Why You Should Outsource Electronic Design

In today's fast-paced technology landscape, OEMs and tech companies must innovate while optimizing costs and efficiency.  Outsourcing electronic design helps by providing specialized expertise, reducing costs, accelerating development, and scaling operations.  This approach enables companies to focus on core competencies, mitigate risks, and stay competitive with the latest industry advancements.  Here's why outsourcing electronic design is a strategic advantage for companies looking to stay ahead in a competitive market.

Expertise & Specialization

Keeping up with industry trends, technologies, and skillsets can be challenging during the valleys of OEM new product development cycles.  Contract design firms help bridge this gap, as staying up to date is their core competency.  These firms provide access to experienced engineers with expertise across multiple industries and technologies, including EMC design, power electronics, embedded systems, and compliance testing.  They also follow industry best practices, minimizing design iterations and ensuring strong, manufacturable solutions.  Additionally, their familiarity with regulatory standards such as FCC, CE, UL, and ISO ensures compliance from the start, streamlining the certification process.

Faster Time-to-Market

Outsourcing electronic design accelerates development by leveraging professional teams with streamlined processes for PCB layout, firmware development, prototyping, and testing.  These teams work on multiple projects, allowing them to efficiently execute tasks and reduce time-to-market.  Additionally, outsourcing helps avoid a steep learning curve - if an in-house team lacks expertise in areas like high-speed integrity, low-power RF, or graphics, GUI, external specialists can step in immediately, eliminating the need for time-consuming skill-building.

Cost Savings & Resource Efficiency

Time is of the essence in the electronics industry.  Outsourcing electronic design eliminates the need for expensive investments in CAD tools, simulation software, and testing equipment, as professional firms already utilize platforms such as Altium, OrCAD, PADS, and KiCAD.  It also offers flexible staffing options, enabling companies to adjust resources as needed without the costs associated with full-time hires.  Moreover, experienced designers help mitigate common errors, reducing rework, shortening redesign cycles, and preventing production delays.

Access to Advanced Prototyping

Many design firms have strong relationships with PCB fabrication and assembly houses, enabling rapid prototyping and streamlining the development process.  Additionally, working with a single trusted source to manage BOMs, sourcing, fabrication data, programming, and assembly requirements minimizes potential issues during prototyping.  Furthermore, early design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for testability (DFT) expertise ensures design optimization from the start, facilitating a smooth transition into production.

Focus on Core Business

Companies in manufacturing, software development, or consumer electronics can benefit from outsourcing electronic design.  This allows OEMs to focus on product differentiation, branding, and market expansion.  Delegating hardware and PCB design streamlines operations while ensuring reliability through DFM, DFT, and VAVE practices.  It also frees internal teams to prioritize customer relationships, product positioning, and long-term growth, rather than managing complex design iterations and compliance tasks.

Seamless Collaboration with In-House Manufacturing

Professional design firms enhance manufacturability (DFM) by collaborating with their in-house teams to ensure efficient assembly while minimizing rework and delays.  They optimize design for procurement (DFP) by selecting cost-effective, readily available components to reduce supply chain risks.  Standardizing PCB layouts, soldering, and testing improves consistency and yield rates.  Their direct collaboration enables faster prototyping and troubleshooting, while integrated testability (DFT) simplifies quality assurance and debugging.

Outsourcing electronic design offers numerous benefits, from cost savings and faster time-to-market, to access, to specialized expertise and increased flexibility.  By partnering with a reputable design firm like SMT Engineering, you can enhance your product development process, focus on your core competencies, and stay competitive in the ever-evolving electronics industry.  Consider outsourcing your electronic design needs to unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth.

Wes Adreon

Director of Engineering