Ultimate Capabilities Checklist for Outsourcing to a Trusted Electronic Contract Manufacturing Shop

When you are developing a product with a PCB component, outsourcing to a trusted ECM shop is one of the best decisions your company can make. Maintaining a full engineering team for design as well as a turnkey manufacturing line simply isn’t practical for most companies, so an ECM partner is the perfect solution to get your product to market.

woman in an electronic manufacturing lab examining a printed circuit board with a microscope

Choosing to Outsource

Choosing to outsource to an ECM partner has numerous benefits for you.

  • Reduction of Asset Purchases

When you choose to outsource to a trusted ECM shop, you will not have the need to invest in new technologies specific to each new product launch.

  • Focus on Current In-House Production Efforts

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Specializing is a great thing for production. When you outsource to an ECM, you can put your focus on your expertise and focus on your current projects in production.

  • Decreased Labor Costs

By outsourcing to an ECM, you can save on your own labor costs.

  • Lower Per-Unit Cost

The savings on each unit that is manufactured by a trusted ECM will far outweigh the costs of outsourcing.

  • Expertise

A trusted ECM will have the experience and expertise that would take you years to acquire.

How to Choose an ECM Partner

When you decide to outsource, you want to choose the best partner possible for your project.

  • Determine Your Company’s Specific Needs

The right ECM for you depends on your individual needs. Consider how quickly your product needs to get to market, how much volume you need to produce, the lifespan of your product, and how your product will be distributed.

  • Consider Cost

Although cost is important, it should never be your final differentiator when choosing an ECM partner. The lowest price isn’t necessarily the best choice. Bargain shopping for an ECM may often result in inferior quality, recalls, and non-compliance issues. In addition, some costs may present lower initially, but various fees and charges during the project may drive up the cost to far more expensive than other options. Look at the value, not just the initial quote.

  • Look at the Certifications an ECM Holds

Your ECM should obviously hold the right certifications for your specific product and industry. But in addition, adhering to quality assurance standards and holding relevant certifications helps demonstrate a high commitment to excellence.

  • Low Volume Runs

Low volume runs have many benefits. Both standard low volume runs and prototyping runs can ensure that your product is functional, high-quality, and ready for market.

  • Do They Have Engineers In-House?

In-house engineers are critical to the success of your project. The ECM you partner with should have all the experts required for every stage of the project, from design through delivery, in-house and ready for anything that may occur during the design, prototyping, and testing phases.

  • Get a Good Feel for How They Do Business

Don’t choose your partner based only on how they sell themselves to you. Putting together a good presentation is much easier than following through. Check references to see how they do business, and if possible, visit the shop yourself to tour the facility, meet the staff, and get a sense of the process and the team.

Start Your Quote Now!

Looking for the right qualifications is important, as is avoiding any potential red flags such as the absence of a vetted supplier network, multiple product delays or recalls, and the need to outsource certain stages of the build. By doing your research and asking the right questions, you can find the right ECM partner for your project. Our reputation in quality assurance has led us to become an industry leader. Over the years we’ve helped countless companies design and develop successful products, and we can help you too. Contact Levison Enterprises for a quote on your next project.