CM Archives - Page 14 of 30 - Means Engineering, Inc.

Creating a Prototype

October 25, 2019 By meiadmin

Creating a prototype is an extremely important part of the invention process. A prototype is basically a 3-D version of your idea. Creating a prototype provides you with a physical version of your vision that you and others can touch and feel.

Prototypes are often used for demonstration and presentation purposes. They can help attract investors and help your business appeal to your intended audience. Although your prototype probably won’t look exactly like the finished product, it provides an excellent starting point for any project.

Test and Refine the Functionality of Your Product

While your idea might look great on paper, it’s not until you actually begin creating it that you get to see how well it works. Building a prototype allows you to test your design and fix flaws that you might not have considered during the design process. This is possibly the greatest benefit of developing a prototype.

Test the Performance of Your Materials

Although you may have decided to use metal for your project, sometimes when you start building you realize plastic performs better and/or costs less. This type of situation happens more often than most people believe. Creating a prototype allows you to test out various materials and discover what works and what does not.

Understand Your Product Better

Building a prototype helps you better understand your product. This enables you to describe the product more efficiently to both your team and potential business partners.

Others Will Take You More Seriously

Being able to present a prototype allows you to show potential clients, business partners, investors, and even your attorney that you are serious about your idea. This might be just what you need to get the attention you deserve.

Developing a Prototype

You have two options when it comes to the creation of your prototype: you can attempt to build it yourself or you can partner with an experienced contract manufacturer. Many start-ups and small businesses begin by making a prototype out of everyday materials. If the company decides to move forward with their invention, they will typically need to create a pre-production prototype as well. This is when a contract manufacturer can help. A quality CM can help locate flaws in the design and discover ways to cut costs and improve the overall quality of the finished product. These are experienced individuals capable of creating a wide range of prototypes.

Turning Ideas Into Products

October 18, 2019 By meiadmin

Many of us don’t think much about the electronic products we use every day. However, these products have become an important part of our daily lives.

The companies responsible for making appliances, smart phones, and other electronic devices all started out the same. They each had an original idea. While it might seem like these products popped up overnight, this wasn’t how it happened at all. Turning ideas into reality takes a lot of time, trial and error, and research.

Research

Creating a new product requires a lot of research. It’s important that companies take the time necessary to familiarize themselves with the manufacturing process and their intended audience. It’s also crucial to look up information about patent protection. The last thing a company wants is to create a product that infringes on someone else’s copyright or intellectual property.

Timing

Timing is one of the biggest factors affecting the success of new products. Companies that wait too long to release new products often find that their competition has already beat them to it. On the other hand, companies that release new products before anyone else could face a market that’s not quite ready for what’s being offered. It takes time and a lot of research to figure out the perfect timing.

Experience

Start-ups and small businesses don’t typically have the funding or experience necessary to bring new products to market. While these companies may have fresh and exciting new ideas, turning these ideas into products takes more than good intentions.

Smaller companies could benefit from working with an experienced contract manufacturer. Hiring a CM provides instant access to the tools, techniques, technology, and people needed to bring new products to market. These companies understand the electronics market and know what works and what does not.

Testing

It’s important that companies test each component and part throughout the entire production process. This helps locate problems sooner, when they are easier to fix. Regular testing also helps ensure the finished product performs as expected.

Means Engineering, Inc. offers contract manufacturing services for businesses of all shapes and sizes across a wide range of industries. Please contact us to learn how we can help your company turn ideas into products.

Choosing a CM – Questions Every Company Should Ask

October 11, 2019 By meiadmin

Partnering with a contract manufacturer provides numerous benefits for companies of all shapes and sizes. The right contract manufacturer can help your business grow and expand into new markets. However, it’s important to take some time to research several companies before selecting a contract manufacturer to work with. This is crucial, as you’ll want to make sure the company you work with provides flexibility and room for growth. This helps ensure a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

You’ll want to ask the following questions prior to selecting a CM:

Does the contract manufacturer provide information when requested?

During the interview process, you’ll want to look for a CM that provides information about the manufacturing process, material costs, labor costs, and other overhead costs when asked. If the company you speak with is not upfront and open now, you might have trouble getting information later.

Does the contract manufacturer have a quality assurance program in place?

The right contract manufacturer can help your company produce high quality products and components. However, it’s important to remember that quality can vary from one CM to the next. In order to ensure the highest quality, look for a contract manufacturer that has adopted a comprehensive Quality Management System. The CM you choose should be registered to ISO 9001 and AS 9100.

Is the contract manufacturer’s facility neat and organized?

The cleanliness and organization of a CM’s facility can tell you a lot about how serious they are about quality control. A clean, well-lit, and organized facility ensures projects are completed in a safe and professional manner.

Is the contract manufacturer the right size for your business?

It’s important to select the right-size contract manufacturer for your business. If you are a small to mid-size company, you probably don’t have the same needs as a larger organization. In fact, a larger scale CM might not even take smaller projects.

Will the contract manufacturer protect your intellectual property?

Make sure that the contract manufacturer you choose has processes in place to protect your intellectual property from possible infringes. Don’t be afraid to ask the CM about how they plan to protect your sensitive information.

Means Engineering, Inc. offers a variety of contract manufacturing services to businesses across a wide range of industries. Please contact us for more information about our services.

4 Ways Your CM Should Support Your Business

October 4, 2019 By meiadmin

Working with a contract manufacturer is an excellent way to improve the quality of your company’s products. While you probably already know that using a CM can help reduce costs and improve time to market, it’s important to consider your future goals and whether or not the selected CM can support them. Before choosing a company to work with, make sure that they are able to offer your company the following:

Flexibility

It’s important that your business isn’t restricted by your contract manufacturer’s limitations. Make sure you take the time to find a quality CM that has a flexible team, extensive experience, and a robust quality assurance system in place to support a wide range of needs. Even if you aren’t considering expanding into new markets now, you want to make sure you have the option later.

Scalability

Choose a contract manufacturer that can grow with your business. Many start-ups and small businesses begin with small volume projects. Over time, these companies often find their needs change. The last thing you want is to have to locate a new CM if your needs become too much for your contract manufacturer to handle.

Technology

Technology changes all the time. When it comes to developing new or improving existing products or components, your contract manufacturer should have access to the proper tools and people. This is especially important for companies looking to create electronic devices. The contract manufacturer you choose should utilize the latest techniques and have access to up-to-date technologies. Their people should know how to leverage these technologies to create consistent, high quality products.

Business Contingency Planning

No matter how much you prepare, unforeseen circumstances can occur and impact product supply. It’s crucial that you select a contract manufacturer with a solid contingency plan in place. This helps ensure continuous supply of product even in the event of a natural disaster or other major event.

Means Engineering, Inc. offers contract manufacturing services to businesses across a wide range of industries. We have the tools, people, and technology needed to help your business succeed. Please contact us for information about our services.

Choosing the Right Contract Manufacturer for Your Needs

September 20, 2019 By meiadmin

Many companies struggle to find the right-size contract manufacturer. It’s important to learn as much as you can before selecting a partner to work with. This puts you in the best position to make an informed, educated decision.

Strive to Be At Least 10% of the CM’s Revenue

Although you might need to spend less than ten percent at first, you’ll want to strive to become at least 10 percent of the CM’s revenue within a year. Maintaining a steady revenue for the CM ensures a mutually beneficial relationship for both yourself and the contract manufacturer. It’s important to note that this rule applies to the actual plant that produces your products.

Stay at or Below 50% of the CM’s Revenue

Although you’ll want to ensure a consistent revenue stream for the CM, it’s important to avoid a potentially unstable situation. If your CM relies on you to sustain their business, you could find yourself in trouble if your business takes a downturn. You never want to be more than 50% of your CM’s total revenue.

Ask to Speak With the Plant Manager

Most contract manufacturers will not disclose financial information. This can make it difficult to determine plant revenue. When choosing a partner, ask to speak with the plant manager. If your potential spend is well below ten percent, they likely won’t take the time to meet with you. This is also an excellent way to gauge your relationship with your CM.

Be Honest

While you want to make sure the contract manufacturer you choose wants to work with you, it’s important not to lie or mislead. Don’t imply that you plan to spend more than you actually have available to spend. This will only cause problems.

Final Thoughts

Searching for the right-size contract manufacturer for your needs isn’t about getting the best price. It’s about ensuring the CM values your relationship. This can go a long way towards your success. Look for a contract manufacturer that takes the time to listen and understand their clients.

Means Engineering offers a variety of contract manufacturing services. We work with each of our clients to evaluate their needs and develop a customized solution. Please contact us for more information about our services.