san diego county Archives - Means Engineering, Inc.

Avoid These Common Mistakes When Outsourcing

June 19, 2020 By meiadmin

For organizations that produce or manufacture products, outsourcing provides numerous benefits. In addition to reducing costs and time to market, outsourcing part or all of production can significantly increase the quality of products produced. However, it’s extremely important that organizations make an informed decision when choosing to outsource.

Although most organizations see positive outcomes from outsourcing, selecting the wrong contract manufacturer can cause significant problems. This is especially true for OEMs producing electronic devices that rely on the correct assembly and testing of several complex components.

Organizations considering outsourcing will want to avoid the following common mistakes when working with a contract manufacturer:

Choosing the First CM on the List

The CM you choose can have a major impact on the quality and functionality of your finished product. It’s extremely important that OEMs take their time to interview several different CMs before selecting one to work with. OEMs might find it helpful to create a list of their needs and requirements, including any regulatory standards the finished product must comply with. These needs should be discussed in detail during the interview process.

Failing to Discuss Project Objectives

Maintaining good lines of communication ensures the success of the contract manufacturing relationship. Unfortunately, OEMs often fail to make the project objectives clear to their CM. This can lead to problems with the finished product. It’s crucial that OEMs provide clear instructions regarding project plans, specs, colors, and materials.

Not Putting Enough Trust in Their CM

Outsourcing requires a certain level of trust on the part of the OEM. In order to complete the project, OEMs must hand over project plans and blueprints. Occasionally, the CM may make recommendations to improve the quality or reduce the cost of production.

Choosing the CM With the Lowest Rates

Every business wants to reduce costs. However, choosing a CM with the lowest rates could end up costing OEMs more money in the long run. Low prices typically do not equate to high quality. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Means Engineering offers contract manufacturing services for organizations and OEMs. Our team has years of experience producing parts and components for multiple industries including medical, aerospace, and defense. Please contact us for information about our services.

Getting Ahead of Component Shortages

June 12, 2020 By meiadmin

Recent events have put much of the world on hold. This includes many of the manufacturers of the components used to create a number of electronic devices and widgets. While many manufacturers have returned to business as normal, component shortages could still pose a problem as everyone scrambles to catch up. It’s important that OEMs learn how to deal with potential shortages both now and in the future.

Component shortages occur for several reasons. Before taking any steps to remedy issues with the component supply chain, organizations must first understand the factors responsible for the current shortage. OEMs can then make an informed decision about how to best handle the situation.

Purchase Components in Advance

Organizations need to make sure they have sufficient cash flow to pay for components in advance. Some components have lead times up to fifty weeks. Purchasing in advance can save organizations a lot of trouble on future projects.

Utilize Trusted Partners

Today’s markets change rapidly. Many manufacturers have begun prioritizing larger customers. It’s important to make sure your organization has the resources to fulfill large orders, especially during periods of high demand.

Understand Potential Lead Times

Certain components may have lead times up to fifty weeks. This can cause delays when bringing products to market. It’s important that OEMs learn as much as they can about potential lead times so they can better understand the types of delays they may face in the future. Armed with the right information, OEMs can provide the best options to their customers.

Transparency during the production process is important to the overall success of any project. A quality CM provides clear answers about component delays and the reasons behind them.

Forecast Component Needs

Creating a forecast of component needs ensures everyone has a clear understanding of the project requirements. This keeps everyone on the same page and ensures the CM knows what is expected and when.

Southern California CM

Means Engineering offers contract manufacturing services to OEMs and other organizations looking to increase quality and reduce time to market. Our team has years of experience and understands what works and what doesn’t when it comes to electronic component design. Please contact us for more information about our services.

Save On Soft Costs By Utilizing a U.S. Based CM

December 27, 2019 By meiadmin

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.

Ensuring High Quality Products

December 13, 2019 By meiadmin

Thanks to increasing demand and rising consumer expectations, manufacturers today are under extreme pressure to create new products. Modern day consumers expect more features and functionality than ever before. They also expect a constant stream of new products hitting the market. This is especially true for the electronic device industry.

In order to stay competitive, manufacturers must continuously create and release new products that include the features most desired by consumers. These products must meet extremely high expectations for quality. No one wants to purchase an inferior product, especially a higher priced electronic device. In addition to consumer dissatisfaction and loss of business, problems with quality could lead to dangerous device malfunction and recall. Manufacturers will want to do everything they can to avoid these types of issues.

Quality Testing an Important Part of Production

Manufacturers must ensure that all products pass rigorous testing for quality. Testing parts and components prior to assembly can help locate issues sooner, when they’re easier to fix. This can save the manufacturer a significant amount of time and money. It also helps the manufacturer locate areas of the design that could benefit from improvement.

Contract Manufacturer Help OEMs Increase Product Quality

Companies looking to increase the quality and consistency of products produced can benefit from utilizing the help of a contract manufacturer. While OEMs often turn to CMs to help fill periods of high demand, the right CM can also help reduce production costs and ensure the creation of high quality products time and time again.

Experienced CMs, like Means Engineering, have years of experience producing a wide range of products. These companies have a Quality Management System in place to ensure every product meets strict requirements for quality and consistency.

Means Engineering uses advanced equipment and techniques to test each product and component. This testing allows their experts to catch issues sooner, before they are able to affect the quality of the finished product. Using thorough evaluation and testing, Mean Engineering’s team can even locate ways to reduce costs and improve product quality.

Please contact us to learn more about our comprehensive contract manufacturing services.

What to Look for in a Contract Manufacturer

November 1, 2019 By meiadmin

Deciding to partner with a contract manufacturer is one of the best decisions you can make for your business. CMs help reduce costs, improve quality, and reduce time-to-market. However, it’s important to learn all you can about the contract manufacturer before making your selection.

Capabilities

During the interview process, you’ll want to find out the capabilities of every contract manufacturer you talk to. Remember to consider both your current and potential needs when evaluating each company. It’s important to select a CM that can help your business grow and expand.

Experience

The work performed by contract manufacturers can vary greatly from one company to the next. Don’t be afraid to ask about the types of projects and industries each company has worked with. Choosing a CM that has experience with multiple industries puts you in the best position to expand into new markets later.

Process

Each company will probably have their own way of handling production process. You’ll want to find a company whose process matches your own business operations.

People

The overall success of your project will depend heavily on the people assigned to it. When speaking with potential candidates, make sure you talk to the people that will actually be working on your project. These are the people who can provide the most insight and help you understand how the project will progress. Make sure you speak with everyone involved including those responsible for assembly and testing.

Equipment & Technology

Creating electronic devices requires specialized equipment and technology. Make sure the company you partner with has access to up-to-date tools, techniques, and equipment.

Capacity

The contract manufacturer you choose should have the capacity to handle your project. Consider the size and complexity of your project when selecting a company to work with. Keep in mind that if your project is their biggest, the CM might run into trouble completing your order. Another extreme, if your project is their smallest, they might not give you the attention you deserve. It’s best to sit somewhere in the middle.

There are many things to consider when choosing a contract manufacturer. If you have questions or would like to talk to someone about your project, Means Engineering can help. Please contact us for details.