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

Trends Impacting Medical Device Manufacturing

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The medical device industry plays an important role in the lives of humans. Medical devices perform a number of functions designed to enhance and enrich the lives of the people that use them. Some devices even assist with lifesaving procedures. Regardless of how they are used, humans would be much worse off without these important devices.

Every year new trends emerge that impact the medical device industry. Medical device manufacturers have had to adjust to meet changes to rules and regulations and shifting economies.

Miniaturization

Medical devices get smaller each year. This trend isn’t going anywhere either. As the medical industry utilizes more laparoscopic and catheter-based technologies, medical device manufacturers will need to continue to improve functionality of these miniature devices.

Automation

As technology evolves, we’re seeing an increase of automation in the medical device manufacturing process. Manufacturing employees today must know how to operate the technology used to by computer-directed machinery.

Partnerships With U.S. Based Contract Manufacturers

The cost of manufacturing overseas is becoming more expensive. In fact, outsourcing costs can reach as high if not higher than keeping production in the United States. This is leading to an increase in partnerships with U.S. based contract manufacturers.

Quality Assurance

Partnering with an experienced contract manufacturer helps ensure the consistency and reliability of finished products. This is extremely important in the medical device industry as manufacturers of these important devices are under a lot of pressure to comply with strict rules and regulations. The right contract manufacturer will have quality assurance processes in place to determine consistent quality throughout every stage of production. This allows manufacturers to catch issues long before they cause a problem with the finished product. It also allows for continuous improvement.

Contract Manufacturing for the Medical Device Industry

Means Engineering provides a variety of contract manufacturing services. We have years of experience working with the medical device industry and understand the strict rules and regulations of the medical device industry. Our team works directly with you to design, produce, and test a wide range of products. Our services enable growth and improve the likelihood of repeat sales and referrals.

Investing in Quality Manufacturing

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Consumers today have extremely high expectations when it comes to quality. In addition to excellent product performance, consumers expect products with an increasing number of features and functionality. Products that fail to meet consumer expectations frequently fall behind the competition. Just one defect can lead to loss of business and reputation.

Producing High Quality Products

Poor quality products are subject to recall. These recalls cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. It’s crucial that organizations do all they can to ensure the production of high quality products.

Working with a contract manufacturer can help improve product quality. Contract manufacturers have years of experience creating products for a wide range of industries. They know what works and what doesn’t. When utilized during the design process, an experienced contract manufacturer knows how to adjust design plans to improve quality. They have the people, equipment, and processes in place to ensure the production of high quality products.

Many people worry that investing in a contract manufacturer isn’t worth the cost. While using a contract manufacturer might require an initial investment, this is nothing compared to the costs associated with recalls and defect repairs.

Quality Assurance

In order to ensure the production of high quality products, testing must take place throughout the entire manufacturing process. Testing at every stage of production ensures each component meets strict requirements for quality and reliability.

When choosing a contract manufacturer to work with, it’s important to select one with quality assurance processes in place. These are the processes that occur before, during, and after production to ensure each product conforms to company standards. This is different than quality control which refers to the testing of products for functionality and form. Quality assurance helps catch potential defects before they are able to affect the performance of the finished product. Catching these defects early helps mitigate problems and allows for continuous improvements throughout production.

Means Engineering uses technology and techniques to ensure the production of high quality products time and time again. Please contact us for more information about our contract manufacturing services.

 

 

 

How to Get the Most Out of Your Contract Manufacturing Partnership

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Companies today are under a lot of pressure to reduce costs while meeting high demands for both quality and service. This is especially true for companies responsible for the creation of electronic devices. Outsourcing is one of the best ways to reduce production costs. A quality contract manufacturer can also help improve the quality of finished products. This increases customer satisfaction and the chance of repeat business and referrals.

Deciding to partner with a contract manufacturer is one of the smartest decisions a company can make. This partnership provides access to experts able to produce complex devices in less time and at a lower cost than possible with in-house production. This partnership allows companies to grow and expand into new markets. It also improves consumer opinion, increasing brand recognition and performance.

It’s important to take your time and do your research before selecting a contract manufacturer to work with. Once a quality contract manufacturer has been found, the following can help you get the most out of your contract manufacturing partnership.

Contract Agreements

Agreeing on a contract is an important first step in your partnership. The contract determines the milestones, requirements, and cost of your project. The goal is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between your company and the contract manufacturer. Make sure you understand the contract manufacturer’s limitations and that you clearly express your expectations.

Establish a Relationship

Building a meaningful relationship with your contract manufacturer ensures they’ll be there when you need them later down the line. The relationship between a company and a contract manufacturer is symbiotic; your success equals their success.

Establish Stringent Quality Parameters

One of the biggest benefits of working with a contract manufacturer is enhanced quality of the finished product and/or components. It’s important to establish stringent quality parameters from the start so that everyone is on the same page. For best results, look for a contract manufacturer that has quality assurance parameters similar to your own.

Means Engineering has years of experience providing a wide range of contract manufacturing services. We work directly with each of our clients to develop a long-lasting mutually beneficial relationship. Please contact us for more information about our services.

 

More Companies Using U.S. Contract Manufacturers Over Asian Firms

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Contract manufacturers produce products under the label or brand of the company that hires them. Businesses often enlist the help of a CM to fulfill orders in periods of high demand and to reduce costs and time to market.

Utilizing a contract manufacturer is an extremely smart business move. Businesses across a wide range of industries turn to contract manufacturers to help with the production of a wide range of products and components.

Until recently, companies frequently outsourced their manufacturing to Asia. However, labor rates in Asia have risen steeply over the past few years, causing manufacturing costs to rise. This has bridged the gap between Asian and American contract manufacturers. In fact, when you consider manufacturing costs, customs fees, shipping charges, duties, and other fees, producing products in Asia costs about the same as producing them in the United States.

Outsourcing Production to a U.S. Based Contract Manufacturer

When outsourcing production to another country, it can be difficult to know for sure what’s happening with your order. Communication problems are common due to time differences and language barriers. Shipping issues can delay the time it takes to receive products. Products traveling from Asian countries must pass customs and businesses must meet strict requirements before receiving their product. Costs can add up if additional paperwork is required. Delays can lead to expensive storage charges while problems get sorted out.

There are numerous benefits to partnering with a U.S. based contract manufacturer. When you work with an American firm like Means Engineering, you’ll always know the status of your order. You’ll also have intellectual property protection. American CMs operate under U.S. law which ensures compliance with labor laws. When you outsource the work to another country, you risk contracting a firm that uses unethical labor sources.

At Means Engineering, we provide clear communication throughout the entire process. We work directly with you from concept to completion to ensure you get exactly what you want when you want it.

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

New Product Introductions (NPI)

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The NPI process is one of the most important parts of contract manufacturing. This is especially true for contract manufacturers responsible for the creation of electronic products and components.

It’s important to ask about NPI processes when choosing a CM to work with. The company you choose should have robust processes in place. They should take care to ensure every product is introduced into their manufacturing operation in a tightly controlled manner.

Visibility

Contract manufacturers often have several different projects going at once. It’s important that the CM you work with has a way to alert the engineering team of new builds. Ideally, the engineering team should receive a report detailing the customer name, batch quantity, part number, work order number, customer request date, order acknowledgement date, and the name of the customer’s account manager. Once the engineering team has the report, they can create an NPI number for the order.

Data Verification

While it’s not uncommon for additional data to come after the original request for quote, this can lead to problems with production. Before beginning any work on the project, the engineering team must first verify that they have all data and equipment needed to complete the first build.

Batch Size

Prior to production, the CM must determine how many products to produce. While it can be tempting to run the entire batch quantity on the first run, this is never a good idea. Running a smaller quantity allows CMs to catch potential problems with the product prior to volume manufacturing. This can save a considerable amount of time and effort in the future.

Assembly

It’s important that the NPI engineer oversees all parts of production including testing. The notes they keep throughout this process can be used to improve the quality of the next batch.

New Products

It’s important to note that the NPI process shouldn’t be limited to brand new products. It should also apply to products that are essentially new to the CM, meaning they’ve never worked on them before.

Means Engineering, Inc. provides a variety of contract manufacturing services. Our team works directly with you throughout the NPI process. Please contact us for more information about our comprehensive 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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