Since the late 20th century, India has witnessed rapid progress in electronic manufacturing services, aiming to be a powerhouse of the electronic manufacturing industry in both domestic and global scapes.
According to the Economic Times, a report from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) states that by 2030, India will face an increasing demand for electronic components and sub-assemblies, reaching around $240 billion to support electronic production worth $500 billion.
EMS Landscape in India
OEMs, or original equipment manufacturers in India, collaborate with EMS providers to create electronic products that match international standards for different medical, defense, or automobile sectors. The success of these electronic projects depends on the right EMS selection.
However, the increasing demand for electronic products has opened up the opportunity for numerous EMS providers, each with its own advantage. In this situation, it is difficult to choose the right electronic manufacturing service provider that is perfect for your business.
Several OEM companies in India that require electronics don’t want to have a separate workforce for electronic parts production. They want to outsource part of the electronics or completely to an EMS company of their choice. Before selecting the EMS partner, they will do a thorough audit concerning their needs and qualify them both technically and commercially.
In this guide, we will discuss the factors to select the most suitable EMS provider for your electronic product manufacturing and PCB assembly requirements.
What services are provided by EMS suppliers?
In Bangalore, a leading electronics manufacturing and design company, MicroLOGIX, provides electronics manufacturing services, including
- Hardware and Mechanical Design
- Firmware and Software Development
- Cloud-Connected IoT Solutions
- Wire Harness Design and Implementation
- Product Compliance Testing
- Product Lifecycle Management
- Reverse Engineering Services
- Comprehensive Material Management
services for clients or companies across India across different sectors like defense, medical, etc.
How do you choose your perfect Electronic Manufacturing Service Provider?
The first step is always to understand all aspects of your business products properly; only then will you be able to fulfill your electronic requirements.
The next step is going through the mentioned factors to assess if you have the right EMS supplier or not.
1. Expertise in EMS
You should judge the potential of an EMS supplier with their level of experience and track record in the electronic manufacturing industry. You can also approach well-established enterprises that have already completed projects like yours for useful suggestions.
An electronic manufacturing company is competent and reliable as an outsourcing partner only when they are well-versed in most of the technical progress going on in different industries. They should be able to conduct your electronic manufacturing job seamlessly to deliver the best results.
2. Quality Standard
One of the key factors in deciding your EMS provider is their control over quality. Every electronic product has a set standard and all EMS suppliers must comply with the global norms ( based on ISO 9001) for their products to be accepted.
For example, the quality control standard for:
- Medical devices – ISO 13485
- Aerospace devices – AS9100
- Automobile devices – TS16949.
So check if the EMS chosen by you maintains proper quality control methods so that you don’t receive a defective product later.
3. Necessary Certifications
Certifications serve as an excellent source of credibility. These certifications ensure that the EMS supplier is committed to the current industry and their products meet international standards. Certifications are proof that the respective EMS provider can be trusted as a partner.
4. Technical Capability
Accessing the technical ability and manufacturing infrastructure of your EMS provider is a basic step you can never leave.
The manufacturing technologies should be advanced enough and up-to-date to offer you a variable range of services, from building the PCB to the final parts, and also accurate testing methodologies.
If an EMS supplier has strong EMS abilities, they will be able to satisfy your varying requirements for electronic products, be it for a small batch or a big one.
5. Supply chain Management
A secure, stable supply chain is a guarantee of an EMS provider’s ability to fulfill all customer requirements, from sourcing materials to final product manufacture.
- Managing inventory costs
- Managing logistics
These require an effective supply chain strategy that comes from maintaining good relationships with suppliers.
You should always make a proper inquiry about this factor to prevent any disruption during product manufacturing and gain a competitive edge in the crowded market.
6. Flexibility and Scalability
During the production manufacturing process, it is your right to demand some changes in the process to satisfy your project specifications.
A capable EMS supplier should be able to accommodate all your alterations in the project scope, including a change in production volume.
To meet the increasing demands of the EMS industry, an electronic manufacturing service provider should have an extremely flexible and agile work process to ensure streamlined progress in production.
7. Cost Management
Comparing cost with quality is always the best strategy to find the perfect EMS your company needs.
Choose an EMS provider who offers:
- Complete manufacturing solutions at a competitive price
- Transparent pricing structures
- Specifies all hidden charges (subcharges)
- Cost optimization strategies
- Value-added services
This will lead you to plan out your entire budget for manufacturing and give the best value for your money.
8. Proper Communication and Support
Having efficient communication and customer support leads to the ideal manufacturing process.
Your electronic manufacturing service provider should:
- Provide detailed reports of work progress
- Have clear communication channels
- Have a collaborative problem-solving approach
- Engage with you daily for production improvement
- Give a timely response to your manufacturing needs.
9. Environmental Policies & Practices
EMS suppliers should be environmentally conscious and practice ethical business values to earn enough credibility among the competitors. EMS companies with green practices and ethical supply chains have strong reputations in the industry, with their views aligning with the buyers.
How should OEMs maintain a long-term partnership with EMS providers?
After the initial selection of EMS providers is over, you need to think about building a long-term collaboration with your EMS supplier to make sure that your production line remains unaffected. There are certain points you should focus on to last this collab for a long time.
1. Decide on Communication methods
Decide on a permanent communication protocol from the beginning. Keep regularly scheduled meetings, assess work updates, and fix a single person of reference for effective workflow within the organization.
2. Have a problem-solving attitude
Every production process has a risk of facing challenges. During this time, your EMS supplier should have active participation in problem-solving to overcome these issues and get the desired outcome.
3. Initiatives for continued growth
Your EMS provider should possess the dedication to strive for perfection in their service. This can boost your manufacturing efforts, reduce expenses, and promote quality products.
4. Ready to work with Innovative technologies
An efficient EMS partner should always be ready to handle new, innovative ventures for a better outcome. Besides being up-to-date about all the innovations in the industry, they should be able to suggest creative and useful ideas for enhancing the functionality and competitiveness of your business in the market.
5. Risk Management
Your EMS partner should be ready to collaborate and solve any probable risks with your team at any time.
They should provide risk mitigation plans and point out or rectify any potential risks in your project in advance to avoid any loss during product launch at its maximum.
Conclusion
Your whole product success depends on scouting your perfect EMS supplier. So always be cautious and research the potential electronic manufacturing service providers in your mind for a successful outcome. Every OEMs needs are different, so the EMS that suits them also varies.
One such competent EMS company is MicroLOGIX, which fits all the mentioned criteria and can be considered a reliable partner for your manufacturing needs. They have already collaborated with OEMs from different sectors like defense, medical, consumer electronics, etc, and received satisfactory reviews from clients.
Still remember first research, then proceed.