Global Manufacturing Services, Inc.

We are sometimes asked what type things can we do at our factory in West Jefferson, North Carolina.  I have briefly listed the primary items below.

RoHS, I.e. lead free assemblies with no up charge or leaded assemblies if that is required..

KanBan and order fulfillment for delivery to you for your just in time requirements.

Electromechanical assembly including light press work and light welding.

Full “box build” which works well when you would like us to put your finished goods on our shelf and then ship direct to your customer as you require.

Excellent MRP system to interface with your MRP system for low error rates.

Excellent, modern equipment with skilled operators to operate and manage assembly. We’re able to assemble very large SMT boards: 20 inches by 24 inches.

Great materials purchasing department to source components from around the globe.

Serious about ISO quality without the chaff and cost associated with lesser quality systems.

Employees with great work ethic, and always eager to get it right.

Reliable, honest customer service that makes the best look mediocre.

Fast quoting with your circuit board Gerbers and Bill of Materials.

Our low overhead assures you of competitive pricing.

I hope that you will soon let Global Manufacturing Services, Inc., GMSWW quote a project for you

As the recession recedes a bit, it is tempting to go out and hire a few extra workers to take care of a spat of orders.  But because this recession may go on for awhile, it likely makes more sense to contract out some of your electronic or electro-mechanical assembly work to companies like Global Manufacturing Services, Inc. in Western, North Carolina, and wait and see if the uptick is going to be sustainable.  We can quickly quote your work, set up the project in our fast turn factory all at a good price.   if you get repeat orders then we can continue to do the work or maybe then it will be time to call back or put on a few people.

Now that the economy is improving, and energy prices rising, why would we think prices won’t rise on everything except maybe home sales? I predict that prices will rise by 2% within the next six months. Already we are seeing higher prices for the materials we purchase for our electronics assembly business, circuit boards, flux, solder, electronic components and wire. In the near future any raw material that has a significant energy component in the cost of its manufacture will be much more expensive. We are hearing that we should expect a 40% increase in electricity prices, especially in areas which rely on coal fired electrical generators. We know that will drive prices up. Fortunately we get a good portion of our electricity from Duke Energy who has nuclear powered generators.

What about freight? Petroleum prices are already on their way higher. This will make our domestic manufacturing more competitive with offshore competition, but what percentage increase in domestic freight costs do we expect, 10%, 20% or more? Who knows, but as we have learned to run a lean organization here at gmsww.com during this shabby economy; we will be prepared to get along as well or better than many.

We take an order from a major corporation and it clearly says on our quote that we gave them; that the terms are 30 days net.  Their purchase order says terms are 30 days.  Then when they don’t pay in 30 days, we get informed by their accountant that they NOW pay in 60 days.   Is it fair, hell no.  Is it real life?  You bet.  We are small, they are large, so they do whatever they like.  They just gave themselves a loan on our back.  Do we have any sympathy for the big crooks that are struggling … Get real!!!! 

With this economy down and getting weaker every day, it is causing each of us in the manufacturing business to start looking over our shoulder, wondering which of our suppliers will be there when we need them and wondering which contract manufacturer will be there in the months to come.   We just heard about another component supplier that bit the dust and word on the street has it that some electronic contract assemblers are on the ropes.

Even though we at Global Manufacturing Services, Inc. are in relatively good shape,  some of our customers are showing more interest in out vitality than we are accustomed to.  We expect to be among the contenders for the “last man (or woman) standing”.  We expect to suffer some and we are changing our way of doing business, but on balance we consider that a good thing.

So if you or anyone you know needs an electronic device assembled; then we are one of your best choices, as we fully expect to weather the storm and prosper.

Our offshore partners in Thailand and China are also doing well thanks to prudent management.  So we can do the high mix, low volume here or we do high volume, low mix in China or Thailand.  Check us out at GMS, Inc.