engineering Archives - Means Engineering, Inc.

Getting Ahead of Component Shortages

June 12, 2020 By cscheafer

Recent events have put much of the world on hold. This includes many of the manufacturers of the components used to create a number of electronic devices and widgets. While many manufacturers have returned to business as normal, component shortages could still pose a problem as everyone scrambles to catch up. It’s important that OEMs learn how to deal with potential shortages both now and in the future.

Component shortages occur for several reasons. Before taking any steps to remedy issues with the component supply chain, organizations must first understand the factors responsible for the current shortage. OEMs can then make an informed decision about how to best handle the situation.

Purchase Components in Advance

Organizations need to make sure they have sufficient cash flow to pay for components in advance. Some components have lead times up to fifty weeks. Purchasing in advance can save organizations a lot of trouble on future projects.

Utilize Trusted Partners

Today’s markets change rapidly. Many manufacturers have begun prioritizing larger customers. It’s important to make sure your organization has the resources to fulfill large orders, especially during periods of high demand.

Understand Potential Lead Times

Certain components may have lead times up to fifty weeks. This can cause delays when bringing products to market. It’s important that OEMs learn as much as they can about potential lead times so they can better understand the types of delays they may face in the future. Armed with the right information, OEMs can provide the best options to their customers.

Transparency during the production process is important to the overall success of any project. A quality CM provides clear answers about component delays and the reasons behind them.

Forecast Component Needs

Creating a forecast of component needs ensures everyone has a clear understanding of the project requirements. This keeps everyone on the same page and ensures the CM knows what is expected and when.

Southern California CM

Means Engineering offers contract manufacturing services to OEMs and other organizations looking to increase quality and reduce time to market. Our team has years of experience and understands what works and what doesn’t when it comes to electronic component design. Please contact us for more information about our services.

Wastes of Lean Manufacturing

May 10, 2019 By cscheafer

In the manufacturing industry, waste refers to any action or step that does not add value to the customer. These are all of the little extras within a process that the customer does not want to pay for. The goal of lean manufacturing is to remove waste from the manufacturing process.

Taiichi Ohno, father of the Toyota Production System (TPS) identified the original seven wastes of manufacturing. An eighth waste was added in the 1990s when TPS was adopted by the western world. The 8 wastes of lean manufacturing include:

Transportation
Inventory
Motion
Waiting
Over-production
Over-processing
Defects
Skills

It’s important that manufacturers learn all they can about wastes in the manufacturing process.

Transportation

Waste in transportation occurs when people, tools, inventory, equipment, or products must be moved further than reasonably necessary. Manufacturers can eliminate transportation waste by ensuring workers have everything they need to complete each project close at hand. This includes, but is not limited to, all necessary people, equipment, tools, and materials.

Inventory

Excessive inventory can cause problems for manufacturers. Having too much inventory can lead to damaged materials, greater lead times, and inefficient allocation of capital. Problems such as over-purchasing and over-production often result in extra inventory. In order to combat waste, manufacturers should purchase raw materials only when they need them, reduce buffers between production steps, and create a queue system to prevent over-production.

Motion

Waste in motion includes any extra movement required to complete a task. This includes having to walk to fetch tools or materials and spending excessive amounts of time searching through inventory. Keeping work spaces organized, materials close at hand, and reducing inventory can help eliminate waste caused by motion.

Waiting

Waste occurs when staff must wait for materials or equipment, email responses, and computer programs to load. Using standardized work instructions and utilizing multi-skilled workers who are better equipped to adjust to changing demands is the best way to eliminate waste caused by waiting.

Over-Production

Producing more products than required can create a lot of waste. Manufacturers should take care to only produce as many products as required.

Over-Processing

Over-processing occurs when staff performs more steps or adds more components than required to complete the project. Before starting any project, its important staff fully understands what the customer wants. This sets the standard for what needs to be done.

Defects

An obvious cause of waste, defects require scrapping and reworking of products. The best way to prevent waste caused by defects is to fully test all components throughout production.

Skills

Although not part of the original seven wastes, most manufacturers recognize the waste caused by not utilizing employee skills and talents. Manufacturers can prevent waste by allowing staff members to provide input and throughout the manufacturing process.

Supporting Innovation in the Military and Defense Industries

October 5, 2018 By cscheafer

Defense industries around the world are starting to show more interest in emerging technologies. In fact, defense communities have already begun reaching out to capable providers. Particular areas of interest include artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, additive manufacturing, advanced and smart materials, augmented reality, unmanned systems, and remote sensing. Modern day militaries are hoping to use these technologies to enhance the effectiveness of military people, machines, and systems in the future.

This increased interest in new technologies represents a significant shift in the capabilities of future military forces.

Utilizing New Technologies

Creating products utilizing new technologies can be difficult. This is especially true for the Military and Defense industries, which have some of the strictest and most demanding requirements in the world.

Military technologies used to be created solely by those in the defense industry. However, that isn’t the case anymore. Commercial firms and research institutions are now the main developers of new technologies for Military and Defense. This is why government agencies frequently turn to outside parties to support their innovation efforts.

Currently, the United States is putting significant effort into acquiring new products that utilize advanced technologies. Each of the states has already begun actively searching for opportunities for innovation and growth. This innovation is essential to the creation of a more advanced future military presence in America.

Creating Innovative New Products

Other countries are also utilizing new technologies and could pose a serious risk if the United States is not able to keep up. Continuous innovation is crucial to the success of our future military.

Outsourcing provides access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. It also provides a fresh perspective on the design, production, and testing of a wide range of products. Partnering with an experienced contract manufacturer can ensure that products are built to exact specifications, and that they meet the unique requirements of the Military and Defense industries.

Supporting Growth

Contract manufacturers must keep up to date with the latest technologies and techniques. This puts them in the best possible position to support innovation and future growth.

Choosing a Contract Manufacturer

March 23, 2018 By cscheafer

Choosing a Contract Manufacturer

Companies of all shapes and sizes occasionally need help with the design, production, and testing of products. Sometimes, this is only necessary when introducing new products or fulfilling a period of high demand. Other times, companies may choose to outsource their entire product manufacturing in an effort to save time and money.

Contract manufacturers are skilled professionals with the equipment and technology needed to produce a wide range of products. Using a contract manufacturer can help reduce costs and time-to-market. The right contract manufacturer can also help improve product design and the quality of finished products. This increases consumer trust in your brand.

Choosing a contract manufacturer to work with can be a tricky process. While you may have several options, not all will be able to meet the requirements or expectations of your company.

Experience

The contract manufacturer you choose should have experience with a wide range of industries. This ensures the company you work with is well equipped to handle a variety of needs. While you might not foresee your company expanding into other industries or markets in the near future, it’s important not to limit yourself.

Quality Control

Choose a contract manufacturer with a reputation for exceeding expectations for quality. Choosing a contract manufacturer that has taken the time and effort necessary to become ISO certified helps ensure that the products produced are of the highest quality.

Technologies

Technology changes at an alarming rate. It’s crucial that you choose a contract manufacturer that can keep up with these changes. Select a company that offers the latest technologies and techniques. This helps you remain competitive in an ever-changing marketplace.

San Diego County Contract Manufacturer

Means Engineering, Inc. offers contract manufacturing services from our location in Carlsbad, California. Our team of professionals has experience with multiple industries. We are well equipped to handle new product design, production, and testing.

We are an ISO 9001 and AS 9100 certified contract manufacturer. We utilize state-of-the-art technologies and techniques and strive to provide the highest quality products at reasonable rates. Please contact us for more information about our services.

Using Value Engineering to Improve Quality and Reduce Costs

February 16, 2018 By cscheafer

Using Value Engineering to Improve Quality and Reduce Costs

Companies around the globe are under a lot of pressure to create high quality products at the lowest cost possible. This is especially true for the medical, defense and aerospace industries.

Understanding Value Engineering

Value engineering involves finding creative new ways to produce products at a lower cost. Although many companies associate value engineering with a reduction of quality, the main goal should be to increase quality while reducing the costs of production. This benefits companies in all industries.

There are currently two main types of value engineering used by manufacturers. Process value engineering involves removing waste from the production process. This boosts efficiency and lowers costs. Product value engineering involves changing the design of a product to reduce costs and waste while improving the quality of the finished product.

While process value engineering focuses on waste and is an important part of lean production, it does nothing to increase the quality of products produced or the overall efficiency of the production process.

Benefits of Product Value Engineering

Even though product value engineering helps cut costs, this isn’t the only benefit. Product value engineering encourages companies to search for creative new ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Product value engineering comes from a truly technical perspective. The engineer creating the product must fully evaluate its design to locate unique ways to improve the efficiency of production. This can add significant value to the product produced.

Using a Contract Manufacturer

Companies looking to improve product quality while reducing costs often seek out a second set of eyes. A qualified contract manufacturer can provide a thorough analysis of product designs. They can help you locate areas that can benefit from improvement.

Contract manufacturers help with the design, production and testing of a variety of products. Means Engineering, Inc. has experience working with a wide range of industries. Our experienced engineers are skilled at locating ways to improve efficiency and reduce the costs of production.

We are an AS 9100 and ISO 9001 certified contract manufacturer. This helps ensure the quality and reliability of products produced.