Choosing the Right Manufacturer

For outsourcing to be successful, the outside vendor must know your industry, share your values with regard to quality and service, understand your design, and offer expert manufacturability assistance. In short, will your vendor act as a manufacturing extension of your own company? When researching vendors, carefully consider the following questions:

Technical Services

• Does the manufacturer offer process design assistance?
• Do they check manufacturability of the part before production?
• Do they provide prototyping?

Quality control

• Is the supplier MIL-PRF-38534 and AS9100 certified?
• Do they meet specific industry standards?
• Do they have the technical capabilities necessary to adequately test your product?

Production Capabilities

• Can they meet complex design parameters?
• Can they handle both high and low volume requirements?
• Do they offer the latest technology, such as super lines and unique high frequency processes?
• Can they meet your quality requirements?
• Can the assembly equipment they have meet your manufacturing needs?
• Do they have clean room facilities?
• Are they able to provide the secondary operations that your design may require?

Customer Service

• Does the supplier offer quick turnaround and on-time delivery?
• How quickly can they ramp up to full production?
• Is the vendor the right size to match your production needs and will they give you the attention you deserve?

Experience

• How long has the vendor been in business?
• Does the staff provide sufficient process engineering and manufacturing expertise?
• How many products are they currently manufacturing?
• What is their experience with products similar to yours?
• Can they provide you with a client list?

If the manufacturer you are considering can meet the major goals you have set for your product, and they share your desire to see it succeed, then the end result will be a top quality part with cost-savings and on-time delivery.

More about outsourcing:

• Outsourcing benefits
• Is outsourcing right for you?
• Choosing the right manufacturer
• Raytheon and Natel - An Outsourcing Success Story