electronics design Archives - Means Engineering, Inc.

Why Contract Manufacturing?

November 30, 2018 By cscheafer

Contract manufacturers create products under the name or brand of another business. Utilizing a contract manufacturer has numerous benefits. However, many companies struggle with the decision to outsource some or all of their production.

The following explains how the right contract manufacturer can benefit your business and increase your bottom line.

Less Expensive Than Producing Products In-House

Companies that choose to produce products in-house must acquire the necessary people, space, equipment, and technology. This can cost a lot of money. You will also need to spend time locating and training competent staff.

When you hire a contract manufacturer, everything is included. Contract manufacturers often have years of experience working with multiple industries. They also have access to state-of-the-art technology and equipment. This gives you an edge when creating products for demanding industries such as the aerospace and defense industries.

Better Quality Products

Contract manufacturers are experts in their field. They provide a second set of eyes for your design plans. This helps locate ways to improve quality, reduce costs, and reduce the time it takes to bring products to market. This might involve changing certain materials or changing measurements or processes. Whatever the case, every change your contract manufacturer makes is carefully considered to ensure the quality and consistency of the end product.

Simplify Your Supply Chain

Many organizations are dealing with a complex supply chain. Hiring a contract manufacturer helps simplify the supply chain by reducing the number of links in the chain. This makes your supply chain more dependable and easier to manage.

Choosing a Contract Manufacturer

Not all contract manufacturers are created equal. The contract manufacturer you choose should have ample experience and the people, skills, and equipment needed to produce and test a wide range of products.

Means Engineering Inc. has experience working with several industries, including demanding industries such as defense and aerospace. Our team is well prepared to help your organization design, produce, and test a variety of products. We work directly with you to ensure that the products we create meet your exact specifications and requirements. We provide tips on how to improve the quality of your products, while reducing cost and time-to-market.

Better Products Begin With Better Design

October 26, 2018 By cscheafer

Organizations today face multiple challenges when it comes to creating new products. This is especially true for electronics manufacturers. These manufacturers must develop products extremely fast with more features and more options than ever before. Companies that fail to bring new products to market quickly often fall behind their competition.

Improving Design Plans

When developing new products, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what works and what does not. While a new idea might look good on paper, the finished product doesn’t always end up being cost-effective or practical to produce. Typically, design plans need to be revised several times before production can begin.

Partnering with a qualified contract manufacturer can help your organization locate areas in your design that could benefit from improvement. A contract manufacturer acts as a second set of eyes for design plans. These are individuals with years of experience creating multiple products for numerous industries. They know how to analyze design plans to ensure that products are produced in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible. They also know how to ensure the quality of the finished product.

Increasing Quality

An experienced contract manufacturer will make suggestions to improve the quality of your product. This might include changing the types of materials used or adjusting other elements of the design. By utilizing the advice and experience of a qualified contract manufacturer, your company is able to produce a much higher quality product. This increases consumer trust, improving the chance of repeat business and referrals.

A contract manufacturer can determine methods to improve the way the product is produced. These methods are designed to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process while reducing the total cost of production. As an added benefit, this also reduces time to market. This allows you to release new products faster, before your competition.

Matching Consumer Demand

Consumers today expect more and in less time. Technology has made it possible for consumers to instantly access anything they want. This has driven the demand for new products through the roof. Reducing time to market could be just the thing to make your business stand out.

Ensuring a Successful Contract Manufacturing Relationship

October 12, 2018 By cscheafer

A contract manufacturer (CM) helps companies produce new products without the need to acquire additional equipment, technologies, or people. CMs are industry experts with years of experience. Depending on the firm, a CM can help with design, production, and testing of a wide range of products.

Partnering with the right contract manufacturer can be extremely rewarding. Contract manufacturers support innovation and make it possible to grow your business and expand into new markets.

The following will help ensure a successful relationship with your contract manufacturer.

Select a Qualified CM Early in the Process

Enlisting the help of a contract manufacturer early in the process allows you to work together to meet target costs and create realistic timelines. A contract manufacturer can help provide insight that can be used to improve the quality of products produced while reducing the cost of production and time to market.

Define the Scope of Work

Understanding what is expected is crucial to the successful completion of any project. Although companies are often anxious and run headfirst into production, it’s a much better idea to take a step back and make sure that everyone fully understands the true scope of work.

Addressing factors such as timeline, milestones, and responsibilities early in the process ensures that everyone is on the same page.

Identify Testing and Inspection Requirements

Testing and inspection requirements will vary by project. Identifying these requirements early helps control budget and timeline requirements.

Communicate Device Function to the CM

It’s important to describe in detail the functional requirements of the product being produced. This will help identify high-risk areas and ensure compliance with industry standards. For example, medical devices must meet strict regulations. Without a clear understanding of what the finished product will be used for, a CM might not take the necessary steps to ensure compliance. Always be very clear when discussing device function.

Be Realistic About Cost

One of the biggest hurdles of any project is determining the cost of production. While the actual cost will vary from the estimated total, careful planning can provide a more realistic view. It’s important to take into consideration the possibility of market changes that could affect time and cost.

Taking a Strategic Approach to R&D Dilemmas

September 21, 2018 By cscheafer

Companies today face many challenges when it comes to research & development (R&D). This is especially true for companies responsible for the creation of electronic devices. New electronic products must meet strict requirements and the rising demands of modern day consumers.

High-tech companies often struggle with R&D. These companies face a number of dilemmas including high costs, increasing pressure for innovation, and ensuring there is a market for the products they produce. When not properly handled, these dilemmas can have a negative impact on a company’s ability to remain profitable in an extremely competitive market.

It’s crucial that companies take a strategic approach to the dilemmas they face. This approach should be focused on saving money and increasing the company’s earning potential.

Partnering With a Contract Manufacturer

Partnering with an experienced contract manufacturer can help increase a company’s chance at success. The right contract manufacturer is able to provide the tools and resources needed to develop new products. These are individuals with years of experience. They understand what works and what does not.

A quality contract manufacturer has experience working with several different industries. They are able to provide a wide range of services including product design, production, and testing. These services can be used to help high-tech companies create innovative new products.

The right contract manufacturer has extensive knowledge about the electronics industry. They have experience helping electronics companies produce products consumers will actually buy.

Create the Products Consumers Want

Working with a contract manufacturer can help your company reduce costs as well as time to market. This is beneficial for a number of reasons. Reducing costs increases earning potential and provides your company with the funds needed to produce more products.

Electronics are developed at an alarming rate. It seems like the moment a product hits the shelf, the newer model is already available. This is why reducing time to market is so important. Reducing time to market increases the likelihood that people will actually want to buy your product.

A contract manufacturer can provide your company with a wealth of knowledge about your industry. They have access to the tools and technologies needed to create the type of products that consumers demand. These resources are available at a much lower price than in-house production.

Companies wishing to remain competitive should consider partnering with an experienced contract manufacturer.

What is Reverse Engineering?

September 7, 2018 By cscheafer

Reverse engineering involves taking apart an object to see how it works. This is typically done to recreate or improve a product. Reverse engineering can also be used to help determine patent infringement or when service documentation has been lost or is no longer available.

During reverse engineering, products are disassembled to determine the system’s components and the way they interact. The information gained through this process can be used to help manufacturers recreate or improve a specific product. This can be especially beneficial when design documentation is needed or when a manufacturer no longer produces a certain product.

Locate Issues With Existing Products

Sometimes reverse engineering is used to determine issues with an original design. For example, excessive wear could indicate potential problems. These issues aren’t typically visible without taking the object apart.

Reverse engineering can be used to help companies determine what works and what does not. Thorough analysis of an existing or a competitor’s product provides the tools needed to improve product design and create better products. This type of service can be crucial to a company’s continued success, especially in competitive industries such as consumer electronics and medical devices.

Part Replacement

Reverse engineering can be useful when OEMs refuse to provide replacement parts for a specific product. It can also help manufacturers update parts or replace old technology with newer, more readily available options. Specific parts, measurements, materials, and product specifications are captured through the process. The information collected can be used to develop new parts or locate areas that could benefit from improvement.

Reverse engineering has been used by numerous industries for a number of years. Today, reverse engineering is commonly used in software engineering, automotive, consumer products, microchips, chemicals, electronics, and mechanical design.

Reverse Engineering Services

Means Engineering Inc. has years of experience designing and creating products for a variety of industries. We are committed to providing companies with the tools needed for growth and success. This is why we provide ethical reverse engineering of a variety of electronics. Our services can been used to help companies recreate and improve a variety of devices.