One of the common mistakes that many manufacturers make is not expecting more out of their electronic contract manufacturing partner. Many electronic contract manufacturers out there will do the bare minimum, meaning that they will limit the assembly that they do base on whatever documentation and instructions are provided to them. However, an electronic contract manufacturing partner should do more than just this.
When looking for an electronic contract manufacturer to work with, find out if they will do the following:
The effort to Learn About The Product
Don’t work with an electronic contract manufacturing partner that doesn’t care. Look for a partner that takes a proactive approach to understand the inner workings of what they are assembling. The more they know about the product’s functionality and end-use, the more effectively they’ll put it together.
Ensure the Part is Manufacturable
A reliable partner will make sure that the part is electrically correct and manufacturable instead of just following the instructions you have provided. They should make recommendations to help enhance your products’ manufacturability if possible. For example, they should be able to look through the complete design plan of your product, pinpoint any potential issues, and offer solutions to those issues. If you have an electronic contract partner that doesn’t look for potential problems, then there’s always the risk that they will manufacture parts to a product that may end up not functioning the way it should.
Offer Box Builds
Working with multiple electronic contract manufacturers is possible, but not very efficient. And the more partners you have, the more possibilities there will go wrong with your electronic assembly. Instead, look for an electronic contract manufacturer that offers box builds. Box builds are basically complete assemblies, which means that the boards, backplane, din rail, wires, and every else can be combined into your final product in a single location. It’s a much more cost-efficient way to assemble your project and reduces the risk of miscommunication.
When searching for an electronic contract manufacturer for your electronic assembly, don’t settle for less.
At the very least, you should find a partner that can offer design, manufacturing, testing, distribution, returns, and repair services. Because there are so many electronic contract manufacturers out there, find out if they offer some of the previously listed services.
By doing so, you’ll have a better chance of forming a strong partnership that will improve your product’s quality and help make your electronic assembly much more cost-effective.