How Partnering with a Contract Manufacturer Strengthens Your Supply Chain

Optimizing the supply chain is a challenge that every company faces regardless of size or focus.

A company’s supply chain starts with raw material acquisition. It ends when the customer receives the final product. And it encompasses all suppliers participating in the sourcing, manufacturing, assembly and distribution processes in between.

Materials Management

One key aspect of a healthy supply chain is materials management. This broad category focuses on managing the flow of materials. Hence, the suitable material should arrive at the right spot at the right time.

Materials management is crucial and, if not executed correctly, results in an inefficient and disruptive supply chain. And an inefficient supply chain ultimately results in unsatisfied customers. The risk of such situations is why so many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) turn to a contract manufacturer, like RiverSide Integrated Solutions (RIS).

A collection of wires in various colors, set up by color and ready to be assembled.

Contract Management

Contract manufacturing has been around for decades, and many industries rely heavily on outsourcing to strengthen their supply chain. Below are some areas where OEMs gain value from partnering with a proven contract manufacturer. At RIS, our customers enjoy a complete manufacturing solution. We provide supply chain value by minimizing the number of suppliers involved, enhancing product quality and reducing risk.

Some of the benefits of partnering with a contract manufacturer include:

Significant Cost Savings

Decreased expenses are a vital benefit of contract manufacturing. The cost savings come from various sources depending on how a company integrates along its supply chain. However, it can lower transportation and logistics expenses and eliminate markup fees from suppliers or wholesalers.

Integrated manufacturers, like RIS, provide an economy of scale that is impossible for OEMs or non-integrated suppliers. Manufacturers can use their size for negotiating power and buying in bulk—resulting in lower per-unit costs for OEMs.

Faster Speed to Market

Simply put, when a single entity controls multiple stages of the supply chain there are fewer disruptions and delays. Integrated manufacturers, like RIS, control more steps in the supply chain, which means we have fewer surprises. So when we have surprises, we can more effectively manage any problems that arise.

Additionally, the supply chain process flows more smoothly for integrated manufacturers. This allows them to get products to customers more rapidly and reducing time to market.

Improved Quality

A production worker completed a quality check on an assembly.

Another advantage of using a contract manufacturer is the access it opens up to your company. You get more advanced quality control processes and state-of-the-art technologies without having to undertake the expense of them yourself. Experienced contract manufacturers adhere to strict quality control processes which meet or exceed the requisite standards.

Contract manufacturing teams typically have rigorous quality training. They are also known for hiring dedicated professionals to ensure everything is up to their quality standard. They apply their breadth and depth of knowledge

across various industries to their quality management program. These measures lead to a higher level of quality control and result in more consistent and elevated product quality. They also result in a healthier bottom line and happier customers.

At RIS, we have a layered approach to quality management. We are ISO 9001 registered by each of our entities. We also adhere to quality systems that meet or exceed national standards for production procedures, product quality and customer service.

About RiverSide Integrated Solutions

RIS is an advanced contract manufacturer providing robust solutions in circuit board assembly and product assembly. We employ more than 350 people and provide services to OEMs worldwide. We operate two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities within the US.

With all of the choices in contract manufacturers out there, we know it can be challenging to find someone who understands your business model and has your best intentions in mind. RIS has always proven to be a win-win-focused relationship.

As your one-stop shop, we have the capabilities, capacity, quality assurance standards and resources to support all of your manufacturing needs. We understand that supply chain management is complex and very time-consuming, so we urge our customers to utilize us in the fullest capacity.