6 ways to validate your EMS provider's New Product Introduction process

As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), one of your key focusses is likely to be designing and delivering innovative new products. Whether you are fulfilling existing customer demand or attempting to break into new markets, it’s crucial these products are available and fully functional when your customers expect them. So, if you are working with an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, they need to demonstrate to you that they have robust processes and procedures in place to deliver your new products on time, in full (OTIF) without any drama. To help you validate the New Product Introduction (NPI) capabilities of your existing EMS provider here is our six-point guide to help navigate your way through their processes. Will an e-auction help me outsource my electronics manufacturing? E-auctions have been used since the late 1990s. Soon after the world-wide adoption of the Internet, many companies spotted an opportunity to use this new technology to improve their request for quote (RFQ) process by creating virtual "gateways" between them, the buyer, and the supply chain. Predicted to be the "next big thing", the use of e-auctions increased rapidly over the next few years. Fast forward to 2016 - a place where the Internet of Things (IoT) is now a reality, with people, systems and devices more connected than ever - and the e-auction tool doesn’t appear to have maintained its initial appeal. Maybe that’s not surprising? Like anything "new", particularly when it's technology-based, after the hype dies down expectations don’t always turn into reality. E-auctions also started to become used and abused - a result of "lazy" buying habits and poor implementation. While some organisations reported "significant" savings and a reduction in quote turnaround, many suppliers were left with a sour taste in their mouths. And that taste was price – specifically, the lowest possible – with zero consideration given to other factors, such as quality, flexibility, or the importance of long-term partnerships. So should e-auctions remain in the 1990s archive along with 56K modems? Or is there still a place for them in today’s hyper-connected world? And can they help an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), who is looking to outsource their manufacturing to an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, achieve their strategic goals? Let’s find out. Beyond the machine - what next for electronics manufacturers? Recently we spoke to Paul Rooimans, Managing Director of Mycronic United Kingdom and Benelux. Mycronic is a Swedish high-tech company, which has supplied the electronics industry with world-leading laser mask writers and surface mount technology (SMT) assembly solutions for more than 30 years. In this blog post, Paul talks about how business today is all about ecosystems. He explains why Mycronic has stopped selling machines to instead focus on comprehensive solutions that increase efficiency, productivity and profitability for their customers. Change is the norm across all industries today and the best electronics manufacturers are learning to adapt both intelligently and quickly. So if the machine is now history, what's next for electronics manufacturers? How has the last twelve months been for you and how do you see the future? The last twelve months have been really good for us! After a weak 2013, we saw an excellent recovery in 2014 and we broke records in the UK with all time high in 2015. The market has been weaker in Q1 2016 but we are confidently expecting an upswing during Q2 and the rest of the year. Activity among our clients is still high and there is definitely no decline in the utilisation of their assembly lines. Why PCB design is important to successful in-circuit test Testing is a fundamental element of your manufacturing operation. Without implementing a robust test process, you run the risk of overlooking manufacturing defects that could potentially cause your products to fail in the field. This situation can wreak havoc on your reputation and customer relationships. So testing is crucial. But it is not a process you should simply carry out after a product has been made; it is not an "add-on". Instead, it is necessary to carry out specific test procedures at various stages along the way. Finding a fault in a product before it has been manufactured to its full value, and either rectifying or scrapping it, is a lot more effective than testing the finished goods, only to discover a problem and then reject them. In this post, we will be focusing on testing printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) using the in-circuit test (ICT) method. This is a popular and cost-effective strategy that delivers component-level fault diagnosis, rooting out problems with PCBAs before they are inserted into larger assemblies. However, none of these benefits can be realised without taking into account PCB design. Let's take a look at the best practice steps you should follow, to ensure that you obtain the optimum results. Subcon 2016 - getting the most from your visit Subcon 2016 (7th - 9th June) is advertised as "the UK’s premier manufacturing supply chain show dedicated to subcontracting and outsourced engineering services" - and this year the show will be celebrating its 40th birthday! With a large number of electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers attending, along with some of the UK’s top engineering firms, the three-day event provides visitors with the ideal platform to discover new suppliers that can make a positive impact on their business. New this year, Subcon will host a number of dedicated "zones", including Software and Materials & Composites, along with "The Buyer Programme" where visitors are encouraged to book appointments in advance of the show to maximise their time on the day. With so much going on and to ensure you get the most from the event, we have put together a quick 13-point guide, which we hope you will find of use. How your EMS provider can support offsite installation projects We all need a helping hand once in a while. And when it comes to the final installation of a control cabinet or completed machine your electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider might just be who you are looking for. Typically, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) ask their EMS providers to support with final installations for a couple of reasons. They have either lost the skills and capabilities in-house to complete this type of work or they simply don’t have sufficient resources to finish the project. Either way, they will have a problem that needs solving, in order to honour an order or service commitment. In this blog post, we will look at how EMS companies with the appropriate skills and resources can help OEMs overcome these issues. At the same time, we will highlight some of the questions you may need to ask and the challenges both parties face when it comes to offsite installation projects. We all need a helping hand once in a while. And when it comes to the final installation of a control cabinet or completed machine your electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider might just be who you are looking for. Typically, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) ask their EMS providers to support with final installations for a couple of reasons. They have either lost the skills and capabilities in-house to complete this type of work or they simply don’t have sufficient resources to finish the project. Either way, they will have a problem that needs solving, in order to honour an order or service commitment. In this blog post, we will look at how EMS companies with the appropriate skills and resources can help OEMs overcome these issues. At the same time, we will highlight some of the questions you may need to ask and the challenges both parties face when it comes to offsite installation projects. We all need a helping hand once in a while. And when it comes to the final installation of a control cabinet or completed machine your electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider might just be who you are looking for. Typically, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) ask their EMS providers to support with final installations for a couple of reasons. They have either lost the skills and capabilities in-house to complete this type of work or they simply don’t have sufficient resources to finish the project. Either way, they will have a problem that needs solving, in order to honour an order or service commitment. In this blog post, we will look at how EMS companies with the appropriate skills and resources can help OEMs overcome these issues. At the same time, we will highlight some of the questions you may need to ask and the challenges both parties face when it comes to offsite installation projects. We all need a helping hand once in a while. And when it comes to the final installation of a control cabinet or completed machine your electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider might just be who you are looking for. Typically, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) ask their EMS providers to support with final installations for a couple of reasons. They have either lost the skills and capabilities in-house to complete this type of work or they simply don’t have sufficient resources to finish the project. Either way, they will have a problem that needs solving, in order to honour an order or service commitment. In this blog post, we will look at how EMS companies with the appropriate skills and resources can help OEMs overcome these issues. At the same time, we will highlight some of the questions you may need to ask and the challenges both parties face when it comes to offsite installation projects. We all need a helping hand once in a while. And when it comes to the final installation of a control cabinet or completed machine your electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider might just be who you are looking for. Typically, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) ask their EMS providers to support with final installations for a couple of reasons. They have either lost the skills and capabilities in-house to complete this type of work or they simply don’t have sufficient resources to finish the project. Either way, they will have a problem that needs solving, in order to honour an order or service commitment. In this blog post, we will look at how EMS companies with the appropriate skills and resources can help OEMs overcome these issues. At the same time, we will highlight some of the questions you may need to ask and the challenges both parties face when it comes to offsite installation projects.

For more information on 6 ways to validate your EMS provider's New Product Introduction process talk to ESCATEC Mechatronics Ltd