces, causing them damage.

Vacuum Cleanliness

Vacuum applications are becoming more important due to the large number of technologies that can only be applied in vacuum environments. The purpose of a vacuum is to remove molecules that could interfere with a process or equipment. In order to achieve optimal vacuum performance, vacuum vessels and components must be kept clean. An RGA helps achieve stringent levels of cleanliness while efficiently characterizing and quantifying micro-contaminants.

What “Target Condition” Means in Regards to IPC Workmanship

May 26, 2017 By meiadmin

What “Target Condition” Means in Regards to IPC Workmanship

IPC standards are essential to a company’s improvement. These standards help establish a level of quality and help communicate quality acceptance criteria across the industry. Electronics assemblies are divided into three classes in the following four categories:

Target Condition
Acceptable Condition
Defect Condition
Process Indicator Condition

IPC standards ensure that manufacturers remain accountable and credible to both their suppliers and their customers. IPC standards also provide a common language between designers, assemblers and testers. This helps eliminate confusion, speed up verification and reduce assembly costs.

What is “Target Condition”?

“Target condition” is defined as “close to perfect” and is the most desirable condition. It should be noted that “target condition” is not always achievable and might not be necessary for the reliability of an assembly. However, every assembly should strive for this ideal.

IPC Classes

IPC Classes are used to standardize the acceptability levels of electronics. The IPC definition of Classes is based on product functionality and functional operation criterion. The environmental and reliability requirements of a product determine its appropriate Class selection.

IPC Class 2 and IPC Class 3 are both workmanship standards for building electronics assemblies. These standards define what is considered acceptable when it comes to all things related to electronics circuit board assembly including build criteria for solder joints, heel fillets and component placement tolerance.

Unless otherwise noted on the product documentation, the default build standard is generally Class 2. Class 3 is a much more stringent workmanship standard and is typically reserved for products that require more intense levels of reliability such as those used by the medical and aerospace industries. For a product to be defined as Class 3, it must meet total IPC criteria.

Achieving the Ideal Cost-Performance Ratio

Electronics design, engineering and manufacturing involves a constant balance to achieve the ideal cost-performance ratio while still allowing for differentiation through innovation. IPC standards allow electronics manufacturers to clearly understand and meet their customer’s expectations for both performance and quality.

When you work with Means Engineering, Inc., you can rest assured that our experienced team will meet the IPC standard that your product requires.

Key Features of Vertically Integrated Manufacturing

April 7, 2017 By meiadmin

Key Features of Vertically Integrated Manufacturing

Manufacturing processes have changed a lot over the past few years. As demand for increased quality control, efficiency and lower costs have grown, so has the need for vertically integrated manufacturing.

Controlling the Value Chain

Manufacturers are able to achieve vertical integration when they control or own the elements within a value chain.

A company’s value chain consists of all of the businesses and individuals that play a part in the manufacturing process. The value chain begins with the people that supply the raw materials and ends with the customer that buys the finished product. Vertical manufacturing refers to the vertical integration of a value chain.

The basic idea behind vertical integration is that companies are able to control the beginning as well as the end of the supply chain.

Benefits of Vertical Integration

Vertically integrated manufacturing provides significant benefits when it comes to product manufacturing, assembly and supply. Vertical integration can reduce lead times, control quality requirements and help to keep costs low.

The most obvious benefit of a well-executed vertically integrated strategy is the ability to increase profit margins and reduce prices for customers, without negatively affecting the quality of a product. There are also numerous customer service benefits to vertical integration. When a company handles the manufacturing, transporting, marketing and retail of its products, they have the unique opportunity to improve their customer’s experience.

Increasing Efficiency in the Manufacturing Process

Vertical integration allows manufacturers to extend their reach as well as their process. When done properly, vertical integration improves process flow and expands the manufacturer’s offerings and capabilities.

Vertical integration increases efficiency and allows for beginning to end quality and engineering support that is compliant with international regulatory requirements. This can significantly decrease the time and money spent on bringing products to market.

Vertically Integrated Manufacturer in Carlsbad, California

From the design and engineering of complex devices through high-volume manufacturing, service and repair, Mean Engineering Inc. offers unparalleled vertical integration capabilities. Even when buying from our customer’s Approved Vendor List, we exercise our vast integration knowledge base to ensure that suppliers are performing to expectations. This helps our customers reach their vision in the most effective and economical way possible.

Means Engineering Inc. offers high quality, comprehensive product development and manufacturing services. We work directly with our clients from concept to completion. For information about our vertically integrated manufacturing services, please contact us today.