As the demand for electronic devices keeps increasing, electronic production keeps advancing. There are several materials involved in the production of electronic devices. The cost of materials, labor cost, and other factors contribute to the cost of electronics manufacturing.
There are several steps involved in the electronics manufacturing process from designing the devices to assembling them.
Steps Involved in Electronics Manufacturing Process
Design
The design is the first step in this process. In this step, engineers create a design and plan for the electronic device. It is important to consider the purpose of this device, the required components, and how to assemble the components. Once a design has been created, the next thing is to design prototypes and carry out a test to ensure their functionality.
Sourcing
Component sourcing is the next step after designing. These components are usually sourced from other electronics manufacturing companies.
Assembly
After sourcing of components, the next step is assembly. Assembly involves putting components and parts together. This step involves the combination of workers and machines. Machines can be used to place components in the right location. Sometimes, humans carry out these tasks. After the components have been placed, the assembler applies solder paste. The electric device will need to undergo some tests at this point to verify functionality.
Packaging and shipping
The electronic devices need to be packaged after testing. They are then shipped to retailers who sell them to consumers.
Factors that Contribute to the Cost to Manufacture Electronics
The cost to manufacture electronics varies. This is because there are several components, materials, and other factors that contribute to the cost to manufacture electronics.
Cost of Labor
Labor costs vary based on the geographical location of an electronic manufacturing company. However, costs can fluctuate wildly in certain cases. There are a lot of reasons behind this fluctuation, some of which remain unclear.
Hiring cheap labor may seem to help save some money. However, these laborers may manufacture defective products and goods. In the long run, this could ruin the company’s reputation and as such results in more refunds or returns. Also, this could result in having a dissatisfied customer base.
Labor costs may vary across location, but it’s important to offer the best-quality products. Investing in experienced workers can enhance the functionality of your electronic product. Also, workers impact the manufacturing costs ceiling.
Volume
The volume of production will determine the cost of manufacturing electronic devices. The rule of thumb here the higher the volume of products needed, the longer production takes. Also, there are supply factors to consider. Factors such as tooling, material shortages, and limited production cycles among others.
Since several manufacturers usually outsource the development of parts to other teams, there can be extra complexities on top of the development cycle of a local team. Also, it can vastly affect the costs of total manufacturing.
Furthermore, each team company may offer it’s products at different price per piece, resource, tool, or component. Demand and supply can make these prices fluctuate. Also, the trends in the market can be responsible for these fluctuation. For example, a partner may decide to raise price after he has fulfilled a contract. Prices will increase as volumes increase. There are better financial benefits when you order electronic in bulk. One of the benefits is that some companies provide exclusive discounts for large purchase.
For instance, TSMC, the largest chipmaker in the world, is increasing prices while there are shortages. Electronic products could be more expensive for consumers as a result of this. It could as well increase production costs for some providers and companies.
Cost of raw materials
The cost of raw materials contributes to the cost to manufacture electronics. For example, sourcing materials for electronic products, components, and parts impact manufacturing costs. Manufacturing teams should take more time to research for alternatives that feature similar properties but cheaper costs.
There are a wide range of more applicable materials manufacturers can make use of during production. These materials include alloys, plastic resins, and more.
For instance, the 18-gauge lead wire are available in several types. Whenever there is a need for a new application, new forms are usually designed. It is crucial to understand the differences between these components and materials and when to apply them. This can indicate the difference between manageable invoices or inordinate costs.
Challenges in the Electronics Manufacturing Industry
The electronics manufacturing industry faces a lot of challenges.
Rapidly changing technology
The rapid change of technology is one of the greatest challenges faced by the electronics manufacturing industry. As technology keeps evolving at an increasing rate, electronic manufacturers need to keep their products up to date in order to remain ahead of the competition. Also, they need to do this to prevent perishable inventory from being tied down in your inventory.
Short product life cycles
Short product life cycles is another challenge in the electronics manufacturing industry. Electronic products can easily become outdated. In this case, manufacturers need to replace these products with the most recent models and this can lead to wastage.
Access to raw materials
Shortage of raw materials can be a problem in the electronics manufacturing industry. Some electronics are manufactured from earth metals and it can be difficult to get these materials. lack of access to raw materials can result in increased prices and shortages. For instance, there has been shortage of global chip since 2020 and this has terribly impacted many brands like Toyota.
Conclusion
The cost to manufacture electronics vary among producers. This is because there are several factors that contribute to the cost to manufacture electronics. Also, while some electronics require complex manufacturing processes, some electronics are simple to manufacture.
The electronics industry as a whole faces some challenges which could be a drawback for manufacturers. Also, the cost of raw materials can be a major factor to consider when manufacturing electronics. Hiring cheap labor may seem to help save some money. However, these laborers may manufactured effective products and goods. In the long run, this could ruin the company’s reputation and as such results in more refunds or returns.
