So you've made the decision to work with an electronics manufacturing company - now what? Although you have realized a need for assistance in the design and development of your products, you may not know where to begin with your search to find a quality partnership with a third party service. In fact, with so many options available, you may be feeling downright overwhelmed. Fortunately, there's no need to panic. By following this simple, five-step guide, you can quickly and confidently find a great manufacturing partner. 

Five Steps to Hiring a Qualified Electronics Manufacturing Company

1. Experience with complex electronics

Although seemingly obvious, a strong history in working with electronics should never be overlooked. Don't be shy about asking your prospective electronics manufacturing company for detailed information about their knowledge of the industry, and the specific types of technology that your company works with. Seek out partnerships with businesses that are established and have a proven track record so that you can be sure that you will be able to build a lasting relationship. You may also consider asking what education, training, or experience the manufacturing service requires of each of its employees before hiring. This will give you a good idea about the skill level that your partner team will actually possess. 

2. Positive, ongoing customer relationships

If the electronics manufacturing company that you are considering working with is truly all that it's cracked up to be, they will have a loyal client base to show for it. Take the time to find out what percentage of your potential service's customers actually renew their contracts. When the majority of the company's clients choose to continue doing business with them, you will feel more confident that you are making the right move. Be sure to also ask the manufacturing business for customer references. A solid, reputable service will be more than happy to do so.

3. The ability to assist in multiple areas

The last thing that you want is to hire a one trick pony. As you look to contract with an electronics manufacturing company, you should take care to find one that is able to help you in numerous aspects of your business. Although you initially may only seeking out help in the manufacturing process itself, you may find that down the road you could benefit from other areas. For example, if your team of engineers experiences difficulty on a particular project, or hits a roadblock, your third party service may be able to step and find answers to the problems that you are having. Additionally, it's wise to work with a manufacturer that also tests, troubleshoots, and repairs electronics.

4. Partnerships with reputable suppliers

The problem with overseas electronics contract manufactureing is that they often use cheap or bootlegged parts in order to cut down production costs. For obvious reasons, this will detract from the value of your devices and may cause serious damage to your company's reputation. Because of this, it's very important that you select a manufacturer that has developed strong partnerships with suppliers who offer them high quality parts at reasonable rates.

5. A true concern for quality control

Always make sure that your electronics manufacturing company is actually passionate about what they do. When a business truly cares about their industry and takes pride in what they do, you will always receive excellent  products that will please your clients and boost your business. 


Bonus tip: Make sure the numbers add up

It may be tempting for you to go with the lowest bidder, but keep in mind that if it seems too good t be true, it probably is. Cheap manufacturing services yield cheap products. On the flip side, however, make sure you aren't being ripped off or overcharged. An honest, reliable partner will not mark-up parts beyond that which is necessary.


Now go out and find a great electronics manufacturing company to partner with!

As technology continues to evolve, so do the needs of your customers. Today's consumer market has higher expectations for electronic devices than ever before, demanding smaller, lighter, faster products for lower costs. Although some of the biggest electronics design and manufacturing companies may have the capitol and manpower to keep up with these customer needs, it may not be so easy for small to medium sized operations to do so. Fortunately, you don't have to throw in the towel and give up. Contract electronics manufacturing services help to level the playing field by offering phenomenal services at a reasonable price point that enables your business to grow and thrive. So what is it that makes a partnership with a contracted manufacturer such a wise investment? Here are three things that you can expect from your contract electronics manufacturing service:

1. Consultation Services 

Regardless of where you are at in the design process, a professional contract electronics manufacturing service can provide valuable consultation services. Perhaps your company would prefer to keep designing and engineering in-house, while outsourcing only the production of your devices. It's still wise for you to keep the lines of communication open between yourself and your manufacturer. An expert outsource company will employ those who are highly knowledgable and who may be able to spot design flaws, inconsistencies, or areas that could be improve in order to maximize efficiency and customer satisfaction. By allowing your electronics manufacturing service to review your design schematics before production, they may be able to send the plans back to you for improvements that could end up saving your company a lot of money. On the flip side of things, a contract electronics manufacturing business can also be more "hands-on" throughout the design process. With highly complex electronics, you may need the help of your partner company to solve problems, or to design the device from scratch.

2. Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

With every year that passes, electronics are growing smaller and more complex, making them more difficult to manufacture. If your smaller electronics business is utilizing dated machinery or is putting devices together by hand, you could be struggling to keep up with marketing demands. In fact, these older processes could be costing you a lot of money, as so much time and labor is required, and more mistakes are likely to be made. Unfortunately, the purchase of newer machinery to constantly keep up with evolving technologies can be impossible for "underdog" companies. This is where contract electronics manufacturing services can help. By working with these types of companies, you can take advantage of the latest and greatest machinery, product assembly services, and robotics without having to purchase the equipment yourself. In this way, your products will be manufactured quicker and more precisely than ever before.

3. Quality Control

Of course, no product should ever hit the shelves or be available to consumers until after it has been carefully tested for quality. When you select an American-based and highly qualified contract electronics manufacturing service, you can rest assured that your devices will be checked for functionality and total precision. In addition to this, you will know that you can be proud of the devices that you are putting out in the world because your manufacturer will only utilize high quality parts for safety and operability. 

Remember: You Get What You Pay For

If you're hoping to receive these three excellent services from your contract electronics manufacturing company, you must take care to invest your money wisely. Often, off-shore manufacturing services are very low cost, but that doesn't guarantee quality at all. Many of these companies are able to keep their price points low because they use boot-legged parts and shoddy craftsmanship. Selecting an American company with years of experience may initially cost a bit more, but customer satisfaction and the improvements to your sales revenue will pay you back in the long run.