Electronic manufacturing services or EMS is a broad category that includes the design, development, and manufacturing of electronic products. EMS companies provide contract manufacturing services for a variety of industries and applications including communications, consumer electronics, industrial electronics, defense and aerospace, medical devices, automotive, and transportation systems.
The production process for electronics manufacturing services may include prototypes or small-scale production runs as well as large-scale production runs.
Electronics manufacturing services are
typically categorized into two primary groups: OEMs and EMS providers. An OEM
(original equipment manufacturer) is a company that designs or produces a
product or system that can be resold to end users on behalf of another company.
For example, Apple is an OEM because it designs and builds iPhones using
components supplied by third parties like Foxconn who specialize in assembling
complex hardware like smartphones for other manufacturers.
An EMS provider makes items for its own use
or for resale to another buyer. The products made by EMS providers can include
everything from simple wires to complex printed circuit boards (PCBs).
Advantages of electronic manufacturing services:
EMS services are used by electronics
companies to outsource the labor and associated costs of manufacturing their
products. The services provided in an EMS include design, procurement, and
production of printed circuit boards (PCBs).
EMS can provide many advantages to
electronics companies, including:
1. Consistent quality
All components are produced in a single
location under one roof, eliminating any issues with quality control that may
occur when outsourcing individual parts to different vendors.
2. Single source supply
All parts are purchased through one vendor
rather than multiple vendors, making it easier for you to manage your supply
chain.
3. Cost savings
The cost for an EMS is often less than what
would be charged for each component individually. This means that you will save
money on both material costs and labor costs associated with producing your
product.
4. Quality
assurance
A professional manufacturer will have
quality control procedures that ensure all parts are assembled correctly and
there are no defects in the device. This ensures that the device is safe for
consumers and meets all standards set by government agencies, such as the FCC
or UL (Underwriters Laboratories).
Some added advantages:
Outsourcing electronic manufacturing
services is the best way to get your product to market quickly, efficiently and
cost effectively.
Here are some added advantages of
outsourcing:
You can focus
on what you do best
If
you are a startup company that needs to get a new product to market quickly and
at a low cost, you probably do not have the time or resources to develop all
aspects of your business, including manufacturing. So it makes sense to
outsource some of these activities. By focusing on what you do best (i.e.,
design and marketing), you can focus on growing your business while still
maintaining control over quality and timing.
You can
scale up quickly
When demand for your product increases, so
can your production capacity. This is important because many startups fail
because they don’t anticipate high demand for their products or services. By
outsourcing manufacturing early in your company’s life cycle, you have the
option to scale up as needed without having to worry about equipment
constraints or other issues that may arise if you try to do everything in-house
from day one.
You can
focus on innovation instead of operations management
While there are many benefits associated
with managing operations in-house (such as being able to control costs), it
also helps to bring innovation to your work.
Choosing the best EMS Company
Electronic
manufacturing servicesare used by a wide range of
companies, from large corporations to small startups. They offer a broad set of
services that can help your business get the most out of its designs and
products.
But with so many options available, it can
be difficult to choose which EMS is right for you. Here are some things to keep
in mind when choosing an EMS:
1. Costs
What will it cost? A big consideration when
choosing an EMS is price. You need to find one that fits within your budget
while still providing the quality and reliability you expect from a partner.
2. Quality
How well does the company perform? While
price is important, it's equally important to look at how well an EMS performs
its job over time, something that cannot always be determined by price alone.
3. Reliability
How reliable is the company? How does it
handle unexpected challenges? This can be hard to determine before signing on
with an EMS, but asking around about their reputation and past work should help
provide some insight into how reliable they are likely to be in the future.
4. Warranty
period
It is also important to consider the warranty period for your purchased equipment. If you have purchased a high-end machine for your production line, then it may be worth investing in a longer warranty period. This ensures that there are no issues with maintenance after purchase and that you can use the equipment for many years before having to replace it again.
