A Guide to Choosing Your Kiosk Contract Manufacturer Wisely: Phase 1 - There’s No Easy ‘Undo’ Button For Selecting The Wrong One
Choosing the right contract manufacturer for your innovative kiosk isn't just a business decision, it’s the formation of a critical partnership that can chart the course of your success story. You've spent countless hours refining your concept, creating a minimum viable prototype that's all set to disrupt the industry. Now, it's time to select a manufacturing partner who not only brings expert technical capabilities to the table, but also shares in your vision, commitment, and drive for success.
Over the next few weeks, we will explore the key factors to guide you toward the decision that could transform your ambitious vision into a market-winning reality. There is no 'undo' button on this, so let's ensure your first choice is the best choice.
The journey to select your manufacturer is comprised of five critical steps, as shown below. Each week we will unravel one of those steps, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how you can navigate the path to make the best choice. This week, we're kicking off with the all-important first step of defining expectations and requirements for your kiosk and manufacturer. Think of it as the ‘packing’ stage of our journey - ensuring we have all the necessary tools and information before we set off.
Before you start looking for potential contract manufacturers (CM), you need to have a clear idea of what you want your kiosk to do, how it should look, and what standards it should meet. You probably know most of it from the design work you’ve already completed. The key is to ensure your team is aligned on the functionality, specifications, durability, security, compliance, and quality standards of your kiosk. For example: voltage requirements? indoor-only use? order cycle-time limits? dimensional constraints? maintenance intervals? regulatory compliance certifications? Furthermore, you should identify optional or ‘nice to have’ features which may enhance the value of your kiosk.
As you define these kiosk requirements, you need to assess the maturity of your kiosk design, because that will help you clarify what performance capabilities you need from your CM. Is your design:
Early-stage: needing significant development, refinement, and documentation
Mid-stage: prototype created and being tested, but further improvement is required
Established: ready for production
The less mature your design is, the more you will need a CM with expertise in design optimization and the skillset of design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA).
Based on the kiosk requirements, identify the specific capabilities and expertise expected from the CM to successfully produce your kiosk. These may include proficiency in certain manufacturing processes (e.g., sheet metal fabrication, wire harness manufacturing, powder coating) or familiarity with specific technologies (e.g., payment systems, visual or spatial sensors, RFID) or utilization of quality programs such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or Statistical Process Control. Your kiosk should be certified to comply with evolving regulatory standards required for operation (e.g., UL, NSF, FCC, etc.), so you will need the CM to have personnel experienced with the certification auditing process.
Establishing clear expectations for the relationship with the CM is crucial for a successful partnership. Define factors such as communication channels, project management procedures, and collaboration expectations. Consider whether you require regular progress updates, onsite visits, or involvement in the manufacturing process. This clarity will help in selecting a CM who aligns with your preferred working style.
Lastly, clarify your expectations for the key performance metrics of the CM, including per-unit kiosk cost, timeline to start production, and production volume forecast.
By clearly defining your expectations, you will have a solid foundation to communicate effectively with potential contract manufacturers and evaluate their capabilities.
