Manufacturing Supplies Specialists

2. Contract Manufacturing In a contract manufacturing business model, the hiring firm approaches the contract manufacturer with a design or formula. The contract manufacturer will quote the parts based on processes, labor, tooling, and material costs. Then, for the agreed-upon price, the CM acts as the hiring firm's factory, producing and shipping units of the design on behalf of the hiring firm.

3. Industries that utilize the practice Many industries utilize this process, especially the aerospace, defense, computer, semiconductor, energy, medical, food manufacturing, personal care, and automotive fields. Some types of contract manufacturing include CNC machining, complex assembly, aluminum die casting, grinding, broaching, gears, and forging. The pharmaceutical industry utilizes this process with CMs called Contract manufacturing organizations.

4. Why Contract Manufacture? Companies are finding many reasons why they should be outsourcing their production to other companies. However, production outside of the company does come with many risks attached. Companies must identify what their core competencies are first before deciding whether or not they should contract manufacture.

5. Benefits Cost Savings – Companies save on their cost of capital because they do not have to pay for a facility and the equipment needed for production. They can also save on labor costs such as wages, training and benefits. Some companies may look to contract manufacture in low-cost countries, such as China, to benefit from the low cost of labor.[1]

6. Benefits Mutual Benefit to Contract Site – A contract between the manufacturer and the company it’s producing for may last several years. The manufacturer will know that it will have a steady flow of business until then.[1]

7. Benefits Advanced Skills – Companies can take advantage of skills that they may not possess, but the contract manufacturer does. The contract manufacturer is likely to have relationships formed with raw material suppliers or methods of efficiency within their production.[2]

8. Benefits Quality – Contract Manufacturers are likely to have their own methods of quality control in place that helps them to detect counterfeit or damaged materials early on.

9. Benefits Focus – Companies can focus on their core competencies better if they can hand off base production to an outside company.[2].

10. Benefits Economies of Scale – Contract Manufacturers have multiple customers that they produce for. Because they are servicing multiple customers, they can offer reduced costs in acquiring raw materials by benefiting from economies of scale. The more units there are in one shipment, the less expensive the price per unit will be.[2] Reference: [1] Knowdell, Jenny. "The Benefits and Disadvantages of Contract Manufacturing." IQS Newsroom. Industrial Quick Search, Inc, 16 Apr 2010. Web. 21 Feb 2011. [2] Cohen, Soshanah, and Joseph Roussel. Strategic Supply Chain Management: The Five Disciplines for Top Performance. United States: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, 2005. 316. Print.