Electronic contract manufacturing plays a vital role for businesses and industries around the world. But before getting into what separates the good from the bad, a brief definition of an electronic contract manufacturer might help.

On a very basic level, electronic contract manufacturers (otherwise known as "ECMs") use advanced manufacturing technology and machinery to produce the intricate components many of our electronics rely on.

A number of industries take advantage of electronic contract manufacturing when they need a fast, effective, and reliable source for complex assembly. These industries often include the aerospace, defense, computer, semiconductor, energy, medical, food manufacturing, personal care, and automotive fields.

One of the most common fallacies these days is that all of the electronic contract manufacturing businesses have moved overseas in search of greater cost savings. This is not entirely true. While some ECMs have moved to outsourced manufacturing, a large amount of contract manufacturing still occurs in the United States -- especially for high precision applications in the aerospace, defense, and medical industries.

But what makes a good electronic manufacturer? When looking for the right contract manufacturer for your project, you must as yourself a few important questions.

Relationships:

Will a contract manufacturer push you to the bottom of the queue when a high-volume project comes along and demands next-day delivery?

For any contract manufacturer, relationships are important. As a business, you have to be confident that your manufacturing will be completed in a timely fashion -- not pushed back because something else came along.

What is best, is a real relationship with a contract manufacturer, from as early as the prototype stage to full production. This gives the contract manufacturer a full understanding of your product and the ability to identify any way to improve it, while avoiding costly pitfalls and delays. This dedication to an actual relationship ensures that you get the patience, time, and resources necessary when it comes to developing a product that has been designed and optimized for quality and cost efficiency.

Staying Competitive:

Any good electronic contract manufacturer should be focused on helping you stay competitive. This is particularly true if their specialty is working with small to medium sized companies. This might involve a variety of processes ranging from helping you stay up to date with industry trends to helping you prepare for various regulations pertinent to your products or components.

Flexibility:

Because of the variety of different products and components that rely on effective CM, a good provider should be able to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility in terms of its structure, processes, and equipment. Flexibility is absolutely necessary when it comes to accommodating various customers, products, and timelines.

However, remaining flexible isn't limited to offering a variety of services, such as PCB assembly, supply chain management, BGA repair, and inspection. Remaining flexible also means having strong distributor relationships for greater cost efficiency and reliability.

When all of these factors come together, businesses get a contract manufacturing resource that offers the many benefits of manufacturing in America with a level of cost efficiency comparable to off-shore manufacturing.