Electronics manufacturing services outsourcing initiatives traditionally have addressed the issue of production, with the primary benefit being lower costs and overhead. But in today’s challenging market, the relationship between the OEM and electronics manufacturing services provider has, by necessity, become virtually seamless. The lines have blurred between OEM and supplier, presenting a unified, integrated solution to the end customer.

At Federal Electronics, that electronics manufacturing services relationship now extends beyond production to include supply-chain services that accelerate business processes and increase agility. These services include:

• Pipeline management
  Utilizing static run rates or periodic forecast data, the raw material pipeline flexes with the requirements for finished product.
• Lead-time reduction
  Having product available when your customer needs it is a critical competitive advantage. Reducing cycle times in manufacturing processes and lead times for raw materials enhances your ability to seize an unplanned opportunity.
• Limited-liability agreements
  It’s easy to shorten lead times by overdriving a material pipeline, but it comes at the expense of increased inventory that consumes capital. A limited-liability agreement, in tandem with raw material pipeline management, establishes a “not to exceed” limit that is not only reasonable given expected revenue projections, but also satisfies the finance department’s desire for no surprises.
• Kanban programs
  Federal’s lean manufacturing and supply-chain processes serve as the foundation for an effective Kanban program, delivering finished product in days rather than weeks or months.
• Kitting/3PL logistics
  Taken to a higher level, Federal Electronics can ship custom kits to your dock, or more appropriately, to your work cells, eliminating the need to receive, inspect, stock, kit, and deliver to your floor.

Federal Electronics’ lean manufacturing and supply-chain processes improve your ability to flex to dynamic market demands without allocating capital that can be put to better use.