The truth of the matter is that just about every industry in the world benefits from electro-mechanical assemblies (EMAs). If it’s got something that moves because of electricity moving through it, then you’ve got the basics of an EMA. On that basic a definition, it’s easy to see just how prevalent these assemblies are. Most would associate them with industrial settings, but again, if you’ve got electricity causing actuation, you’ve got an electro-mechanical assembly.
But what goes into the planning of an EMA? There is an intricacy and detailed nature to all things manufactured. Moreover, with this intricate detail comes the knowledge that for all the things you don’t know about them, the more money it will cost you in the long run. Electro-mechanical assemblies will set you back a bit, so it is essential that they are manufactured the right way from the very beginning. This places a significant responsibility on those who have the responsibility of ordering such materials.
Planning, however, is more than just taking a few notes & sending off a quick email to a chosen manufacturer. There are a few things to keep in mind. For example:
Balancing Performance vs Cost
If you could, no expense would be spared in using only the finest materials for your EMAs. Machinery would be special ordered by the manufacturer for the order, and all other processes in-house would stop so that all available manpower would be dedicated to your EMAs. Also, your design, as impractical as it may seem, would be worked out to its most beautiful absurdity until you had EXACTLY the materials you wanted. It all sounds great until you get the bill.
Design
Part of the major balance between performance & cost comes from incredibly solid design & engineering on the part of the manufacturer. More importantly, it is imperative that the manufacturer’s team work hand-in-hand with the customer’s design & engineering team. This collaborative effort is crucial in delivering the ideal materials.
Meeting Specifications
‘Ideal’ meaning great performance, optimal cost, superb design, and of course, meeting all important specs required by an industry. This is especially crucial if a manufacturer is working with a customer in industries like the medical field, military, and aerospace.
Prototyping & Testing
Just about every manufacturer out there would love to claim they can give you the ‘perfect’ product the very first time. The fact remain that for a design to be optimal, it usually has to go through a few permutations. Small changes are made along the way akin to the writing process where drafts are written until the final product is ready for publishing.
Finding The Right Manufacturing Partner
All of this planning for electro-mechanical assemblies, however, goes out the window if you happen to blow it when opting for a bargain-basement manufacturer. Far too often, it can be tempting to go with a low price & a ‘it seems too good to be true’ turnaround on delivery. The biggest key in getting quality EMAs is finding a manufacturer who will take the time to understand: 1) what your needs are; 2) walk you through their processes; 3) make sure they’re on the same page regarding industry specs & requisites; and 4) can give you a quality product they fully stand behind at an agreed-upon date.
If you need the best electro-mechanical assemblies in Illinois or anywhere in the U.S., Mexico, or China, LoDan Electronics, Inc. has got you covered.