The term “electronics manufacturing services” (EMS) refers to an overall industry and also to a specific class of subcontractor or company. EMS is also often used interchangeably with the more generic term “contract manufacturing (CM)”. In short, EMS companies provide a wide range of value-added engineering and manufacturing outsourcing services to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), allowing them to improve operational efficiencies and focus on core activities like research and development (R&D).

Ask questions. The process of selecting an EMS provider can be time-consuming and frustrating. But if you know the right questions to ask it can be less daunting.

Selecting a manufacturing partner is a tough choice. One major factor to consider is pedigree or credibility within the industry that you are seeking to penetrate or grow. EMS providers that remain successfully operational over many years and decades have often survived because of their ability to satisfy customers in particular markets, year after year.

Most companies in the EMS space offer some level of support through Design for Manufacturing (DFM) processes. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) should be on the lookout for an exceptionally proactive EMS partner with industry leading toolsets, clear design guidelines, and a knowledgeable and accessible staff who demonstrates the skills required to help bring your product to market faster.

You need to be able to count on a manufacturing partner who supports your business through the use of advanced manufacturing and testing technologies and demonstrates a commitment to ongoing investment.

Leading-edge companies will demonstrate a high degree of certification to the latest standards and specifications across all key customer market sectors. Achieving and maintaining certifications in high-reliability sectors requires investment, time, and adherence to stringent processes and business controls; particularly in the Medical, Defence, and Aerospace markets. This in turn shows commitment to a focused group of industries, as well as a dedication to continuous improvement.

Product testing should be discussed early in the design stage. For certain products that must operate in particularly harsh environments, environmental and reliability testing should be used to make sure your products will stand up to your intended application.

You should feel assured knowing that a dedicated team is available to support aftermarket requirements including service demands and remanufacturing of product. It is important they offer complete product lifecycle support, component obsolescence management and component engineering management services.

Communication with your EMS partner(s) of choice should fall under the three C's rule: Consistency, communication, and collaboration. The flow of information is paramount to the success of the partnership. This allows open and active dialogue to make business decisions easier and faster.

EMS partners need to focus on ethics and compliance for their corporate brand. Best practices and procedures in their supply chain role will support these efforts.

A business designed around High-Mix Low-Volume must be able to demonstrate systems and business process capable of reacting to dynamic changes including being able to make changes on the fly.

New product introduction covers the entire process of bringing a new product to market. Engineers guide manufacturers and communicate with them through the entire product development process.

Your EMS partner needs to understand how to support this process. They will add value from design reviews, product qualification, volume ramp, and cost awareness. Presence of a dedicated NPI team is an added bonus.

Knowing your supplier talks the same business language as you and has experience in your market sector speaks volumes. The best manufacturer fit will understand the requirements needed to get the job completed on time, the certifications needed, and in some cases the legalities of working on specific products or programs. Look for manufacturers who can provide customer testimonials that further demonstrate their ability to deliver best in class and support.

Whether you require local engagement or support for a global market, your electronics manufacturing partner needs to be the right fit for your immediate demand and long-term strategic goals. This will build the relationship both short and long-term.

Traceability is important within the supply chain as it provides the ability to recall components/products, track production and match replacement parts. It gathers the information needed by the manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors.

TT has the capabilities to retain records for those that have specific requirements. Our solutions range from lot traceability to full component level traceability.

When choosing a manufacturing partner, understanding the business portfolio and infrastructure setup allows you to make an informed decision. Questions to review during the process could be:

1. Are they producing computers and cell phones while you are interested in the support of products that may only require 100’s or 1,000’s per annum?

When choosing a manufacturing partner, understand their business strategy and where they are focused in the market.

2. Is their business model built on flexibility and agility or volume and velocity?

One of the top reasons manufacturing companies outsource and use solution providers is to lower their costs. OEM's can focus on research and development while saving on capital investments. However, another reason is to gain or maintain competitive advantage by improving speed to market.

Top 7 Benefits of Outsourcing Your Electronics Manufacturing :

1. Converting your fixed costs investments to a variable cost model
2. Risk reduction/mitigation
3. Speed to market
4. Improved productivity
5. EMS providers offer more agility
6. Greater experience and competence in manufacturing processes
7. Much broader and more global supply chain (extension of the global network)