How to select the right Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) partner for mass production

Hemargroup is your go-to contract manufacturing solution. Expert for 40+ years in electronic manufacturing services, we have the cutting-edge technology to provide high-end engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, and testing services.

Here is a closer look at what you should expect from quality electronic manufacturing services

An EMS provider with engineering capabilities

Always select from among electronic contract manufacturing companies that have engineering services and capabilities. This means that they will have experts who can gain a full understanding of your product requirements and also predict any problems when it comes to the actual printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). If engineering problems are not taken care of before production, the result could be expensive and lead to extending your time to market and sometimes to the failure of your project. However, a contract manufacturer with an in-house engineering department can work with you to strengthen your drawings and designs, making it ready for mass production manufacturing.

Your product’s story starts with prototyping

A prototype is not the only step in the product development process, but it is one of the most important. Without a successful prototype, you cannot move forward to MVPs and ultimately to mass production.

You need an electronic contract manufacturing company that is capable of putting effort and skills into supporting the manufacturing of an industrial grade prototype. Since prototyping may require several iterations before success, your electronic manufacturing service provider should have the ability to support you during this stage of your project where reactivity is critical.

You, and also your selected EMS Company, must have an NPI (New Product Introduction) mindset in order to make sure the project will go smoothly once mass-production begins. You will want a partner that has an NPI mindset to make things happen quickly, efficiently and with world-class quality.

Your EMS partner should be a solid financial partner. Competitive pricing on paper is important, yes. However, due diligence in selecting an EMS partner is important, as most OEM project teams have limited bandwidth and certainly do not want to invest time and resources in qualifying a new supplier only to discover the supplier is not financially sound. It’s important that the electronic manufacturing services company you are ready to work with is financially sound and stable. You don’t want to start a project with an EMS service company that might be in the midst of a merger or acquisition, or that is having supply chain issues. This could lead you to the total failure of your product project.

Another important element to take into consideration is to find a partner that is transparent about its prices and costs for material or labour. You want to have the best price for your product, especially when you go into mass-production. The location you choose for manufacturing your product will impact your labour costs. Electronic manufacturing services companies should work as your direct partner.

There is never a one-size-fits-all solution, and tailoring its services to your needs should be a critical aspect of your partner’s philosophy.

To conclude, it is important to select a partner who would be able to support your requirements locally while at the same time offering the ability to transfer production seamlessly to another region whenever it makes sense financially (better cost) and logistically (shorter lead times to your end markets).