About 20 years ago when the electronics contract manufacturing industry was in its infancy, the decision of which contract manufacturer (CM) to use was relatively easy. There were fewer of them than today and most CMs were "board stuffers," not electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers.

Today, the outsourcing decision is much more complicated because there are a variety of electronics manufacturing providers with a wide range of capabilities and specialties. Some are geared toward telecommunications equipment while others are oriented toward consumer electronics. Some specialize in high-volume production, while others are experts at prototype builds. Some have a global presence in every major region of the world, while others are focused on one geography. Many have a high degree of design expertise while others are strong with strategic purchasing and supply chain management.

Deciding which EMS provider meets the manufacturing and supply chain needs of an OEM is perhaps the most important decision an OEM will ever make.

jcarbone@reedbusiness.com