4 Factors to Consider Before Your Next Product Assembly

Complex assemblies can involve hundreds, or even thousands, of parts and consume a huge amount of a company’s time. For this reason, many OEMs are looking at product assembly as an area for potential optimization. The goal of any product assembly line is simple: efficiently assemble a product. This is important to keep this mind when optimizing new or existing product assembly processes. To help with your evaluation, below are 4 factors to consider before your next product assembly.

1. Is Your Product Designed for Assembly? Design for Manufacturing (DFM) is a common practice and is the process of designing a part for ease of manufacturing, often resulting in a better, more cost-effective product. DFM procedures often focus on production but is crucial that OEMs also consider product assembly to ensure new or existing products are designed for efficient assembly. Whether you perform assembly in-house or outsource this activity, it is important to think through assembly line steps and how the part design will impact the assembly process. Companies should map out the physical flow of materials thorough each stage of product assembly to identify areas for improvement and optimize the process. Less is often more when it comes to product assembly. For instance, a best practice is to minimize the total parts and tools utilized, and optimize their placement including orientation. If performed properly, designing and optimizing for assembly will reduce overall manufacturing costs and avoid costly disruptions without sacrificing quality or performance.

2. Does Your Product Assembly Have Key Metrics? It is important to identify key metrics for assessing and tracking assembly line performance. These metrics should be easily measured, and should include quality assurance data based on inspections and other quality control practices. This data, especially if available real-time, will be invaluable to personnel making assembly decisions. Product assembly performance should be regularly analyzed to identify areas for improvement.

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3. Have You Considered Disassembly Requirements? Some products may need to be disassembled in the future for inspections or repairs. Oftentimes when a product is being designed, disassembly needs are not given much attention; however, the way a product is disassembled significantly impacts the speed with which you complete support requests or tests. For this reason, disassembly requirements should be considered prior to every product assembly. For example, if a product may be disassembled in the future, consider using flexible, temporary assembly options rather than rigid, permanent fasteners, seals, or other assembly methods.

4. Does Contract Assembly Make Sense for Your Product? If you are not already using contract assembly, it may be time to evaluate this option. Contract assembly has been around for decades, and many industries rely heavily on outsourcing product assembly to remain competitive. Contract manufacturers, like RiverSide, Integrated Solutions (RIS), are often able to complete assemblies faster than the OEM – providing OEMs with more rapid deliveries and increased speed to market. When outsourcing, OEMs are no longer limited by in-house equipment or number of personnel, and are able to operate in parallel with their contract manufacturer. Additionally, contract manufacturers have the necessary tools and skilled workforce to complete complex assemblies, often times at a higher level of quality than the OEM. Contract manufacturers are more nimble and able to readily slot in additional orders. This flexibility is crucial to OEMs wishing to capitalize on market conditions to grow their business and improve customer satisfaction.

RIS’ Assembly Expertise

RIS is an advanced contract manufacturer providing robust solutions in circuit board assembly, sub-assembly and final product assembly, kitting, supply chain management, fulfillment, distribution, and reverse logistics. We employ more than 300 people and provide services to OEM’s across the world. We operate 3 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities within the U.S, and as your one-stop-shop we have the capabilities, capacity, quality assurance standards, and resources to provide you with support for all of your manufacturing needs.

Our full and sub-assembly capabilities include mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, and hydroelectric assemblies. We provide solutions that include building sub-assemblies that are delivered to factories across the world to building products start-to-finish. Some customers utilize our full contract manufacturing capabilities and have us become their production facility to assemble, test, package and distribute full products or complete box builds. From purely mechanical builds to the most complex systems with specialized circuit boards and internal communication programs, we provide full system integration for customers across multiple industries.

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