When choosing components for your commercial electrical assembly, it is important to find the balance between cost and value. Yet, between those two things, reliability and performance are crucial since the last thing anyone wants is for the finished equipment to fail or malfunction.
The costs for downtime and repairs can be very steep and should be avoided by making sure you are getting the best value for your investment when purchasing the parts. One of the things that often gets overlooked is the cable assembly, which is peculiar because it is one of the most important decisions you need to make. Cables are lifelines and any technician will tell you that most malfunctions occur exactly there – in the wiring.
Here are four tips that will help you get what you need for your custom cable assembly.
Shortlist the Suppliers
There’s no use shopping all over the existing market. It is too big for a thorough search and full of suppliers you might wish to avoid. So make it your first step to identify by research, reputation and word of mouth the suppliers you will be choosing between.
Qualify the Suppliers
Once you have a short list of some five reliable suppliers to source your cable assembly from, you can move on to the next stage. Make sure your cable assembly manufacturer knows everything about the cable assembly process and has a long list of customers that will back this up.
Your manufacturer should be able to provide flexibility and create a custom cable assembly, supply large volumes or single prototypes. This will ensure you will never have to wait or seek elsewhere should you require replacement wiring or an outside-the-box solution for your production line.
Ask if the provider has engineering and design services – most of the best ones do. You likely have your own designers but it can be useful to have access to their in-house design and support when you need it.
Budget Considerations
Once you’d narrowed down the short list to two or three, lay your budget down on the desk and start the shopping. Be aware and look for hidden costs, while also being on the lookout for bulk opportunities and other deals that may save you time and money.
Pay for Quality
Value for money means money for value. Once you’ve done all the due diligence and know you are in good hands, you should be ready to invest in quality cable assembly components. This will ensure your operation will run smoothly and reliably for longer.
Tags: Cable Assembly
