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
Cirtronics is a great choice for customers looking to build a strategic, interdependent, collaborative relationship with their contract manufacturer. Founded in 1979 in Milford, New Hampshire by Gerardine Ferlins, Cirtronics’ foundation is built on the idea that each individual holds unique potential. The organization’s role is to identify and develop that potential through ongoing collaboration and engagement. The company’s mission is to serve and continually improve under its DUO (Do Unto Others) philosophy. DUO is practiced in every interaction with each of the “6 We Serve”: Customer, Corporation, Employee, Supplier, Environment and Community.
Since 2002, Cirtronics has offered an Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP), now at 40 percent ownership. Cirtronics’ culture of ownership runs through all aspects of the organization, extending from relationships with suppliers through shipping of every single product. Employee-owners are direct stakeholders who recognize the customer as an extension of their own business. Dedicated to positive outcomes and proactive engagement, employees bring their best to every interaction with customers and to every decision impacting the company infrastructure and offerings. Additionally, Cirtronics is ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified, as well as FDA registered.
