China Topscom issured article on china electronic news about pcb boards industry customer need to know how to choose electronic contract manufacturing services and pcb assembly supplier.
 
About 50 years ago, every component of electronic goods was built by the same organization that produced the final product. This means that manufacturers must buy raw materials, hire experts and take inventory of each component that enters the project. In addition, this makes it very difficult for small businesses to enter the market and sell at a good price.

 

The market is ready for professional "electronic contract manufacturers" to design and manufacture specific components and then sell them to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for placement in the final product. Narrow the company's focus to a product or component that enables them to achieve economies of scale in terms of raw materials, talent and expertise, as well as production equipment in the design process. This cuts costs for the original manufacturer and frees up money.
 
Through this new structure, manufacturing companies can produce better products, more efficient, easier to scale or according to customer needs. In the design and development process, which is usually the most complex and difficult part of the process, contract manufacturers are more likely to accumulate a group of experienced engineers who will focus on specific components. In the production process, they are more likely to keep up with the latest high-tech equipment and the most advanced technology.
 
Suppose there is a problem with one of the parts. If the manufacturer creates all the parts internally, it may take a while to find it-maybe even after it reaches the final consumer. In addition, internal resources and funds must be used to solve the problem. When working with contract manufacturers, in many cases, component defects are caught long before they arrive at OEM-usually due to encounters with other manufacturers. Usually the view of a third party on the issue is necessary and the decision lies solely on the shoulders of the said third party.
 
Because ECM only buys the parts they produce, they can buy them in bulk, providing sufficient cost savings for OEM. And because they buy more frequently from their personal suppliers, manufacturers take advantage of the strong relationships they have developed.
 
Finally, the contract company will thoroughly test the quality of their components. They will be at the forefront of technology and suggest improvements and improvements to their products to make them last longer, work better, and be more convenient. This can be a daunting task for the original manufacturer with many components.
 
Why do you need electronic manufacturing services?
 
To be honest, electronic manufacturing services have been helping us, which is why we need to work with them. From small ordinary electronic devices to large equipment, it is impossible for us to believe that our lives minus electronic products. Therefore, this cannot be done without the help of electronic manufacturing services. At present, these services have become very convenient and universal. Many companies are coming, and increased competition has led to a drop in overall prices. In addition, countless competitors, modern and more forward-looking tools are increasing every day. Therefore, electronic manufacturing is one of the main reasons why people are so keen to explore technology.
 
EMS has many ways to help us in our daily life. They make our daily procedures convenient and easy. Here are some other methods:
 
Common electronic products.
 
There are many electronic devices around us. Some of them are so commonly used that we never stop to think about their usefulness. One example is a mobile phone. Almost everyone uses these convenient devices. But have we ever stopped to think about how easy their lives are? Mobile phones provide great comfort and improvement in communication networks. Although some of us don't know this, these inventions are possible because of electronic manufacturing services.
 
Provide convenience.
 
A good way for EMS to help us today is to make everything simple and straightforward. For example, computers are so widely used that no one stops to think about the technical problems involved in the manufacturing process. Although we will see the results on the computer in a few seconds, it is actually a very complex process. In fact, the charge is sent through the computer using a complex copper path. They communicate with several parts of the computer circuit board. These components perform their respective functions to display the results on the screen.
 
However, these common devices are not the only devices provided by EMS providers. They provide many other services to make the technical process easier. Companies that make and sell projects such as mobile phones, computers and other technology products can hire EMS suppliers to do several jobs for them. One of them is to design products. You can hire experts to get a general idea from you and develop it into the technical design of electronic products. This is very useful because experts are recruited to ensure that your product design is in line with the latest trends and requirements. In addition, hiring an experienced designer means you will receive a variety of ideas, so you can come up with the best creative version of the product.
 
Help manage other important aspects.
 
In addition to designing products, EMS providers can also help you manage certain tasks after the product is completed. For example, they can manage your product's supply chain and help it distribute around the world. Therefore, you do not have to hire a different service provider to distribute your finished products. In addition, most EMS suppliers work under certain contracts that guarantee after-sales service. For example, if your product has been distributed around the world but later found a problem, your EMS provider can help you by analyzing and fixing this vulnerability.
 
Electronic contract manufacturing.
 
EMS can not only help individuals. In fact, they also provide a variety of services for enterprises. Almost every company employs an electronic contract manufacturing company for its manufacturing department. This is because every factory needs advanced machines to produce goods. In order to ensure the provision of the best and most advanced machines, enterprises are usually looking for electronic contract manufacturing services. As the name implies, these companies are employed on a contract basis. This means that you can use several useful packages. In this way, you can get a lot of services at a very low price.
 
In addition to being useful to the manufacturing department, EMS can also help other business units. For example, accounting and sales departments need advanced computers to record transactions and calculate profits. EMS provides these devices to ensure that there are no accounting errors. In addition, some offices also use other electronic devices, such as clocks. These make day-to-day duties mechanized like the attendance of workers.
 
The importance of electronic manufacturing services can also be achieved by the fact that several electronic devices can now become an integral part of our daily lives. For example, mobile phones are heavily dependent on all areas of life. In fact, if these devices are removed from our lives, some of our daily tasks will be incomplete! Therefore, EMS happens to be one of the most important industrial processes today.
 
What should you do before you decide to hire an electronic contract manufacturer
 
There are a few things that customers need to do to make sure the whole process goes as smoothly as possible before getting in touch with an electronic contract manufacturing company. If they don't do these things, the business they want to work with may collapse. Here are the first things you need to do:
 
Analytical specification.
 
The main thing the customer should do is to check the terms and conditions and be very clear about what the product needs to implement. The person who placed the order may want to list what it needs to do. If the customer has a vague idea of the requirements, it is almost impractical for the company to do this correctly. The individual placing the order must be able to tell the agent exactly what they are searching for and have access to several specifications.
 
Create a timesheet.
 
Customers should also establish a schedule before contacting potential electronic contract manufacturers. Individual orders should know the time they need until they need the project. In this way, the company should be able to decide whether the project can be produced in time. Some people think they can order items and let them arrive at any time, but this is usually not the case, especially in the case of complex items such as printed circuit boards ((PCB)). It takes a certain amount of time to make a product, which can't be bypassed. Customers need to determine whether this period of time is in line with their schedule.
 
Budget.
 
Clients should also consider the budget. When making a unique product, the cost may vary greatly, depending on the specification. Clients need to find out how much they spend on the project. Of course, this will not change the cost, but it will let the company know if they can produce the project within budget. If they cannot do so, they need to know this immediately so that they can notify the customer. The customer can then decide whether the increase in the budget is worth it, or whether the deal is feasible.
 
In general, the person who placed the order needs to provide this information. Therefore, the electronic manufacturing company can determine whether the order can be processed at the required time. If not, then electronic manufacturing companies can work with customers to find the ideal solution.
 
Select electronic contract manufacturer to HIRE.
 
For many companies, especially small and medium-sized companies, acquiring contract manufacturing assistants is not just a good idea, but it is critical to the success of the business. In addition to the quality requirements and pricing structure, many other items should be considered when selecting the right potential partner or just an electronic contract manufacturer:
 
1. Compatible goal.
 
Some companies may only be interested in the amount of money involved. While it is important to match these numbers for the benefit of both sides, it is important to find out what their main driving force is. Larger contract companies may be interested in smaller manufacturing companies if they offer opportunities to gain experience in industries they are not familiar with. Or a product with a larger growth forecast.
 
Before going through the lengthy process of submitting an RFP, it is important to know the answers to these questions and, more importantly, to enter a partnership. In addition, a solid ECM company should be able to keep up with the changing needs of customers-your company-in their chosen market. Therefore, the manufacturing process should be multi-level at least three levels. In other words, ECM's manufacturing capabilities depend to a large extent on the specialization of its engineers, facilities and project management experience.
 
Therefore, if the business principles do not match, OEM may not be able to get the attention they need to make their products successful.
 
2. Provide accurate prediction.
 
To better understand this, let's discuss the list under discussion; each manufacturer has inventory and lists it as an asset on the balance sheet. But from an operational management point of view, is inventory really a good thing? Too much inventory will take up valuable resources, but too little will lead to a loss of sales. So, what inventory should you have-you want to get the right quantity of the right goods in the right place and at the right time. To determine what this is, first take a look at why you have it in stock.
 
For manufacturers whose customers want immediate delivery, you need sufficient and appropriate inventory to meet the demand. This means that you know what the demand will be-which means you need a good forecast.
 
Forecasts are difficult and rarely accurate, so it is still possible that you do not have the inventory you need, and there may be too much inventory that you do not need. What is exhausted is likely to lead to a loss of sales, so the company decides to "fill" the inventory of popular items, assuming that the extra investment is worth it to avoid losing business opportunities. I made a deliberate decision in all of this, the right proof, and then you can make it become.
 
But inventory seems complicated. Maybe the product is not as popular as it is sometimes. Companies often revise these inventory judgments, which is already the perfect investment for better customer service, which is a bad drag on the company's space, resources, and capital.
 
The same concept applies to the direct delivery of unwanted products. As long as the customer's acceptable delivery time is shorter than the actual lead time for manufacturing or purchasing products, inventory on hand or in the pipeline is required to meet customer expectations. In this case, the amount of inventory required is equal to the expected demand (usage) within the time required to obtain more-called replenishment lead time. Then, of course, there should be some additional inventory (safety inventory) to accommodate higher-than-expected changes in demand during the change, or delays in delivery by suppliers.
 
Enterprise computer systems typically include inventory management and forecasting applications that measure changes in demand (forecast accuracy) and manage the stock of buffers needed to meet customer service goals. But the real secret of success is to improve the accuracy of forecasts, because this reduces inventory without compromising the level of service. Accurate inventory information is also important-the system cannot manage inventory if you don't know what you have.
 
Please note that another inventory source is related to how to purchase-batch price interruptions, shipping costs, minimum purchase quantities, economic batches, etc., will increase the existing initial quantity, but these additional costs should be used up in the normal course of business, usually not the accumulation of source inventory.
 
Inventory can be seen as a necessary evil-the cost of most companies is high because its role in reducing lead is reasonable time and unexpected coverage. The secret to making the most of your inventory investment is to know how much you need-the right amount of the right product or parts at the right time. This boils down to good prediction and intelligent buffering. It's not magic. This is just good operation management.
 
As a result, in electronic contract manufacturing, no one knows where the original manufacturer plans to go unless they see a sound forecast. If they want to take full advantage of the partnership, they need to tell the contract manufacturer where they have been and where they plan to go in the future. This provides the required credibility.
 
Contract manufacturers need to know the level of risk they register and determine the level of resources required to meet the requirements. Can they purchase materials when needed and can they handle inventory?
 
3, expectations for inventory.
 
Resolve the inventory plans and responsibilities of both companies in advance to minimize the possibility of accidents and conflicts. When forecasts do not match sales or disasters, it is important to understand supply chain management and inventory problems and actively try to reduce risks.
 
4, how does ECM handle product changes.
 
As electronic devices develop at lightning speed, improvements are bound to happen frequently. It is important to find out which favorites deal with product changes and how they have performed these processes with other users in the past.
 
Identify each participant in the expected level of responsibility analysis, change proposals and implementation are critical to resolving the partnership and the project itself.
 
Working with experienced companies will provide important inputs at different stages of the commodity life cycle. Therefore, this experience and the document processing process should be discussed.
 
5. Modern facilities.
 
Ideally, you should always check the equipment being used by the electronic contract manufacturing company. You must make sure that all the systems and tools they use are up to date. You should never make a deal with ECM instead of visiting their facilities first. Equipment should not only be modern, but must also meet the latest industry standards.
 
A great company will ensure the use of state-of-the-art technical equipment to implement your project. This is an essential factor because outdated equipment may limit your electronic devices. You can send representatives to visit them on the website. But even better, arrange a trip and see their facilities and equipment with your own eyes.
 
A good company also ensures that the manufacturing process is divided into several stages to avoid any potential mistakes.
 
6, design service.
 
ECM engineers should have at least a few years of manufacturing experience. A good company will always ensure that it provides the ideal experts to handle ECM responsibilities, even if it costs more. In addition, the professionals of excellent companies are usually qualified professionals in the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering. They also have a lot of experience in related projects. Their specialization should include, but not be limited to, the following;
 
Production engineering.
Quality Control.
Mechanical engineering.
Microelectronics.
Software engineering.
Analog electronic products.
 
This is also a good sign if the company has dealt with small-to-big solutions in the past. So for companies that offer worryingly low costs, don't degenerate. This is because such companies can have amateur designers who do not have to pay a lot of money for their work. Even if you have to pay a higher price, don't compromise the designer's experience.
 
7, project management.
 
A good electronic contract manufacturing company will not only focus on these tasks, but also make sure it plans correctly. Project management will be the first step for any good company. A thorough plan of action must be worked out. In addition, the plan must be created specifically to meet your business needs. If the company cannot manage a project, it is impossible to produce advanced equipment.
 
Therefore, ECM should be able to demonstrate good project management. If it can't even show itself well at this stage, how do you expect it to make complex electronic devices? In general, a reliable project management plan should guide you through conceptual development, engineering design, equipment prototyping, equipment testing, and mass production design.
 
8, relationship.
 
Is critical to any ECM, relationship. As a company, you have to be sure that your manufacturing work will be done in time-it won't be diverted by other things.
 
What is good? we have established a solid relationship with electronic contract manufacturers, from prototype level to complete production level. This enables the manufacturer to fully understand your inventory and the ability to identify any repairs, while avoiding costly delays and traps. This commitment to real relationships ensures that you have the time, patience and resources you need to develop projects that have been created and optimized for attribute and price efficiency.
 
9. Remain competitive.
 
Any great ECM should focus on helping you stay competitive. This is especially true if their specialization applies to small and medium-sized organizations. This may include a variety of processes, from helping you keep abreast of production trends to helping you prepare different regulations related to your components or products.
 
10, flexibility.
 
As various components and products rely on efficient CM, excellent manufacturers should be able to show a high degree of flexibility, structure and equipment in their processes. Flexibility is absolutely needed when it adapts to different products, customers and schedules. However, maintaining flexibility is not limited to providing a variety of services, such as supply chain management, PCB assembly, inspection and BGA maintenance. Remaining flexibility also means having a strong distributor association to improve cost reliability and efficiency.
 
Monitor your electronic contract manufacturer.
 
Having mastered all the necessary factors you need to consider before working with the electronic contract manufacturer of your choice, you still need to do something. In other words, you need to continue to monitor the company to make sure you made the right decision through hiring before it happened.
 
Note:
 
For large enterprises, the management of manufacturing units is particularly difficult. Since the latest technologies appear every day, it is not easy to ensure that all technical work is managed with state-of-the-art expertise, so this approach is quite complex. Need to ensure that all technical tasks related to the manufacturing department are handled effectively. So, as a reminder, that's why several companies are hiring electronic contract manufacturers.
 
Why? .
 
Simply because these service providers can manage technical tasks at a fairly low price. Usually, they can provide attractive units for long-term management. While it is certainly effective to hire ECM, the truth is that it is difficult to separate a real provider from fraud. At this point, there is really no need to panic, because the pointers discussed above will help you get the ideal one that suits you.
 
However, as I mentioned above, it is necessary to monitor the services provided and make sure you make the best choice. However, you are not familiar with technical tasks, and it may be difficult to determine whether the electronic contract manufacturing company you hire is working properly.
 
Here are some tips to help you ensure that the jobs you provide are adequate.
 
Observe start-up technology.
 
This is the most important stage because it tells you whether you have made the right choice. Observing how the company starts working is the key to judging its ability. It can also help you solve potential problems because you can immediately terminate providers that don't start working in a good way. You must make sure that the electronic contract manufacturing company you hire starts work by planning the tasks that need to be done. This shows effective insight, which is very important for success. Make sure your service provider knows what to do before you begin.
 
Confirm experience.
 
This is actually a factor you consider before hiring. However, you need to focus on the same thing again to make sure you have made the right choice. When supervising the work, you must judge whether the workers are experts. How do they respond to the responsibilities presented? How long will it take them to make an action plan? Answering these questions can help you determine whether the person you are working with is an expert or an amateur.
 
Monitoring manufacturing technology.
 
Keep in mind that the purpose of hiring an electronic contract manufacturing company is to ensure that you keep abreast of the latest developments in the field of technology. Therefore, as discussed above, you must ensure that the service provider you hire uses the latest equipment and technology to complete the manufacturing process.
 
Conclusion:
Electronic contract manufacturers are developed and provided by professionals in components. This kind of expertise is of great value. Therefore, if you are trying to reduce manufacturing costs, continue to transfer your outsourcing to ECM. When you do this, one of the things you need to keep in mind is to always consider the guidelines discussed above, and your company or business will be in good control.