In our Part 1 of this series, we discussed the needs assessment and quote preparation stages of the order flow and how important they are to a successful project. The process continues as we enter into the launch phase, which starts once an order is received for a new PCB assembly.
Original equipment manufacturers whose products include circuit board assemblies have an interesting challenge. Whether you're looking to grow your business or sustain a legacy product line, you must be very detailed about the component inventory you carry and the way you plan for the future. The challenge comes in trying to forecast how many pieces you'll need and when. You need to keep circuit boards on hand for your end product - but how many? By managing your inventory and planning for growth effectively, you can better position yourself for success.
Finding a reliable contract electronic assembler that is qualified to handle your printed circuit board jobs can be a challenge for any business, but when your operation is small or mid-sized, it can feel downright impossible. In order for you to keep up with your production demands, to meet consumer needs and make a profit, you need your PCBs manufactured and returned to you in a timely manner. Unfortunately, if your batch sizes aren't large, you may find that your jobs just don't take priority. But why is this? Why should your orders go on the back burner simply because of their size? Your small jobs matter to you just as much as your high volume work does, but to a high-speed/high-volume CM, this isn’t the case. Because of this, your smaller PCB jobs may be treated as a hassle at best, and an annoyance at worst.
In a company that handles recurring small batch work on printed circuit board assembly, project requirements and specifications can vary a lot. The key to delivering high-quality work in a timely manner is to get the project methodology down to a science. It can't be done without a solid understanding on both sides of the contract: the assembling company must know what the customer needs, and the customer must validate that work undertaken by the company is accurate.
This morning I woke up thinking about analytics. Sounds odd, I know. But, while doing my morning current events browsing, I read that the tech company of all tech companies (Apple) acquired Topsy Labs, a social media analytics company. Apple, an electronic manufacturing company known for its innovative new products, is on to something again. This time it’s not a new iPhone or iPad. Nope, this time it’s analytics.
Most of the electronics manufacturers you'll see around these days are the giants – large batch powerhouses that can serve the largest needs and highest demands. But the market doesn't just consist of jobs with large batch requirements; and a traditional contract manufacturer often doesn't have the infrastructure designed to handle small batches. They may even be resistant to provide small batch services because the overhead is high and the profitability low.
Shops that are set up to handle constant large batch circuit assembly orders don't efficiently fill one-off, intermittent, or recurring small batch orders of custom circuit boards. The space and workforce needed to handle these orders has to either be:
The manufacturing economy is tough right now, and the way to stand out in the custom electronics field is to deliver customer service that doesn't just meet and exceed your customers' needs – it also has to provide them with resources and support that they can't get anywhere else. If you're thinking of your relationship with customers as primarily transactional, you're thinking of the bare minimum. What makes custom electronics companies thrive is the richness of service they provide.
Let's face it - finding a reliable contract manufacturer to handle your small batch orders can be a real challenge. Not only do you need to hire a company with the specific skill sets required to handle your work, but you also need a business that will act as a true partner, paying careful attention to your needs. How can you find the perfect contract manufacturing company? In order to make the best decision, here's a look at eight key things that you should consider when contracting with a third party manufacturer.
