Page 30
www.us -
tech.com
When “High-Mix, Low-Volume” is Not Enough
By Bruce Hendrick, Owner, RBB and Building Trust, LLC I
n the electronics manufactur- ing services (EMS) industry, the term high-mix, low-vol-
ume (HMLV) describes contract manufacturers or original equip- ment manufacturers (OEMs) that frequently switch production be- tween various assemblies and processes. Unlike their low-mix, high-
volume (LMHV) counterparts, HMLV operations are known for their agility and adaptability. These shops can transition be- tween different assemblies with- in hours or even minutes and often do so multiple times within the same day or week. LMHV op- erations, on the other hand, focus on long production runs that may last weeks or months, catering to large-scale manufac- turing needs. Both business models play critical roles in the electronics industry, but for some clients, these traditional approaches may fall short. For growing companies that
face unpredictable demand but still require fast and flexible pro- duction solutions, RBB offers a unique alternative. Positioned as a high-mix, low-volume opera-
RBB’s success comes from its ability to adapt quickly to client needs.
tion “on steroids,” RBB special- izes in handling complexity and uncertainty. Each year, the com- pany builds hundreds of unique assemblies and often introduces multiple new ones in a single week. Unlike traditional HMLV shops, RBB rarely produces batches large enough to fill an entire production shift. Instead,
they “swarm to the need,” reallo- cating their workforce to ensure smooth operations regardless of order size or urgency.
Beyond Traditional HMLV What sets RBB apart from
other HMLV operations is its growth strategy. Many tradition- al HMLV shops aim to transition
into LMHV operations or to be acquired by larger manufactur- ers. Their focus is often on scal- ing up production and attracting high-volume clients, which can lead to a shift away from the high-service, high-flexibility model that initially defined them.
RBB, however, takes a dif-
ferent approach. Rather than seeking to outgrow its HMLV roots, the company pursues growth by serving an increasing number of clients and handling a broader range of assemblies, re- gardless of batch size. This ap- proach ensures that RBB re- mains a valuable resource for companies at all stages of growth, particularly those work- ing through early-stage produc- tion challenges or entering new markets. Many OEM clients and
emerging applications lack a clear roadmap for scaling to high-volume production. For these organizations, RBB pro- vides a critical bridge. By offer- ing highly responsive and flexi- ble manufacturing services, RBB
Continued on next page
June 2025
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
