Contract Electronics Manufacturing and PCB Assembly Blog

 These days, offshoring is a pretty common thing. We buy products and receive customer service from companies that are situated on the other side of the globe. While this may be a good financial move for some businesses, though, it's not an ideal solution for everyone. Despite the fact that foreign-based electronic manufacturing companies may offer a lower cost to you, you could actually end up paying more in the long-run. Prices that seem too good to be true usually are, and such a relationship will only lead to grief in the long run. Still not convinced? Take a look at some of the many reasons why you should consider keeping the manufacture of your printed circuit boards on American soil.  

Industry Standards

One of the biggest issues surrounding a partnership with an overseas company is that they aren't necessary held to the same industry standards are we are in the United States. While we are required to comply with certain performance and safety regulations, these offshore manufacturing services may adhere to a different set of rules or even be quite lax. This can create issues of the boards produced and delivered to you don't comply and cannot be used or sold in America.   

Labor Standards

In addition to industry standards, America has certain rules and expectations with regards to how laborers are treated. On a moral level, it's important that your business never supports a company that does not treat its employees safety. Whenever you go offshore with your manufacturing processes, you run the risk that the laborers involved are being subject to unsafe conditions are are not receiving fair compensation for their work. It's smarter and safer to stick with a US company.   

Counterfeit Parts

Another major problem with foreign-based electronic manufacturing companies is that many have a tendency to utilize counterfeit parts. This helps the company to reduce its own expenses which is one of the  primary reasons why the cost to you is much lower. in the end, though, these parts could raise compliance issues, compromise the safety and integrity of your product, reduce electronics efficiency, and cause you to lose business. In extreme cases, you could even be subject to a lawsuit.   

Timeliness 

In many cases, board prototypes and batch orders need to be turned around very quickly in order to stay competitive. Can you count on a foreign business to be able to complete the project and ship the product to you on time? You'll receive quicker service with American companies.

Customer Service

You can't put a price tag on quality customer service. Many Americans gripe that when patched through to representatives on foreign soil, there are language barriers that make the transaction quite difficult. If you have very specific requirements for your board layout and manufacture, you need to feel confident that those needs will be met and that you will be understood. In addition to this, if problems or questions should arrive, you should be able to easily communicate with your electronics manufacturing service.    

Fulfillment Services

Once the board has been manufactured and shipped to your location, there may come a time when you require the original design specs or even troubleshooting and repairs. Many offshore companies fail to offer these kinds of fulfillment services which can create problems. To eliminate this type of stress, seek out an American company that will take care of you post-production. 

Though you may initially be tempted to jump on the seemingly inexpensive services offered by an offshore electronic manufacturing company, it could end up costing you a lot of money and grief in the long run. The smartest decision that you can make for your business, your product, and your customers is to partner up with a reliable and experienced contract manufacturer that is based here in the United States. You'll get the most bang for your buck and enjoy the highest level of success. 

After the manufacturing industry took a hit during the recession, a great deal of workers found their jobs being handed to off-shore businesses. The tides, though, are definitely turning, bringing a growing number of engineering manufacturing companies back home to American soil.  Why the sudden turn around? And what is the outlook for the future of the engineering and manufacturing industry in the U.S? Here's a closer look at the facts.

The Evolution of Technology is Creating New Opportunities

The high-tech sector is generating a lot of buzz these days, as it is significantly contributing to the comeback of American engineering manufacturing companies. The first smartphone assembled in the United States is to be rolled out by Motorola Mobility, and will create work for some 2,000 employees in the design, engineering, and manufacturing business. At the same time, Apple, Inc. is moving forward with plans to invest $100 million in order to develop a Mac product line that will be assembled in the U.S., and with components and equipment that are also built in the U.S. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. 

In fact, according to Stephen Gold, president of the Manufacturer's Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, engineering manufacturing companies are 75% recovered from the recession. It is estimated that by the end of 2014, the sector will return to pre-recession levels, which means that those in the manufacturing industry can expect a lot of new work to be coming their way.

Even though changing technologies make a significant difference in the way that engineering manufacturing companies carry out certain tasks, these innovations can also yield further work opportunities for those in the industry. Automation and technology make it easier for manufacturing companies to meet consumer demands, develop better products, and be more profitable than ever before.

Preparing for the Road Ahead

Although the comeback of engineering manufacturing companies in America is certainly good news, it can also be somewhat overwhelming for "underdog" businesses. Small to mid-sized electronics companies may have the will to cater to their customer's needs and develop all of their own products, but unfortunately, this is not always possible. Without the right technologies, equipment, and machinery on hand, these companies may find themselves struggling to keep up with orders, or to create boards that are up to industry standards.

Because of this, it's important for smaller businesses to begin giving thought to how they will accept the many opportunities ahead and thrive - without sacrificing quality or struggling to meet customer deadlines. Often, the best way to do this is by contracting with third party engineering manufacturing companies.

Professional engineering manufacturing companies have the ability the assist smaller electronics businesses with their orders - from start to finish. By partnering up with a skilled design and engineering team, you can rest assured that your specs will be as clean and efficient as possible, so that your products don't come back with flaws, or operate less effectively than you had hoped. You can also take advantage of your partner company's manufacturing capabilities and equipment. This allows you to enjoy the most advanced machinery and technologies without having to purchase or maintain it within your own facility, cutting your costs and increasing profit margins.

You will also find that American based engineering manufacturing companies are always up to par in terms of complying with the latest industry standards for safety and quality. Off-shore contract manufacturers are on the decline, as bootlegged components and equipment are not uncommon, and American regulations are often not adhered to. Sticking with an experienced American contractor will guarantee quality parts and quality products. Through partnerships with the best suppliers, skilled laborers, careful testing procedures, and a passion for excellence, contract engineering manufacturing companies are sure to revolutionize the electronics industry in the United States. 

How is your business making preparations for the influx of business in the electronics design and manufacturing sector? 

Regardless of the specific industry, every business faces its own unique sets of problems and challenges. For those in the technology sector, though, electronic manufacturing solutions can be found by contracting with a third party design and manufacturing company. No matter how big the issue may seem to you, a professional electronic manufacturing solutions provider can help you to overcome it and succeed. Here's a closer look at some of the most common problems in the electronics industry, and how they can be resolved.  

Problem #1: Design Troubles 

If you're having trouble with the development of design schematics for a particular product, or are stuck on a design flaw, you and your team could end up putting a lot of time and energy into looking for a workable solution. Unfortunately, time is money, and sometimes you may not have either. By bringing the expert designers and engineers in from a contract manufacturer, you will be able to resolve your issues much faster, and in a way that is as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

Problem #2: Time Crunch

What happens if a client is in need of project fulfillment in a hurry? Whether they are looking for plans, a working prototype, or a completed batch order, you may find yourself stressing about your ability to complete the job on time. In cases like these, reliable electronic manufacturing solutions companies can step in and save the day. By taking some of your work off of your hands, you can cater to all of your customer's needs without falling behind or missing a deadline.

Problem #3: Labor Shortage

In another scenario, you may find that for one reason or another, you do not have the manpower necessary to complete a job. Perhaps your company is just starting out and you don't have many employees, or maybe two of your top designers are away on vacation. In any case, you may find yourself in a position where you need a little outside help from electronic manufacturing solutions.

Problem #4: Inadequate Equipment

Don't have the right machinery, technology, or equipment that you need in order to make the best and most precise PC boards possible? Not a problem. The beauty of contracting with an electronic manufacturing solutions provider is that they remove the burden of purchasing and maintaining equipment from you. This means that you can take advantage of state-of-the-art manufacturing processes without spending the money.

Problem #5: Production Costs

When your production costs are too high, your whole business struggles. It can be difficult to find ways to lower these costs, too, when then makes it nearly impossible for your company to actually grow. Contract manufacturers can help you to save money in a multiple ways. First, evaluating your plans can help you to remove the amount of parts and components required to develop your products. In addition, warranty losses can be reduced by troubleshooting and repair.

Problem #6: Supplier Issues

Smaller or newer electronics companies may find that they struggle to develop strong relationships with suppliers, and thus, do not receive the best quality or deals. Established electronic manufacturing solutions providers can help you to work past this issue, as they utilize fair, industry-compliant suppliers.

Problem #7: Faulty Equipment     

If something goes wrong with one of your products, you may not have the time or manpower required to address the underlying issue and correct it. Because of this, faulty devices may be thrown out and replaced by new ones. This, however, can be much more expensive than a simple repair. Find a contract manufacturer who can troubleshoot and fix boards in order to keep customers happy and to reduce your overall costs.

There's never any need for you to allow your problems to hold you back. When you make the decision to contract with an expert electronic manufacturing solutions partner, your business will be able to operate better than ever before.

Is your business in need of a reliable electronic manufacturing company? Although you have plenty of third party companies that would be interested in getting your business, there are some that are more qualified than others. So how can you tell the difference? It's actually easier than you may think. By following these 10 simple steps, you can find an excellent contract manufacturer with total confidence. 

How to Find a Reliable Electronic Manufacturing Company in 10 Easy Steps

1. Read reviews & check references

Customer opinion is the truest testament to the the quality and reliability of an electronic manufacturing company. It's smart to take the time to go online and find out what other clients have to say about your prospective manufacturing partner. In addition to this, feel free to ask the contractor to supply you with references. Ask these references about the types of projects they have hired the contractor for, their satisfaction with the work, turnaround times, and their likelihood to offer their return business.

2. Ask about industry experience

Next, it's important to learn about what type of industry experience the contractor actually has. How many years has the company been in business? How many years of combined experience do its employees posses? What are their hiring requirements? Finding out the type of knowledge and skill that the contractor demands of its team will signify its level of professionalism and reliability.

3. Discover the contractor's exact abilities

You can't make the decision to work with an electronic manufacturing contractor if you don't have a comprehensive idea of what it is that they can do for you. Ask, in detail, about the services that they have to offer. In addition to the actual manufacture of PCBs and other electronics, you may discover that the contractor can help you with the design process, with repairs, etc.

4. Ask to see samples of current and previous work

You'll need to find out if the contract manufacturer's work meshes with what you expect. By asking to see examples of both prior and current work, you can get a more "big picture" look at the contractor's body of work so that you can make a more informed decision.

5. Insist on performance standards

Total compliance with industry standards is non-negotiable when selecting an electronic manufacturing company. Your prospect should be able to provide you with evidence that they operate legally, and compliantly.

6. Inquire about design/manufacture methods and equipment

If you're going to trust a third party to design and/or build your products, you should know what methods and equipment that they will use to do so. Ask how often the equipment is maintained or upgraded, and find out how advanced the company's processes truly are.

7. Learn about suppliers and device components

Does your contract manufacturer buy from reputable suppliers, or do they cut corners by purchasing counterfeit or bootlegged system components? This is important to know, as it can impact the quality, safety, and functionality of your products.

8. Find out about product testing

A reliable electronic manufacturing company will have testing policies in place for assembly productions. This helps to keep the standard high, and avoid the mass production of faulty or sub-standard devices.

9. Request information on fulfillment services

Some contract manufacturing contractors will leave you high and dry after initially assembling your products. Without the original design schematics or available machinery, you may find yourself unable to make repairs. Because of this, it's best to find a contractor who will stand by its devices after completion, offering repair and other fulfillment services.

10. Choose American

Finally, it's in your best interest to work with third party manufacturers who are based in the United States. This is the only way to ensure that American standards are being upheld, and that quality parts and mechanisms are utilized.

What's important to you when looking for a  reliable electronic manufacturing company? 

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In this economy, numerous small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) arelooking for ways to scale back their costs and increase their profit margins. Unfortunately, this means that some electronics companies are questioning whether or not they really need the help of a contract electronic assembly. The problem is that, with limited resources, many businesses are unable to efficiently keep up with consumer demands without the help of a third party. In the end, these particular SMBs may realize (too late) that they actually hurt their sales by not hiring an electronic manufacturing company. Here's a closer look at the top 5 reasons why such a partnership is so important. 

1. Streamline your design processes

In many instances, the design of your electronic devices is actually the most complex, challenging, and time-consuming portion of the manufacturing process. Your team of designers and engineers must carefully work to create a product that will meet the needs of your consumers, be appealing to the market, and operate quickly and efficiently for maximum customer experience. After many hours of slaving away over the schematics, however, your team may actually be too close to the project to notice critical design flaws, errors, or to be able to overcome roadblocks. In these instances, the partnership of a contract electronic assembly and electronic design services is of the utmost importance. Here, a group of skilled and experienced individuals will be able to intervene and ensure that the product design is completed with speed and precision so as to keep your costs at a minimum.

2. Manufacture devices with the latest and greatest technology

Most SMBs lack the funding to keep up with the major league electronics companies when it comes to manufacturing technology. With today's electronics devices growing smaller, lighter, and increasingly complex, though, this is becoming a very big problem. You cannot expect older machinery or assembly line workers to keep up with how quickly and accurately state-of-the-art robotic arms are able to operate. In order to avoid being left in the dust, it is wise for smaller businesses to turn to a contract electronics manufacturer who can supply cutting edge manufacturing technology and provide a competitive edge.

3. Take advantage of deals on high-quality parts

The cost to produce your electronic devices and the prices that you must charge your customers are all impacted by how much money you are required to invest in parts. Unfortunately, suppliers often mark up their prices when working with companies with whom they have not developed a lasting partnership. For smaller businesses, it can take a lot of time and cash to build up such a relationship. The good news is that a contract electronic manufacturing company will be able to do all of the heavy lifting for you. By working with a third party, you can take advantage of the relationships that they have established and enjoy a reduction the the cost of parts without ever being forced to sacrifice quality.

4. Quickly detect and correct problems

If there is a fundamental problem with the design of your device, or if something goes wrong during the manufacturing process, how long would it be before you noticed? Would it be after hundreds of faulty devices were produced, or worse - after the product had been shipped to the end-users? When you work with a third party assembly manufacturing service, your devices will be regularly checked for flaws to ensure that your money will only be spend on the production of high quality and fully functional devices. Any problems will be promptly addressed to ensure that your orders are completed quickly.

5. Get faulty devices repaired and returned to customers faster

Why shoulder the burden of troubleshooting and repairing/replacing faulty equipment yourself? With the right partner, you can cut down warranty costs and get working products back to your clients quicker than ever before.

Are you ready to partner with a professional contract electronic assembly company?

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One of the best ways to know which engineering manufacturing companies provide the best in the industry is through results, but having to go through the entire processes to get those results can be time consuming and slowly eat away at your budget. Instead of sticking with a manufacturing company and hoping for the best results and possibly getting set up for disappointment, look for the results first and then make your decision second. How can you achieve that? It's simple enough, all you need to do is some research.

All electronic contract manufacturing companies depend on the needs of their clients, which will provide them huge batch orders of manufacturing jobs that depend on the highest quality components and assembly. In order to stay in business, they need to have the greatest results possible--which also need to be compliant with safety standards, too. Finding such a company on your end normally means taking the time to find the perfect match, and that means digging around for the solutions and results that fit your needs.

Showcase of Results

One of the first indicators of great results is, of course, the manufacturing company showing off! Can their results be found online or offline? Do they show off their handiwork in some fashion? If so, then you know you're in good hands and all of your needs will be taken care of. 

However, this doesn't always mean that manufacturing companies who don't show off a majority of their work are bad or inferior quality--it entirely depends on the trust you place on them and their transparency of doing business. It's just a good indicator that if they do have an open portfolio of their manufacturing work, that it is safe to say they're a high quality company.

Prototype Testing

Most, if not all, electronic contract manufacturing companies have the ability to create a small batch order or a single order of a prototype of your choice. This is a perfect opportunity to test the waters with the manufacturing company to see how long they take, the budgeting required, customer experience, and of course how well their results are with
your own design and blueprints. If it looks like a shabby or rushed job, then you didn't have to waste all of your budgeting dollars or crucial time and can look elsewhere.

If prototype testing isn't an included service that you can see on their website or elsewhere, it doesn't hurt to ask if they still do provide such a service. Electronic contract manufacturing companies are normally more than happy to help you out to have you as a long-lasting client.

US-based Manufacturing

While for many decades it has been easier and cost efficient to ship out all of your electronic manufacturing needs overseas to countries like India or China, it is actually becoming cheaper and more convenient to keep everything on shore and in the United States with US-based electronic contract manufacturing companies.

You are running at a much lower risk of faulty or counterfeit parts, which have become highly prevalent in off shore manufacturing companies, when you decide to work with a US-based electronic manufacturer. You will also have the benefit of having direct communication with both management and the assembly factory because they're both managed by the same company and people. Not only that, but you'll be helping out the economy by keeping jobs in the United States!

Electronic manufacturing, and electromechanical assembly, is a results driven industry, and you need the best kind of results for your projects. Take the extra time to really find a fit for your manufacturing needs that can provide those results without forcing over budget or deadline, and remember to keep these tips in mind when looking for that winning manufacturing company!

When some companies look into outsourcing their electronic manufacturing company, especially to overseas, they tend to see it as a “fire and forget” solution. Or, perhaps, it's more that they want to look at it that way. After all, in business, it's always a relief when you can hire an expert to take over a time-consuming task for you and feel reasonably assured they'll do a good job. (Remember when you could finally afford a CPA? Or even your own janitor?)

This is one of the biggest lures of outsourcing manufacturing: the idea that you can draw up some design specs, ship them off to China, and then have stacks of product arrive at your door a couple months later with little other intervention needed.

Unfortunately, the reality is usually far from that. Especially when you're dealing with low-cost manufacturers – at home or abroad – they often have a tendency to overstate their own capabilities. Specifically, they lack the equipment needed for precision work that's so necessary for modern mass manufacturing, but you often don't realize this until it's too late.

In some fields, this isn't a major deal. After all, plenty of people still buy IKEA shelves, even though those holes and pegs never quite match up as smoothly as one might like. However, for an electronic manufacturing company, precision is supreme. If they can't deliver it, you're likely to lose money.

Cut-Rate Electronic Manufacturing Companies Just Don't Cut It Anymore

When you hire an electronics firm to produce your latest gadget, the precision of their equipment and their processes (or lack thereof) will make all the difference to whether your investment pays off, or is a waste of time. Production errors can quickly wipe out any cost savings found through outsourced electronics companies.

We're fond of pointing at the example of Sleek Audio, who lost millions of dollars due to poor Chinese manufacturing. A single batch of ruined product nearly ruined the company itself. Yet, after moving production back to America, with in a couple years they had become a CES Award-Winning innovator. That's the difference precision electronic manufacturing makes.

Or, consider Samsung's shipping delay woes with the Galaxy S3 early last year. While they never officially confirmed it, the universal industry scuttlebutt is that their manufacturing plant botched approximately 600,000 phones. Let's just repeat that: 600,000 ruined phones, which (based on other phone production costs) likely cost between $150-$180 to manufacture in the first place.

That's a lot of money that could have been saved, had they gone with an electronics manufacturer who could deliver what was ordered the first time. You then wouldn't have to worry about finding the right electronics repair services company.

Precision Means Peace of Mind

The physics of modern electronics manufacture demand high-quality manufacturing equipment. When you're dealing with manufacturing processes based in microns (one-millionth of a meter), precision is simply essential. This is circuitry so finely-laid that mistakes the size of a pushpin's tip can ruin a product.

So, when you're looking for an electronic manufacturing company, here are some things you want to see:

• Certified adherence to internationally-recognized standards and capabilities.

• A modern facility with the latest in assembly, rebake, and testing procedures.

• Robust supply chain management that keeps counterfeit parts out of your build.

• Testimonials or case studies demonstrating their prowess.

• Post-sale fulfillment services that show a willingness to stand by their results.

• Full testing services throughout the manufacturing process.

You pay a little more for these services, but think of it as manufacturing insurance. When you go with an inexpensive electronics assembly firm, you're always taking a risk. You don't know whether they'll be able to deliver what's promised, and if they can't, you are the one who are going to be out a lot of time and money.

The smart option is to be prepared beforehand. Pick the right partner, an electronic manufacturing company that focuses on precision in its products, and you'll save plenty in costs in the long run.

When you read about the electronic manufacturing services industry, virtually all you hear about are companies located in Asia, India and, occasionally, Africa. The “offshoring” boom of the 90s and 00s is still continuing in full-force... but there's more to the story than that.

There's a rapidly growing “stealth” success in the electronic manufacturing services industry as well: US-manufactured electronics. From the 50s through the 80s, America was known as the home to all the greatest electronics firms in the world, and even though much of the manufacturing itself has moved overseas, the “Made In America” label still has a lot of cachet. Further, there are still plenty of cutting-edge manufacturing firms still located here at home.

So, what's changed? And why is electronics manufacturing suddenly making the move back to America? It lies in the Reshoring movement, which is rapidly gaining steam.

What's Wrong With Offshoring?

Obviously, offshoring in the electronic manufacturing services industry would not have become so widespread if there weren't good reasons to try it. The idea itself did make a certain amount of sense at the time: After all, manufacturing was so less expensive overseas that the cost savings could still offset any other problems that came up, like additional shipping and oversight costs.

However, the offshoring movement has become a victim of its own success. The cost of living in China has gone up so drastically in the tech centers that manufacturing there is only marginally less expensive than in the West.

Further, those costs that were being offset by the lowered manufacturing services prices have turned out to be more costly than many initially assumed. Cheap foreign manufacturing and assembly has become closely associated with low-quality devices that may not even be made from genuine components. Counterfeit parts are becoming rife in foreign-produced goods.

These quality issues mean significant post-sale expenditures on support and replacement, as well as being damaging to a company's reputation.

The distance factor weighs heavily as well. Having your manufacturing center so far from your R&D group makes change come slowly. Long supply pipelines often make impossible to alter orders – even if the market changes. Imagine having a hit product, and being literally unable to ramp up production to meet the demand!

Due to these issues, among others, increasing numbers of companies are rediscovering how easy it is to get quality electronics work done in the United States.

Who's Reshoring?

One might expect, in the face of this, that it would be mostly smaller, more nimble firms who
are bringing their work back to America, and they were the trailblazers. However, a surprising number of major firms have become to come back as well.

• General Electric: Good ol' GE recently spent a billion dollars moving production of many of its “smart” appliances back to the United States.

• Sleek Audio: This up-and-coming high-end headphone manufacturer was nearly ruined when a botched job cost them millions, but a move back to the US has put them back in place as a major player in the headphone biz. 
  

• Google/Samsung: Google made headlines earlier this year when they announced they were moving production of the Nexus smart device line to America. They also sold more than three times as many as they initially expected.

• Apple! To everyone's surprise, Apple recently announced they too are moving the production of part of their Mac line back to the United States. As Apple is perhaps the highest-profile user of offshore manufacturing, this indicates just how serious reshoring has become.

Reshoring as a solution to today's manufacturing needs simply makes sense. While the initial production costs are somewhat higher than in China (roughly 25% at the moment), you get a better product from a more flexible manufacturer, as well as helping to create jobs for people to buy your products.

It's a win-win scenario for American businesses, and for the electronic manufacturing services industry as a whole.

Finding the best and brightest when it comes to all of your electronic manufacturing needs doesn't have to feel like a hopeless endeavor, especially when there are companies out there striving to be only the greatest for both you and themselves. 

Of course, finding that perfect fit with a manufacturing company normally has a few different parameters, mostly involving what kind of components are being used, turn-around time, and the quality of the end product. There are several other things to take into consideration, one of them being ratings among the industry.

The electronic manufacturing services industry has extreme pride for all of the work they do and most, if not all, companies ensure only the best for their customers. However, there are still companies and services which go above and beyond and are recognized for their efforts. How can you tell when a company is rated highest among the electronic manufacturing services industry? Easy, check out the major flags below.

High Attention To Detail

It's all in the details, especially with electronic components and PCBs. When something isn't working, breaks, or has any faulty problems when it shouldn't, that normally means there was probably a problem during the manufacturing or testing process. Instead of trying to point fingers, however, it is better to understand that issues can arise and to find an electronic manufacturing company that keeps a very acute attention to detail.

Making sure all parts are in working order, everything is properly soldered, all copper plating is done to a T, and much more is always part of the testing process and should never be skipped or rushed. When that happens, you have a problem on your hands that could potentially cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Look For Ratings

Any company would be proud of their hard work and dedication, especially if they have won any awards or recognition for all of their services. Because of this, a website is a great place to look for ratings, testimonials, and any awards the electronic manufacturing business has acquired. Look for them in:

• About page

• Front or home page

• Testimonials page

• Blog or "news" page

If a website cannot be found, there are always business cards and other promotional material to check out, or simply even asking.

Authority In The Industry
Another great way to figure out if the company you're working with is an industry leading electronic manufacturing company, is if their name and brand is recognized and they're an authority in the industry. This can normally be seen through their advertising and even their blog. 

Do they provide useful and helpful information for their customers about the industry through case studies, white papers, blog posts, articles, and other such content? While not all of the highest rated companies might not be doing this, the ones taking the time to provide insight and information are a sure fire way to ensure the most impeccable service for you.

The Customer Experience
Continuous quality and great customer service is argued to be the cornerstones of any business rated the highest in their industry. This is true even for electronic manufacturing because the customer needs their product and the manufacturing services company needs the project, and this two-way street needs to be highly maintained for both.

Rating highest among the competition means comfortably providing the best customer experience, and the buyers and engineers getting that experience will normally be more than happy to share their thoughts for testimonials. When you're looking for a high rating electronic manufacturing company, don't forget to do your research on them! Google their name, browse through the results, and take the time to consider your options.

When looking for the perfect contract electronics manufacturing company to take care of all of your manufacturing needs, whether it is PCBs or otherwise, it is always wise to do your research and find out what companies holds the quality of the process as one of their highest priorities. Contrary to popular belief, not all manufacturing companies are compliant with certain standards or might not truly do a quality job of manufacturing components despite what they might market.

So, how can you tell when a company truly believes in quality over quantity and won't just hand over faulty pieces? There are some signs to look out for when you start your search on an electronic manufacturing company, all of them listed below.

Parts With Integrity

One of the most costly mistakes that any business outsourcing their electronics manufacturing can face is faulty components and parts in their finished products. This is a common occurrence among manufacturers with their main processing and manufacturing teams in overseas factories like China or India. 

Poorly designed and usually counterfeit components are used instead of high quality, non-counterfeit parts in order to cut corners with pricing. While saving a buck might be tempting, this usually results in arcs, bad circuity, and even the entire piece short circuiting and causing even more outside damage. That is potentially thousands of dollars at stake, on top of possible recalls and lawsuits from faulty components. Find a company with United States based parts and manufacturing and you will find parts with integrity and the highest quality available.

US-based Operations

Speaking of United States based components and manufacturing, it is actually possible--and preferable--to find an on-shore business that tries to keep as much of their manufacturing, engineering, and testing processes within the United States as possible. Simply asking the manufacturer about their operations is a great way to find a transparent business that makes
sure your product is only of the highest quality.

Not only that, but keeping in contact with the manufacturing services business will be much easier if they aren't half a world away or only have a virtual office in the United States for the sake of
looking like they have operations in America. Any questions or concerns can be addressed immediately, instead of having to sit through hours of customer service or not hearing any reply at all.

Quality Assurance & Testing

If the price looks too good to be true then it more than likely is! An electronic manufacturing company needs to be able to assure the best of the best from your final design and product--if not, then it needs to go back to the drawing board to be re-tested until it passes rigorous tests. Check to see what services are offered and what exactly your electronic components are going through, process by process, to make sure that there is indeed QA testing going on.

Most companies will say right on their website if they have on-site testing and Quality Assurance. If you can't find any information regarding such, then don't hesitate to ask and make sure the final product is truly safe and ready to be shipped out or implemented to other pieces. This is your budget, after all--make it count!

Deadlines Met, Budget-Friendly

Finally, if possible, check out any white papers, case studies, or any other helpful information on the electronic manufacturing company you want to do business with. Find out if they can keep strict deadlines or might need some leg room to work, or if they can successfully stay within budget or you might have to find someone else instead. Don't be afraid to turn down first offers from manufacturing companies and going with someone else.

It is possible to find a quality company with all of the above traits in today's economy, all it takes is just a little research and being able to say "no" when you don't feel comfortable.