Means Engineering, Inc.

Product development engineering in medical, industrial, semiconductor equipment & military with a standard of excellence in form, function and design.

(760) 931-9452 | info@meanseng.com
5927 Geiger Court, Carlsbad, CA 92008-7305

Importance of Quality Control in Electronics Manufacturing

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Importance of Quality Control in Electronics Manufacturing

Outsourced manufacturing is one of the fastest growing trends in the electronics industry today. Many businesses throughout the world use contract manufacturing as a way to cut costs and reduce time to market. This widely accepted business strategy helps businesses of all shapes and sizes remain competitive in an ever-changing marketplace. As a result, many contract manufacturers are strengthening their position by upgrading their facilities and improving their practices.

Using a Contract Manufacturer to Produce Electronic Parts

While contract manufacturers used to only provide assembly of electronics components, many now offer design and full production of products. This often includes testing for quality. Contract manufacturers that offer testing must be extremely careful to follow good manufacturing practices, especially when producing products for demanding fields.

Outsourcing your manufacturing and testing of products has a number of benefits including capital risk reductions, increased asset productivity and access to the latest technologies. When you use a contract manufacturer, they handle everything for you, allowing you to focus your attention on other aspects of your business. Using a contract manufacturer also allows you to catch production issues early, when they can be addressed more effectively.

ISO 9001 Certified Contract Manufacturer

The quality of parts produced is extremely important. Effective quality control measures must be in place to ensure overall quality and reliability of electronic parts produced. In addition to quality, other requirements must also be met such as product yields and time to market.

When selecting a contract manufacturer to work with, you will need to ensure they have the proper certifications and standards in place. Compliance with nationally recognized standards such as ISO 9001 ensures consistent, high quality production.

Final Thoughts

As electronic assemblies become more complex, more and more emphasis is being placed on standardizing quality measurement. However, this can be difficult across multiple assemblies and components.

The contract manufacturer you use should have multiple capabilities and certifications. Means Engineering, Inc. is ISO 9001, AS 9100 and IOS 13485 certified to ensure consistent quality of all parts produced. We are committed to meeting and exceeding our customer’s ever-changing quality requirements. We work directly with you throughout the entire manufacturing process.

New Product Creation With the Help of a Contract Manufacturer

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New Product Creation With the Help of a Contract Manufacturer

Whether you are an entrepreneur or you own a large company, new product development takes a lot of time and resources. In order to test a new product or sell your idea, you need to have something to show potential buyers. A contract manufacturer can be useful in these types of situations.

A contract manufacturer produces products under the label or brand of the company that hires them. This reduces costs and time to market, while increasing the quality and consistency of products produced.

It’s important to select a contract manufacturer with ample experience. The following tips should be considered before working with a contract manufacturer for new product development.

Always Choose Quality Over Quantity

The most expensive part of product development is the production phase. This part of production involves expensive and time-consuming processes and prep work. Once the production phase is complete, the costs go down. Typically, the more products you purchase, the less each will cost to produce.

While you might be tempted to take advantage of the savings and purchase more product than you need, this can actually end up costing you more on storage and waste.

Price

The cost of product development can vary widely based on a number of factors. Going with the lowest price is typically not the best option. Lower prices are often associated with poor craftsmanship and sub-standard materials.

However, a higher cost isn’t always equivalent to a better product. Sometimes, big name companies charge more for the same quality you can get elsewhere for less. It’s important to learn as much as you can about the manufacturing process, the company you’re working with, and what you are getting for your agreed upon price.

Specifications

A clear set of specifications is a crucial part of the manufacturing process. Specifications typically include a list of materials that will be used to make the product, product dimensions and other important details.

It’s extremely important to communicate your specifications with your contract manufacturer. Failing to do so can lead to the creation of an inferior product. Before the manufacturing process begins, clearly discuss the size, color, materials and how your product should be created. This will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Contract Manufacturing in San Diego County

Contract manufacturing is an excellent way to produce new products. It’s crucial that you select a contract manufacturer that has experience with a wide range of industries and materials. It’s also important that your contract manufacturer has quality control measures in place. Ensure that they are ISO 9001, AS9100 and IOS 13485 certified.

Using a Contract Manufacturer for New Product Development

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Using a Contract Manufacturer for New Product Development

 As a leading Southern California contract manufacturer, Means Engineering, Inc. has a lot of experience with new product development. We understand what’s important when looking for a company to design and build your product. We also know which details are essential to a positive experience.

Choosing a Contract Manufacturer

 You have many options when it comes to selecting the company responsible for the design and build of your product. However, there are a few things that should be considered before partnering with a contract manufacturer.

The contract manufacturer you choose needs to have the capability you require and should have multiple capabilities. Even if you do not think you need it now, it’s a good idea to select a company that has experience with a wide range of materials and processes. The company you choose should be able to provide engineering support. Having an experienced engineering team on your side can help you spot design flaws you might have missed. They can also suggest ways to reduce cost and time to market.

In order to ensure the highest quality, it’s crucial to select a contract manufacturer that is ISO certified. ISO standards are extremely strict in terms of quality control. Producing a part quickly and inexpensively does you absolutely no good if it does not meet quality standards.

Means Engineering, Inc. is ISO 9001, AS9100 and IOS 13485 certified. This ensures high quality products, time and time again.

Realistic Expectations

It’s not uncommon for companies to have unrealistic expectations when starting the product development process. Many companies underestimate the cost and time it will take for the product to go to market. Before assuming anything, it’s important to make sure that you have all of the facts.

Talk to your suppliers, vendors and contract manufacturers. They are in the best position to provide you with accurate cost and time to market estimates.

Final Thoughts

Before selecting a contract manufacturer for new product development, make sure that you check their references and view their previous work. Respectable companies will be happy to share this information with you.

Means Engineering, Inc. has extensive experience working with a variety of industries including the medical, industrial, semiconductor and defense industries. We provide smart, turnkey solutions and work directly with our clients from concept to completion.

“Going Green” – What it Means for Electronics Manufacturing

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“Going Green” – What it Means for Electronics Manufacturing

 “Going green” means to learn about and utilize practices that lead to environmentally friendly decisions with the ultimate intention of protecting our environment and our resources for future generations. Going green is becoming more and more important every day.

Improper Disposal of E-Waste Creates a Number of Environmental Problems

When electronic devices end up in our landfills, toxic substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium leach into our soil, eventually contaminating our groundwater. Electronic waste must be disposed of properly in order to protect our environment from these harmful substances.

The toxic materials found in electronic devices are not only harmful for our environment, but also for the workers creating these products. Green electronics manufacturing seeks to reduce the amount of harmful substances used in electronic devices, and the risks associated with them.

Challenges Faced By Electronics Manufacturers

Electronics manufacturers are now faced with the unique challenge of designing, developing, building and installing electronics while paying special attention to the product’s environmental impact throughout its entire lifecycle.

Manufacturing electronics creates a lot of waste. Electronics manufacturers are encouraged to reduce the amount of e-waste by designing products that minimize the amount of harmful substances used and by recycling and reusing as much as possible. Green manufacturing also includes the manufacture of products with longer lifecycles. This helps further reduce the amount of e-waste created by the electronics industry.

Green manufacturing focuses on reducing parts, rationing materials and reusing components. When done right, green manufacturing allows electronics manufacturers to create environmentally friendly products while maintaining the same quality and reliability of the electronics they produce.

Consumer Responsibility

More than twenty million tons of e-waste is produced every single year. The U.S. alone produces 3.4 million tons per year. Electronic waste makes up as much as 5% of the world’s municipal solid waste.

Consumers are encouraged to dispose of e-waste properly. Computers, cell phones and household electronics should never be disposed of with regular trash. Most cities have special waste management services to handle e-waste. It’s important to check local guidelines regarding the proper disposal of e-waste.

 

 

 

How Do Printed Circuit Boards Work?

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How Do Printed Circuit Boards Work?

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are used to support and wire the components in many electronic devices. In fact, almost every electronic device available today contains at least one PCB. While many simple electronic devices use single layer PCBs, the PCBs in complex devices may have as many as twelve layers. PCBs provide electricity and connectivity to the parts of an electronic device.

How PCBs Are Made

PCBs are made by mounting components on a non-conductive board. These components are connected by small pathways called traces. In addition to the traces, PCBs have several small holes. These holes allow components to sit flush with the surface of the board.

When creating PCBs, electronic engineers must fit several components on a very small space. Components added to printed circuit boards may include microchips, diodes, registers and switches. The traces connect each of the components and provide them with electricity. These connections are crucial to the proper operation of electronic devices. This is why printed circuit boards are so important to electronic engineering.

The bottom layer of a PCB is non-conductive. The top layer is made from a sheet of metal. The metal layer is printed with etch-resistant ink. It is then etched with special chemicals that remove all but the printed design. The components are then connected through soldering. Thousands of printed circuit boards can be printed at one time.

PCB Design

PCBs are typically designed on a computer. This allows electronic engineers to thoroughly test the PCB before it is produced. It also allows for the ideal arrangement of the parts. After design, the printed circuit board can be printed. PCBs are typically designed with a Computer Aided Design or CAD program. CAD software has replaced the need for manual drafting, which is often inefficient.

 

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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