Because of factors like ever-increasing supply chain complexity and rapid technological advancement, I think it’s quite clear that today’s OEMs who are outsourcing their electronics manufacturing and product development need a partner with:
- Excellent communication skills
- Appropriate technical expertise
- Relevant industry experience
- Strong quality and business systems
- Teams in the right locations to support the business requirements
But over the course of my 30 years in the electronics industry, I’ve come to realize that there are other key factors in OEM-EMS relationships…if they’re going to have staying power.
Here are 3 of them.
3 Key Factors in OEM-EMS Relationships
- Both companies need a long-term partnership mindset. This is the only way to get past common hurdles in this industry that stem from a fundamental lack of trust and understanding. It’s also the only way to form partnerships that teach us and help us improve.
- As the service provider, the EMS company must always be seeking out strategies that will make their customers more competitive. At Creation, we are constantly looking to see what more we can do, other than “normal” EMS.
- Taking the time up front to ensure that there’s cultural and business alignment. Key to finding a good fit here are the concepts of mindshare and risk mitigation.
Why Risk and Mindshare?
In any important relationship, business or personal, would you rather be an afterthought or a focal point?
Personally, I’d rather know that my partner thinks and cares about me and my future.
I’d like to know that I’m a priority, and that my risk of getting hurt from carelessness or lack of consideration is at a minimum.
And it happens that our company, Creation Technologies, is in the business of ensuring our customers’ success by providing mindshare as a critical piece of the partnerships we build.
Watch the video below to learn more about how Creation’s take on risk and mindshare was highlighted to a broad business audience.
What are key factors for you in successful relationships, EMS, business, or otherwise? Feel free to share in the comments.
I love to talk about strategies to build relationships and help our customers succeed. Please contact me any time if you’d like to chat!
