The idea of a “virtual company” is not new, but how it is realized has many options. It has been clear for some time that an OEM would be best served by limiting its skill sets to design, development, and customer service. If the OEM is an expert in these areas, they can outsource the other parts of their business.
However, if that results in having two EMS companies providing printed circuit board assemblies, a systems integrator assembling the product; and then a logistics company taking the orders and shipping their product to the customer, several unintended consequences occur. The integrator points fingers at the EMS company when the boards don’t seem to work, the logistics company has problems with customer service at the integrator, and the potential for errors with sales orders handed from supplier to supplier is significant.
SMC has developed the abilities to allow the OEM to have just one supplier for all of these services. SMC has a truly state-of-the-art surface-mount line with in-line x-ray and 3D AOI, among other things. We build in-circuit test fixtures and functional testers in-house. We have outstanding skills in systems integration using a takt time approach. And we direct ship our customers’ products to their customers. So, one number to call, or, as one of our customers called it, “one neck to wring!”
And if you have multiple variations of your product – lots of SKUs – we have developed a proprietary configuration system that allows us to accept an order; enter it into the configuration system, which creates a different shop floor order for that specific order. For one customer, the total potential SKUs are 8,000.
So we say, “simplify your life.” Depend on SMC as your one-stop shop and be a virtual company.
