Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Manufacturing Partner Decision
To DIY or not to DIY—that is the question. You can choose to DIY manufacture or select
a trusted
contract manufacturer
(CM) to build your product for you. One of the great
things about producing your own designs in this day and age is that there are a vast range
of options for building new innovations at practically all points on the demand spectrum,
from building single units to mass-producing many millions of units. In the world of elec-
tronics assembly, an electric skillet purchased at your hometown general store and a set of
tweezers can get the job done, depending on the complexity of the components required for
the circuit board you are building. Should you ever need to manufacture that board in the
same volumes as the latest iPhone or Galaxy Nexus model, you can certainly set up factor-
ies with complete assembly lines of specialized equipment that will help you fulfill that
quantum leap in demand. Of course, a plethora of options are available for anyone needing
a solution that falls somewhere in between those two extremes.
Should you elect to contract your manufacturing out to someone else with expertise in
building products in large volume, it is important to ask the right questions that will help
you determine what you want and need out of your manufacturing partnership. Of equal
importance, you should ask any potential manufacturing partner the questions that will
give you the peace of mind that the manufacturer can and will deliver the results that you
desire. Though by no means exhaustive, the following questions should set you off on a
course for finding the right CM:
Can the CM provide a fully
turnkey solution
, including the procurement of all
parts? What is the difference in total unit cost between the turnkey solution versus
the “assembly only” cost?
What is the CM's average turnaround time once an order becomes official? If
working with an international contractor, has the company verified that its quoted
turnaround time includes shipping?
What are the CM's minimum order quantity requirements? Does that requirement
differ depending on who is supplying the parts for the production run?
Is the CM capable of sourcing bare printed circuit boards (PCBs) in any color de-
sired?
Does the CM have a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and/or a documented policy
on intellectual property to govern the partnership and give you the protections you
desire for open source hardware?
Does the potential CM have any current or former customers that can be independ-
ently contacted for their opinions on working with that particular CM?
