Are Electronics Contract Manufacturing Companies Listening to Customers?

More than 500 managers and executives in therespondents ranked in the order of importance are:
electronics hardware and design sector, many from1. Manage inventory more effectively
electronics contract manufacturers and technology2. Improve effectiveness of sales and marketing
original design manufacturers (ODM), were recentlyefforts and activities
polled in an online survey which presented numerous3. Improve demand forecasting
questions and various business perspectives andInterestingly, nowhere to be found in their responses
scenarios for commentary and ranking.was the number one business priority for OEMs -
Part of the survey, which was presented online byreduce order-to-delivery time.
asked electronics original equipment manufacturingAdditionally, the survey also identified some of the
(OEM) survey respondents currently outsourcingcriteria electronics managers and executives in OEMs
contract manufacturing and product design to aboutcurrently outsourcing either their product manufacturing
ranking specific objectives related to their company'sor product design to rate the importance of certain
business strategic priorities.criteria presented when selecting a contract
The top three business strategic objectives ranked inmanufacturing or product design company for a
the order of importance are:business engagement. The top five, with the criteria
1. Reduce order-to-delivery timemost important listed first, are:
2. Manage inventory more effectively1. Accountability - does what it says, when it says
3. Reduce manufacturing costs2. Quality certifications and facility approvals
Meanwhile, the same business strategic priorities were3. Relative business experience
also presented to electronics industry contract4. Financial stability
manufacturers and original design manufacturers.5.
The top three business strategic objectives these