East West Manufacturing Blog

The Internet of Things (also called the Internet of Everything) is essentially about connecting conventional objects and sensors to the Internet, transforming them from ordinary items into "smart" devices. Some examples include connected cars, thermostats, refrigerators, wearables and televisions. What's staggering is how quickly IoT emerged since...

Less than Container Load (LCL) shipping (also called groupage) get lots of grief, but it can save you from time to time, especially when you don't have enough goods ready to ship a Full Container Load (FCL). If you find yourself in an FCL vs. LCL situation, review the following benefits and risks and apply them to your particular scenario – and...

Product quality issues can be a real pain to deal with, but one thing is for sure: quality issues are inevitable, no matter how experienced your supplier is. So knowing how to address such problems is a skill worth learning. Of course, some issues will be more substantial than others, but approaching them with purpose and patience is the best way...

When it comes to choosing the right plastic for your product, there are an overwhelming number of options. The first thing you need to narrow down is this: thermoset or thermoplastic? Your decision will be largely based on your product's specifications and final application. Let's examine the differences between the two, the pros and cons of each,...

Do you order electronic assemblies that contain long lead time (LLT) components? Nothing is more frustrating than placing a large PCBA order only to find out that a key component has a 180-day lead time, slowing down the entire production process. Why do some components have such long lead times, anyway? Here’s the deal: Factories typically run...

In this day and age, it's simply not enough to state a claim of corporate social responsibility. We need to enact change. A company concerned with sustaining its marketplace must take action, and one practical jumping off point is supply chain analysis. Aim to transform your supply chain from a linear (take-make-dispose) model to a circular...

It's no secret that labor costs are rising in China, and talk of alternative manufacturing locations continues to grow. While some operations are returning to the US and Europe, others are staying in Asia, and India is rapidly attracting more business. Yes, there are labor and raw material advantages, as well as increasing infrastructure, but...

Setting up an engineering lab may feel like a mammoth task, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that safety should always be your top priority. Protect your employees and keep your engineering lab running efficiently with the following 10 lab safety tips. 

You're looking to buy some electronically commutated (EC) motors. You're thinking about speed, noise and energy savings. But if the motors you're purchasing are powering commercial refrigeration units, you need to consider the IP rating as well. 

If you haven't given IP ratings much thought, let's take a dive into the details to discover what...

To protect a printed circuit board (PCB) from the elements, including moisture, dust and extreme temperatures, conformal coatings are often applied. But there are several types to choose from, so how can you be certain you're making the right call? Below we'll cover the five main types of coating, as well as advantages and disadvantages of each.