southern california Archives - Means Engineering, Inc.

How Start-Ups & Entrepreneurs Utilize Contract Manufacturing

November 13, 2020 By meiadmin

Entrepreneurs face many challenges when starting a business. In addition to figuring out how to properly market and brand their business, they must also determine how to bring new products to market. Obtaining office space and hiring and training marketing personnel and office management takes up a significant portion of a start-up’s budget, leaving very little to produce prototypes. Unfortunately, it’s not likely that a start-up will receive funding without a tangible product that investors can see and touch.

Outsourcing makes it possible for entrepreneurs and start-ups to produce products without acquiring additional space, equipment, machinery, or people. Utilizing a contract manufacturer not only saves money, it eliminates many of the issues commonly faced by new businesses.

Creating High Quality Products

No one wants to purchase an inferior product. Manufacturers must ensure the quality and consistency of every product produced.

Contract manufacturers often have years of experience. They provide a second set of eyes for design plans. When utilized during the design phase, contract manufacturers help spot areas that could benefit from improvement. This helps avoid costly repairs and recalls, saving the organization time and money and helping ensure customer satisfaction.

Ensuring Compliance with Industry Regulations

It’s important that manufacturers remain compliant with the safety and environmental regulations of their industry. Experienced contract manufacturers, like Means Engineering, carry multiple industry certifications to ensure compliance with internationally recognized standards for both safety and quality.

Choosing a Contract Manufacturer

When selecting a contract manufacturer to work with, it’s important to locate an established organization with experience working with multiple industries. Even if the organization does not plan to move into new markets, knowing this option is available can make a big difference if anything changes in the future.

For organizations that plan to obtain their own manufacturing equipment, building a good relationship with a contract manufacturer ensures the continuous flow of products. Contract manufacturers often help businesses fulfill orders during periods of high demand.

Means Engineering provides comprehensive contract manufacturing services for businesses across a wide range of industries. Please contact us for more information about our services.

Manufacturing During COVID-19 – Keeping Staff Safe

September 11, 2020 By meiadmin

The COVID-19 public health emergency has forced businesses around the globe to reconsider the ways they handle daily tasks and operations. For businesses in the manufacturing industry, leaders have had to implement important safety measures while preparing for increased uncertainty and long-lasting changes to the work environment.

Unlike a lot of other industries, manufacturing requires heavy equipment, machinery, adequate space, and often a controlled environment. This makes working from home extremely difficult.

In order to continue operations and ensure the organizations we support can continue to thrive in a struggling economy, Means Engineering has developed a COVID-19 response plan to ensure the safety and continued well-being of our employees.

At Mean Engineering, the health and safety of our staff has always been our top priority. We have been able to stay open during the public health emergency by implementing proper safety procedures. We also developed a COVID-19 task force. The main focus of this task force is to ensure the continuous safety and well-being of our employees.

In addition to implementing CDC recommended cleaning and sanitation practices, our COVID-19 task force monitors employee health, and implements additional safety measures as recommended by leading authorities.

Preventing the Spread of Disease Takes a Team Effort

At Means Engineering, our people don’t just help organizations create new products, they bring years of industry expertise and insight to the table. They offer viable solutions to a wide range of design and production development issues. Our people truly are what sets Means Engineering apart.

Our COVID-19 plan and task force were developed following Means Engineering’s core values. These values play an important role in every decision we make.

Passion – At the center of everything we do
Integrity– We hold ourselves to high standards and honor the commitments we make. We strive to embody integrity in all our processes, decisions, and interactions
Innovation– Innovation is in our DNA as a company. We are constantly developing and supporting new methods and ideas to build products
Quality– We are dedicated to quality and always strive to produce products that meet or exceed quality standards.
Ethics– We believe in doing what’s right for the customer, right for our employees, and right for the world

Every month, Means Engineering hosts company-sponsored events. These events allow us to unwind and connect as a team. We believe this is where innovation begins. Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had to put these events on hold. However, we continue to show our appreciation to our staff through food trucks, cookies, and by providing them with plenty of Means Engineering merchandise.

Although life looks a little different now, we plan to continue to grow and adjust as a team. We believe this will strengthen our ability to exceed our customers’ expectations for both quality and service.

Please contact us for more information about our contract manufacturing services and the steps we’re taking to keep our staff safe.

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.

Top 5 Challenges Faced By Electronics Manufacturers

April 17, 2020 By meiadmin

Technology changes extremely fast. This creates challenges for those responsible for the creation of electronic devices. In order to remain successful in today’s market, electronics companies need to be both flexible and quick. They must also be able to overcome existing and future challenges in the electronics market.

Dwindling Margins

The electronics industry remains one of the most competitive markets in the world. Global competition combined with emerging innovations and technology continue to drive prices down, reducing operating margins significantly. In order to remain profitable, companies must continuously improve processes and become more cost-efficient.

Complex Global Supply Chain

Companies often source components from several different sources. In fact, it’s not uncommon for components to visit multiple countries before reaching their final destination. This creates challenges for electronics manufacturers that must prove compliance with national standards.

Limited Product Lifecycles

As technology changes so do consumer preferences. In order to keep up, electronics manufacturers need to have effective New Product Introduction (NPI) processes in place.

Changing Demand

Consumer demand fluctuates all the time. Economic downturn can cause reduced sales and decreased demand for new products. Alternatively, consumer preference can cause spikes in demand, making it difficult for electronics manufacturers to keep up. It’s crucial that electronics manufacturers have efficient lean capacities in place to keep inventory aligned with consumer demand.

Sustainability

Electronics companies today must consider multiple factors when designing new products. As consumers and government agencies focus more on product disposal and its impact on the environment, companies need to consider complete product lifecycles.

Southern California Contract Manufacturer

Companies looking to create electronic products could benefit from consulting with an experienced contract manufacturer. The right CM could help these companies overcome several of the challenges mentioned in this blog post. In addition to reducing costs and time to market of new products, an electronics CM can also help electronics companies keep up during periods of high demand.

Contract manufacturers like Means Engineering offer a variety of services. Contacting a CM provides access to experienced individuals able to provide advice on a wide range of issues commonly experienced by electronics manufacturers.

Please contact us for more information about our contract manufacturing services.

4 Tips for Successful Integration With a Contract Manufacturer

December 20, 2019 By meiadmin

Businesses utilize contract manufacturers for numerous reasons. In addition to improved quality, the right CM can provide a business with the tools and resources needed for growth and success. Once a business makes the decision to outsource, it’s important they take some time to locate the right CM. The ideal partner will have ample experience creating the types of products and/or components the hiring company requires. Once selected, both parties should strive to develop a successful and long-lasting relationship.

While outsourcing can provide many benefits, it can also create headaches if not done right. It’s important to keep the lines of communication open and make sure everyone stays on the same page. The following tips can help ensure successful integration with a contract manufacturer.

Agree On a Consistent Performance Management System

In order to ensure success, both companies must agree on a common and consistent performance management system. This helps keep everything in line and keeps both businesses focused on the same goal. When determining the essential metrics, make sure to base them on total value, not just standard criteria such as quality, customer service, cost, and safety.

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

Making sure everyone is up-to-date and on the same page is crucial to the success of any project. When working with a CM, do not rely on email alone for communication. Schedule regular conference calls and/or in-person meetings to discuss progress along the way. In addition to providing information about the status of the project, regular communication helps make sure all issues are addressed and resolved immediately, before they affect the delivery date of the project.

Consider Vendor Consolidation

A company’s time and budget can get spread extremely thin when trying to maintain relationships with multiple suppliers. Before beginning a new project, consider vendor consolidation. Contract manufacturers provide a one stop solution for businesses, making consolidation easy.

Expect To Be In It For the Long Haul

Companies achieve the best results when they establish and maintain a long-term collaboration with their CM. In addition to providing more stability for strategic planning, longer commitments incentivize investments and innovation efforts. When looking for a contract manufacturer, search for a company that has experience working with multiple industries. This makes it possible to expand into new markets later.

Means Engineering offers a variety of contract manufacturing services. Please contact us for details.