The panelists included Youssef Saleh, Founder and CEO, Ava Robotics; Matt Liba, Senior Director of Programs, FLIR Unmanned Ground Systems; and David Askey, Co-Founder and CEO, Ascend Robotics.
When discussing alignment between robot design and manufacturing to enable the transition, each of the panelists offered insights into the benefits and challenges of concurrent engineering.
From these expert perspectives, this process is complex and requires innovative solutions. When an audience member asked about optimal timing of entering into active collaboration with an outsourced manufacturer partner, the panelists were clear, “As soon as possible”.
What to look for in a Contract Manufacturer (CM)? “Culture”, answered one panelist. “Trust”, answered another. A CM you can trust, who will work with you, and who has previous experience in your market.
“Transitioning a product to manufacturing takes a committed effort between a robotics company and their contract manufacturer”, says Andy McMillan, Director of Cirtronics’ Board of Advisors and Panel Moderator. “Our panelists shared insights that were informative and actionable, offering the gift of their aggregate experience to attendees who may be ready to transition their products to manufacturing.”
Cirtronics and Transition to Manufacturing (T2M)
The Cirtronics T2M center offers design reviews, concurrent engineering and co-building. T2M equipment and team members are dedicated to process development and validation, increasing the efficiency of transitioning new products into full-scale production.
About Cirtronics
Founded in 1979 in Milford, New Hampshire, Cirtronics is a contract manufacturer founded on creating strategic, collaborative, and mutually beneficial relationship with their customers. Cirtronics is ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified and FDA registered, underscoring its commitment to quality, precision, and continuous improvement.
At the heart of Cirtronics’ mission is the DUO (Do Unto Others) philosophy, which guides every interaction across the company’s six key stakeholders: Customers, Employees, Suppliers, the Corporation, the Environment, and the Community. This principle of respect and mutual benefit permeates all aspects of Cirtronics’ operations.
Since 2002, Cirtronics has proudly operated as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company. Cirtronics’ culture of ownership runs through all aspects of the organization, extending from supplier partnerships through delivery of each meticulously crafted product. Employee-owners are committed stakeholders who recognize customers as integral partners in their shared success. For more information, visit www.cirtronics.com.
