We make guesses or estimates every day, in many cases without even realizing that is what we are doing. Making an estimate to check reasonableness is a valuable tool, to save money and/or to keep one out of trouble. For example if you go into the cafe and order two hot dogs and a chocolate shake, and the waiter wants to charge you $14.73, I hope while you are waiting you have estimated what you are probably going to have to pay for this junk food. If you are like me, you have already made a “rough estimate” or guess of what to expect. What is a reasonable amount? The hot dogs are maybe $1.65 each or around $3.00 and change and the shake maybe $2.82 depending on size. Tax at 7% may run the bill up to somewhere between $5.00 and $7.00. So you quite rightly buck on the $14.73

Our electronic manufacturing services business, Global Manufacturing Sevices, requires us to constantly fine tune our estimating skills. We quote jobs using a very good set of spread sheets that aids us in the task. We go out to our suppliers to get parts cost. We count parts on the bill of materials (BOM) and try to get an idea (estimate) of how much labor it will take to assemble the circuit boards. We add our known overhead and come up with a figure, but then we run a reasonableness test to see if it makes sense. We compare our price with that of other similar circuit boards we have built. We ask our selves what we can reasonably charge if we filled up the factory with 100% of this product. No one technique gives us the final answer, but we usually come up with a pretty good estimate of what the cost should be.

I went for the rhinoceros ladder, but when I got to her uncle’s house down the street, a water buffalo had slid down the roof of the house and had fallen through the roof of the porch onto the deck below. Well, at least my guess was partly right. It was a large animal!

The other day I was heading for Atlanta to take in a home automation trade show.  As you might guess, I have been to Atlanta a few times, so I do know some short cuts from here to there.  So I plug in the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta into my trusty (or so I thought)  GPS unit and set about navigating down to Atlanta.

So I take my first short cut and the GPS speaks up saying: “Ok, wise guy I see that you are not paying any attention to the route that I have laid out for us”.  And of course I say: “What the ….”!!  And the GPS says:  “Yeah, so you think you know more than me, when you know that the government has laid out millions if not billions to throw up a couple dozen satellites and untold ground stations so that I can tell you morons how to get from one place to another”  Again I say:  What the  …., but now in spades!!!  The sassy GPS says:  “You see that crooked arrow on the screen … you keep this up and I’ll grab that jagged arrow and stick it …. well we won’t go there!!  Now I am dumb struck.  So I turn around and go back to where I got off the route, and never veered off again.

Has your GPS ever given you any static like that?

The trade show was good and  hot Atlanta was nice as always.

Later

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

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 have placed multi color SMT LEDs for signage in large numbers. We are now involved with the assembly of multi watt power LEDs.  Proper heat sinking and care in assembly are critical to the success of your project. We take special care to make your project successful and therefore make ourselves successful.

We especially like these products because of their high efficiency and do not contain mercury or other bad environmental actors. Their higher efficiency can help reduce the hazard of global warming by using less electricity than their cousins … the incandescent lamp and CFLs. We are glad to be a part of this revolution.

Historically, we have used our offshore partners and would still in select cases, but more and more we are hearing horror stories of rising prices, poor quality, longer and longer lead times and misplaced orders and other tales of woe.  We here at Global Manufacturing Services, Inc. have always specialized in fast turn, low or at least reasonable prices and good quality.  And we try very hard to make doing business with us painless, and profitable for our customers.

So if you are looking for 100s or 1000s of boards to be on your dock at a specified time at a good price and unmatched quality, then please give us a call at (336) 246-5143.  I promise you we will get on it in a flash!!!  

 One of our customers pays us when the goods are placed on our shelves and then when they get an order for any number of products; we pull the goods and ship to their customer.  We have a blanket order and based on our knowledge of their product usage, we stock to some reasonable level.

Another of our customers simply gives us a blanket order with a specified number of goods to keep on the shelf at any given time.  When they trigger a shipment with a release order, we invoice them for the quantity shipped and then make sure that a replacement quantity is expeditiously put back on the shelf for their next order.

 We are happy to work either way.  These are long term reliable customers that appreciate what we do for them and we are more than happy to work in this way.

If you have a project and you need kanban or fulfillment service, please give us a call at (336) 246-5143.   

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.