Electronic manufacturing services (EMS) is term used for companies that design, test, manufacture, distribute and provide return/repair services for electronic component and assemblies for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Various components An electronic component is a basic electronic element usually packaged in a discrete form with two or more connecting leads or metallic pads. ... Original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, is a term that refers to a situation in which one company purchases a manufactured product from another company and resells the product as its own, usually as a part of a larger product it sells. ...

History

EMS industry took off after the late 1970s when Solectron was established. Back then, Solectron and a handful of companies existed in the market. These days, the area is dominated by Asian companies such as Quanta, Hon Hai Precision Industries aka Foxconn and Flextronics.

The business model for the EMS industry is to specialize in large economies of scale in manufacturing, raw materials procurement and pooling together resources, industrial design expertises as well as create added value services such as warranty and repairs. This frees up the customer who does not need to manufacture and keep huge inventories of products. Therefore they can respond to sudden spikes in demand more quickly and efficiently. ^[1]

EMS manufactured goods are always labeled with the customer's brand and corporate identity.

The EMS industry has undergone a major shift since 2000. During technology's late-1990s heyday, EMS players routinely acquired manufacturing assets in high-cost locations. EMS players largely focused on printed circuit board fabrication, leaving system assembly to the OEMs. And EMS companies largely disdained industries outside the world of information processing (computers) and communications. In recent years, EMS players have shifted production to low-cost geographies; embraced non-traditional industries including consumer electronics, industrial, medical and instrumentation; and added substantial vertical capabilities, stretching from design and ODM through system assembly, test, delivery and logistics, warranty and repair, network services, software and silicon design, and customer service.

EMS have also started to provide design services used in conceptual product development advice and mechanical, electrical and software design assistance. Testing services perform in-circuit, functional, environmental, agency compliance, and analytical laboratory testing. Electronic manufacturing services are located across the United States and throughout the world. They vary in terms of production capabilities and comply with various quality standards and regulatory requirements.

Notable EMS players include:

• Celestica
• Flextronics
• New Age Technologies, Inc.
• Foxconn
• Elcoteq
• Bantam Electronics
• Electronic Manufacturing Services
• Jabil Circuit
• ISIS EMS
• Kimball Electronics
• Plexus
• Quanta Computers
• Sanmina-SCI
• SMTC Corporation
• Solectron
• Teleplan
• Ultraflex International
• Rising Technologies, Inc.
• Integrated Microelectronics, Inc.

Celestica Inc. ... Flextronics International Ltd. ... Foxconn (富士康) (SEHK: 2038) is the trade name of Taiwanese firm Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. ... Elcoteq is a Global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) company, which does manufacturing for Nokia, Ericsson , Thomson, RIM and other brand name companies. ... Jabil NYSE: JBL is a provider of electronic manufacturing services. ... PLEXUS (Physics Learning EXperience Using Software) is a name of project that was started by Vibor Cipan, physics student form Croatia and it is based on utilization of usage of computer technology to enhance learning of physics. ... Quanta Computer Incorporated is a large Taiwan-based manufacturer of notebook computers and other electronic hardware. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... SMTC Manufacturing Corporation (NASDAQ: SMTX, TSX: SMX) is a mid-size (Tier 2) diversified electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider based in Toronto, Ontario. ... Solectron headquarters in Milpitas Solectron NASDAQ: SLR, pioneered the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) category in 1977 and continues to lead the industry with ongoing innovation and expansion of services to meet the growing business complexities of its partners, original equipment manufacturer’s (OEMs). ... Ultraflex International, Inc is an electronics solutions company that provides innovative engineering design and manufacturing services. ...

See also

• Electronic Contract Manufacturing

ISIS Electronic Contract Manufacturing (ECM) is a is term used for companies that offer contracts for electronic assembly for another company. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.mbtmag.com/printversion.asp?page=www.mbtmag.com/current_issues/2007/april/coverstory1.asp

External Links

• http://www.pcb007.com/associations.aspx
• ISIS Electronics Manufacturing Services