When it’s time to upgrade your product’s electro-mechanical assembly,
there are several factors to consider. During the proposal process, you
will want your contract manufacturer to help you maintain costs while
meeting the specific requirements of the project. Their analysis should
include any design changes as well as a process flow, testing, timing and
pricing.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind:
- Design and Revision
The technology and performance of electro-mechanical assemblies, including
SMT and PCB construction are changing rapidly and your product’s
components should regularly be evaluated to maintain optimum quality and
cost. Your manufacturing partner should be able to help you negotiate this
process. Their staff of engineers will be able to assess and evaluate yo
current product and make recommendations. They can help you modify an
existing design and understand the benefits and drawbacks of different
production methods at your disposal. - Software Development
For your product to succeed, it needs both the best hardware and the best
software. An experienced electro-mechanical assembly partner will have
engineers on staff to handle your software needs. As the world moves to
the “Internet of Things” more electro-mechanical products are being
designed with SMART technology. If you think your product will benefit
from this capability, build it in now, while you are in the re-design
process. - Testing For The Real World
Electronics endure a lot of use. They need to be built with that usage in
mind, and tested to be sure they will do the job they’ve been designed to
do. During this phase, the manufacturing partner will check for
durability, environmental factors and structural integrity. Many OEMs fail
to build in time for the testing phase, but from an engineering
perspective, it is mission critical. A great design concept is just that
until it is tested and proven to meet the requirements of the project. - Timing and Tracking
Timing is everything. If you are relying on a part to be delivered within
a specific time frame, make sure these requirements are fully baked into
your final product assembly. Using today’s modern component tracking
processes like RFID tags and barcodes, your manufacturing partner can
monitor every part so that only legitimate parts are used and the product
avoids specification drift. Having this level of oversight can ensure that
the product you’ve requested remains up to spec. - Logistic and Inventory Support
In today’ demanding business environment, OEMs need to work with reliable
manufacturers who have the ability to respond to changing market
conditions. Delivery schedules must be met, so it’s important to work with
vendors who can offer JIT (Just-In-Time) inventory support or VMI (Vendor
Managed Inventory) services. These arrangements help take the risk out of
buying and storing more inventory than you need at the time. - Support After The Sale
A good manufacturing partner can handle support and repair services after
the sale is concluded. They’ll be more familiar with the product, and they
have an interest in making sure your customers are happy: it enhances
their reputation and brings more business their way.
If you’re looking for a contract manufacturer to help in developing your
new product, consider Mars International. Whether you need to develop a
brand new electro-mechanical assembly or improve on an existing one, we
have the skills and the knowledge to develop a manufacturing strategy to
meet your quality, performance, cost and delivery needs.