Keeping pace through partnerships
26th November 2019
The pace of technological change is exponential. This change is described by two laws. The first and most widely cited is Moore’s Law, which states that processor speeds, or overall processing power for computers will double every two years and has been true since 1970. The second is Koomey’s Law, according to which the number of computations per joule of energy dissipated doubles about every 18 months - this has been largely true since 1945.
The need for agility
Given this blistering pace of innovation, it is vital that manufacturers of electronics are able to provide products to their customers in a timely fashion. They need to able to react quickly and effectively to the needs of the market. They need to be connected, quick and proactive. They need to be agile.
Outsourcing non-core activities to a contract electronics manufacturer (CEM) can play a vital role in achieving such agility, as it can help a business to enter and adjust to new or changing markets rapidly. This was certainly the case with Baldwin Boxall, which outsourced the manufacture of its electronic assemblies to its long-term partner, Offshore Electronics.
Agility in action
Established in 1982, UK-based Baldwin Boxall began by operating from a garden shed. Today, the company is known around the world for its range of emergency voice communication, voice alarm and public address systems. These are used in safety-critical applications in public, leisure, healthcare and commercial buildings, providing vital information, guidance and protection in the event of an emergency or evacuation.
Baldwin Boxall designs, develops, assembles and tests all of its systems in-house, with the manufacture of a selection of electronics being outsourced to Offshore Electronics. According to Bob Schulz, Production Director at Baldwin, the company competes globally with a number of multinational organisations, with strong brand recognition and far greater resources in terms of budgets, people and routes to market.
Bob Schulz continues: “What sets us apart, however, is our complete focus on the production of high-performance life-safety systems with an innovative and extremely agile business model. One of the most important aspects of this is our ability to respond rapidly to changes in market demand, to develop custom-built solutions quickly and to provide a level of service and support that our customers tell us is second to none.”
Close relationships
For Baldwin Boxall, the agility of its business depends on its control of both its intellectual property (IP) and the close working relationships that it has with its customers and distribution partners. It also outsources what the company considers to be non-core functions to partners that provide specialised knowledge and resources; in particular the supply of high-quality electronic assemblies.
Baldwin Boxall has worked with Offshore Electronics for many of years. Bob Schulz concludes: “The combination of expertise, quality and overall service that we receive from Offshore Electronics is outstanding.”
Here at Offshore Electronics, we are here to help you increase the agility of your business - why not download the case study below to find out more about our partnership with Baldwin Boxall?
