Means Engineering, Inc.

Product development engineering in medical, industrial, semiconductor equipment & military with a standard of excellence in form, function and design.

(760) 931-9452 | info@meanseng.com
5927 Geiger Court, Carlsbad, CA 92008-7305

How Can a Contract Manufacturer Help Your Business?

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Contract manufacturers provide a wide range of services. While some companies utilize the help of CMs to fulfill periods of high demand, others enlist their help for all parts of production. Contract manufacturers provide numerous benefits regardless of when or how a company uses their services.

Choosing to Work With a CM

Deciding when to use a contract manufacturer depends on several factors. Start with a thorough evaluation of your business needs and requirements. For example, your company might not have the time or resources needed to produce the products your consumers demand. Maybe you’d like to launch a new product but aren’t sure where to start. These are both excellent reasons to consider enlisting the help of a CM.

Contract Design and Manufacturing Services

Quality contract manufacturers provide assistance with all parts of production. When used during the design process, the right contract manufacturer can help locate ways to improve the quality of finished products and/or reduce the costs of production.

Experienced Contract Manufacturer

When you work with an experienced contract manufacturer, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. Contract manufacturers often work with several different industries. This puts them in the best possible position to assist with numerous projects. Many companies use contract manufacturers to help them grow and expand into new markets.

Manufacturing Services

Manufacturing requires a lot of equipment, machinery, people, and space. Many businesses simply do not have what it takes to produce products in house. This is especially true for new businesses just starting to consider the possibility of production. These companies are often surprised by the amount of space and resources required to produce even simple products.

Using a contract manufacturer for production eliminates the need to purchase and maintain expensive equipment and technology. It also reduces the amount of staff and space required by your business.

Product Testing

Contract manufacturers often have processes and procedures in place to help ensure the quality and consistency of every product produced. They thoroughly test all components throughout the entire production process. This helps catch issues sooner, when they are cheaper and easier to fix.

Mean Engineering provides turnkey contract manufacturing solutions to businesses across a wide range of industries. Please contact us to learn how we can help your business succeed.

How a Contract Manufacturer Saves You Money

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Working with a contract manufacturer takes a certain level of trust. After all, these companies are responsible for the creation of your products. It’s important to learn all you can before hiring a CM.

In addition to finding a CM with the tools necessary to handle the unique demands of your project, it’s also important to find a contract manufacturing company that can save you money as well. The right CM can provide you with the long term savings you require, while increasing the overall profitability and reputation of your business. This is crucial to success.

Choosing a Quality CM

Considering the basic elements during the proposal process can tell you a lot about the contract manufacturer you’re considering. This is especially true if you wish to reduce the number of suppliers your business requires.

The basic elements for consideration include:

  • Production Costs
  • Lead Times
  • Warranties and Support
  • Validation of Business Processes

While the right CM can help you save money through product and process improvements, you need to consider the potential long term value of using a CM as well. Although elements beyond the basics are harder to quantify, these elements represent the greatest value to your business.

Consider the Entire Manufacturing Team

It’s critical to ensure the capabilities, procedures, and business practices of the outsourced manufacturing partner you choose. However, the most valuable long term gains will come from the entire manufacturing team.

When considering a CM, look at the company as a whole. Factors such as ethics, tenure length, and employee satisfaction can say a lot about the firm. The manufacturing team should consist of engaged, empowered, long term employees. You need to know that the people responsible for the creation of your project have the drive and experience needed to continually examine both the product and process to discover ways to improve them.

Instead of simply auditing the processes, make sure you take the time to actually talk to the manufacturing team. This typically provides all the insight you require.

Please contact us for information about our contract manufacturing services.

 

 

 

Should Your Electronic Business Use a Contract Manufacturer?

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Hiring a contract manufacturer provides numerous benefits to businesses in the electronics industry. Working with a quality CM has been shown to reduce costs, improve quality and customer satisfaction, while reducing time to market. With access to experienced professionals and high quality tools and technology, the right partnership can provide the extra boost you need to grow and expand into new markets.

If you’ve been wondering if your electronics business could benefit from hiring a contract manufacturer you’re not alone. Many people struggle with the decision of outsourcing. While outsourcing might not be the right choice for every business, failing to explore your options could cost you a lot of time and money. Read on to learn whether your electronic business could benefit from working with a contract manufacturer.

Your Design Process Could Benefit From Streamlining

The electronics industry is extremely competitive. Consumers today expect new products to hit the shelf at an alarming rate. Electronics businesses often find it difficult to keep up with consumer demand. This can cause problems when the competition consistently beats your products to market.

An experienced contract manufacturer can help streamline your design process and reduce holdups that are common in house. This makes it possible to bring new products to market sooner.

You Can’t Fulfill Large Orders

If your business struggles to fulfill large orders it’s probably time to consider outsourcing. It takes a lot of time, people, space, and equipment to produce large amounts of electronic products. Outsourcing takes the stress and expense off your shoulders, making it possible to fulfill large orders without requiring additional time or money.

You’re Spending Too Much on Design or Production Problems

Problems with design or production can cost your business a lot of time and money. A contract manufacturer can help if you’re spending too much money and effort fixing design or production problems. The right contract manufacturer helps you spot problems sooner, when they are easier (and less expensive) to resolve.

Means Engineering provides contract manufacturing services designed to help our clients succeed. Please contact us to learn how we can help your electronics business.

 

Trends Impacting Medical Device Manufacturing

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The medical device industry plays an important role in the lives of humans. Medical devices perform a number of functions designed to enhance and enrich the lives of the people that use them. Some devices even assist with lifesaving procedures. Regardless of how they are used, humans would be much worse off without these important devices.

Every year new trends emerge that impact the medical device industry. Medical device manufacturers have had to adjust to meet changes to rules and regulations and shifting economies.

Miniaturization

Medical devices get smaller each year. This trend isn’t going anywhere either. As the medical industry utilizes more laparoscopic and catheter-based technologies, medical device manufacturers will need to continue to improve functionality of these miniature devices.

Automation

As technology evolves, we’re seeing an increase of automation in the medical device manufacturing process. Manufacturing employees today must know how to operate the technology used to by computer-directed machinery.

Partnerships With U.S. Based Contract Manufacturers

The cost of manufacturing overseas is becoming more expensive. In fact, outsourcing costs can reach as high if not higher than keeping production in the United States. This is leading to an increase in partnerships with U.S. based contract manufacturers.

Quality Assurance

Partnering with an experienced contract manufacturer helps ensure the consistency and reliability of finished products. This is extremely important in the medical device industry as manufacturers of these important devices are under a lot of pressure to comply with strict rules and regulations. The right contract manufacturer will have quality assurance processes in place to determine consistent quality throughout every stage of production. This allows manufacturers to catch issues long before they cause a problem with the finished product. It also allows for continuous improvement.

Contract Manufacturing for the Medical Device Industry

Means Engineering provides a variety of contract manufacturing services. We have years of experience working with the medical device industry and understand the strict rules and regulations of the medical device industry. Our team works directly with you to design, produce, and test a wide range of products. Our services enable growth and improve the likelihood of repeat sales and referrals.

Investing in Quality Manufacturing

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Consumers today have extremely high expectations when it comes to quality. In addition to excellent product performance, consumers expect products with an increasing number of features and functionality. Products that fail to meet consumer expectations frequently fall behind the competition. Just one defect can lead to loss of business and reputation.

Producing High Quality Products

Poor quality products are subject to recall. These recalls cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. It’s crucial that organizations do all they can to ensure the production of high quality products.

Working with a contract manufacturer can help improve product quality. Contract manufacturers have years of experience creating products for a wide range of industries. They know what works and what doesn’t. When utilized during the design process, an experienced contract manufacturer knows how to adjust design plans to improve quality. They have the people, equipment, and processes in place to ensure the production of high quality products.

Many people worry that investing in a contract manufacturer isn’t worth the cost. While using a contract manufacturer might require an initial investment, this is nothing compared to the costs associated with recalls and defect repairs.

Quality Assurance

In order to ensure the production of high quality products, testing must take place throughout the entire manufacturing process. Testing at every stage of production ensures each component meets strict requirements for quality and reliability.

When choosing a contract manufacturer to work with, it’s important to select one with quality assurance processes in place. These are the processes that occur before, during, and after production to ensure each product conforms to company standards. This is different than quality control which refers to the testing of products for functionality and form. Quality assurance helps catch potential defects before they are able to affect the performance of the finished product. Catching these defects early helps mitigate problems and allows for continuous improvements throughout production.

Means Engineering uses technology and techniques to ensure the production of high quality products time and time again. Please contact us for more information about our contract manufacturing services.

 

 

 

ABOUT US

MEI features depth of experience in medical, industrial, semiconductor equipment and military products. All product development efforts start with a unique set of requirements, yet we deliver results that share a common standard of excellence in form, function and design.

Our turn-key capabilities provide smart, simple solutions to cumbersome outsourcing issues, and provide our clients with an intelligent route from concept to market.

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