Many of the customers who find their way to RBB or other expert job shops, often do so by surprise. Several industry dynamics put the small batch customer at a disadvantage.

Last Thursday, February 7th, RBB members attended the Smart Business "Evolution of Manufacturing" Awards Luncheon at Cuyahoga Community College’s newly opened Advanced Technology & Training Center (ATTC).

If you operate a business in the made-to-order, small batch world then you face a set of challenges that simply comes with the territory. Whether you’re making cookies, candles or custom circuit boards, by relentlessly improving the following important elements, you can significantly distance yourself from your competitors. They sound obvious – but to sustain an ongoing competitive advantage, they must be approached consciously with a fresh, questioning mindset.

The Importance of Thorough Onboarding

Many companies today are realizing the importance of a thorough onboarding process for their new employees, and are improving their orientation plans accordingly. Getting new employees acclimated to the company quickly is beneficial to both the employee and your company. The first 90 days is fundamental - the behaviors, habits, and attitudes developed during this time will likely determine their success with your company. It’s your responsibility to give them every possible tool, training, and bit of information available so they can hit the ground running.

When SmartBusiness Cleveland Magazine honored RBB Systems with its 2010 Evolution of Manufacturing Award, it drew attention to the growing separation of RBB’s business model from the rest of the pack of reputable contract manufacturers. All the way back in 2008, RBB had announced that it had “left the field” of large batches permanently behind. Since these high volume (gravy) runs had always been the Holy Grail, SmartBusiness was intrigued.

Are you experiencing a significant amount of rework and repair in your commercial electronic assemblies job shop? One of the most common causes is ESD or Electrostatic Discharge. Utilizing safe practices is a must, every electronic shop should be doing so, but first you need to understand what causes ESD.

Mistake #1: Assume That Your Electronic Contract Manufacturer (ECM) Can Read Your Mind!

Your ECM partner works with many customers, each of whom has their own technical standards and style of working. Don’t allow yourself to think that your electronics manufacturer's abundant technical expertise somehow includes clairvoyance!

You Made The Decision.. Now What? 

Your company is facing one or more of these situations and has made the decision to outsource the manufacture of electronic circuit board assemblies, control panels and/or box-build assemblies.

Prototypes – From a Customer’s Perspective

Our team has a great idea for a unique and powerful new product. If we don’t act quickly, someone else will launch a competing device soon. The first company out there usually captures the greatest market share; we’re in a hurry to get some prototype circuit boards built so we can tweak them and get ready for full production.

Recently, I came across the article "Social Media- Finally Ready for Electronics Manufacturing?" The post was written by Beth Dickinson, a Marketing Consultant for the company TFI, which provides strategic advice and market insights to clients worldwide. The blog post posed the question: What does social media have to offer component distributors, solder-paste makers, and contract manufacturers?