Many OEMs involve their cable assembly contract manufacturer only after drawings are finalized. While this seems efficient, the late-stage handoff often reveals issues that lead to engineering changes, preventable delays, and increased costs.
Engaging your CM earlier in the design process ensures better manufacturability, more reliable component availability, accurate cost forecasting, and a smoother transition into production. Early collaboration ultimately lowers the total cost of ownership for cable assemblies and wire harnesses.
When your CM reviews designs only after the “handoff,” they may discover issues that require updates such as:
Incompatible connector selections
Difficult-to-manufacture tolerances
UL-listed wire availability issues
Unoptimized tooling
BOM inconsistencies
Incomplete drawings or unclear callouts
Each correction creates:
Delays
Re-quotes
Scrap/rework
Frustration between engineering, purchasing, and the CM
These problems compound during production scaling.
Your CM can help refine:
Connector and terminal selection
Pinout configuration
Assembly routing
Overmold considerations
Crimp tool specification
Wire type and insulation selection
DFM early on prevents costly rework and stabilizes production.
Global supply constraints remain unpredictable. Early CM involvement helps ensure:
Wires and connectors are globally available
Long-lead materials are reserved early
Obsolete components are replaced before design lock
Future volume pricing is not restricted by supply issues
Sanbor Manufacturing’s multi-regional footprint allows OEMs to select cost-competitive sourcing locations and avoid region-specific shortages.
Sanbor Manufacturing provides:
Structured cost modeling
Transparent landed cost estimation
OEMs gain predictable long-term pricing, which is a valuable advantage when global trade conditions shift.
An OEM submits a nearly finalized cable assembly design. The CM identifies that the specified connector is end-of-life and only available in limited regions. By reselecting a globally available connector early, the OEM avoids:
A six-week delay
25–30% cost increase
Major ECO documentation
Early CM collaboration pays for itself immediately.
Sanbor provides extensive early-stage support across cable assemblies, wiring harnesses, PCBAs, and turnkey builds. This includes:
NPI engineering reviews
Manufacturability feedback
BOM and drawing optimization
Tooling and automation planning
Coordinated engineering across global facilities
Standardized quality systems
Combined with all-in price certainty, OEMs gain predictable and scalable cable and wire harness manufacturing across global markets. Early contract manufacturer (CM) collaboration is a competitive advantage. When engineering, purchasing, and manufacturing align early, total cost of ownership drops significantly.
Learn more about our global cable assembly manufacturing solutions for OEMs, and how Sanbor’s early involvement reduces total cost of ownership.
Ready to talk: Call 610.530.8500, email sales@sanbormfg.com or connect through our quick online contact form.