Manufacturing Matters Blog

OEMs doing business in European Union (EU) markets are likely aware of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). Enacted in 2006, the purpose behind the RoHS directive was to manage the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium,...

OEMs that manufacture high-mix, low-to-medium volume products understand the value of flexibility in manufacturing. This is especially true for complex products, including those for the healthcare industry. This flexibility offers the OEM the...

Lean principles and workplace organization methods like 5S are successful largely because of their focus on neatness. A lean operation is a clean operation, to be sure, but neatness has greater reach. Neatness ultimately dictates product quality,...

GMI Solutions management is closely monitoring the health of our associates in our Shanghai facility as well as how the coronavirus is affecting the global supply chain. As of today, all GMI Solutions China team members are unaffected by the virus.

Packaging is a necessary part of any product. The physical transfer of components, assemblies, and devices between contract manufacturers and OEMs simply cannot happen without it. It is also critical for a successful transfer of any product to an...

Transcript: In medical capital equipment, cooling solutions carry as much weight as other components in the system. Every component is critical, and failure carries very real consequences – perhaps a patient can’t finish radiation treatment;...

Transcript: Companies measure the success of their cultures in different ways; some by the amount of fun associates have, others may use employees surveys about job satisfaction and fulfillment. The primary metric GMI uses is the tenure of...

At times, the number of new projects slated to be brought in-house puts OEMs at odds with capacity. Perhaps the physical limitations of the manufacturing facility or a lack of specialized equipment inhibits production. Or, there simply aren’t...

When project timelines and budgets are tight, OEMs often consider assembly-level testing a “nice to have” instead of a “need to have.” The peace of mind it provides that contract manufacturers are performing to production and quality standards,...

Large contract manufacturers commonly offer in-house printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication to OEMs. The vertically integrated service is perceived as a value-add, since it provides a modestly lower purchase price by not involving third parties...

OEMs that deal with manufacturing electromechanical assemblies or turnkey products sold in North America or Europe are familiar with CE, CSA, RoHS, UL, and other required safety and emission certifications. As China becomes an even larger player...