Contract Manufacturing Comes of Age

By: Bill Hunt

Posted: June 9, 2008, from the June 2008 issue of GCI Magazine.

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To make this work most effectively, Contractor 2 must implement quick changeover lines, have excellent equipment uptime and schedule the longest runs possible. This is a new paradigm. Contractor 2 must also train the team to be able to operate sophisticated equipment. Terms such as “deviceNET,” “PLC controls” and the like must be common and well-understood.

The new trend in these ultra-competitive times is to choose a smaller, specialty contractor with fewer high-speed lines and to align closely with companies that have a long-term sustainable cost. The high-speed lines also mean you can get “into stock” quickly to meet big orders at a moment’s notice.

There is beauty in high-speed, time-based competition. Ask yourself, is your supply beautiful?