Using Contract Assembly to Stabilize Costs and Keep Production Moving

By Laine Satter, Key Account Manager, Commercial & Medical Services

If you’re a manufacturer, chances are you’re feeling the pressure right now. Orders are coming in, demand is high, and now tariffs are driving up costs for imported materials and components.

At MDI, we see these challenges play out every day. Some manufacturers are growing fast, but they don’t have the capital to expand their facilities or hire more workers. Other manufacturers are running lean to combat labor shortages, rising costs and supply chain disruptions. But no matter where you fall on the spectrum, you’re likely looking for ways to stabilize costs and keep production moving.

That’s where contract assembly and sub-assembly services are making an impact. Instead of investing in expensive new facilities, specialized equipment, and additional labor, more and more manufacturers are outsourcing parts of their production to domestic partners that can take on assembly work quickly, cost-effectively and at scale.

Why More Manufacturers Are Relying on Contract Assembly

Speed and cost control have become two of the biggest competitive advantages in today’s market. No business wants to turn down orders, but the reality is that many companies don’t have the space, labor, or equipment to handle every request in-house. That’s why we’re seeing more manufacturers secure contract assembly partners that can step in and start producing.

If that’s you, and stabilizing costs is your priority, you have options. Instead of managing every step of production internally, you can choose to partner with contract manufacturers like MDI to handle critical parts of your operations, including:

• Sub-assembly work.
• Precision-cut components.
• Kitting and packaging.
• Medical device assembly.

Now, I know your next question, because I’ve heard it countless times throughout my career: How long does it take to get a quote?

In other words: 

Can a contract manufacturer help me if I need a project done, like, yesterday?

It’s a fair concern. Most contract manufacturers take time to assess production needs, generate quotes and get everything in motion. But MDI is built for speed.

We’ve designed our process to be seamless and fast because we know time is money. Within 24 hours, you’ll have a detailed quote. Within 48 hours, your project is ready for kickoff. And within 72 hours, products are out the door and on their way.

Manufacturers don’t have time for long lead times and bottlenecks. We move quickly so you can, too.

The Bigger Impact of Working with MDI

MDI isn’t just another contract manufacturer. We are a nonprofit social enterprise with a mission to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

That means every business that works with us is not only getting a reliable, cost-effective manufacturing partner, but they’re also supporting an organization that provides stable, full-time jobs for individuals who often face barriers to employment.

Over 50% of our workforce includes individuals with disabilities. We provide job coaching, training and career development opportunities that help employees build skills, earn a living and contribute to their communities.

This is what sets MDI apart. Our employees are dedicated, highly skilled and committed to quality. Many have been with us for years, some even decades. The result is a workforce that is dependable and experienced. 

See MDI in Action

The best way to understand how MDI can help your business is to visit our facility and see our operations firsthand.

Walk through our production floor, see our teams assembling products and watch how efficiently materials move through our facility. We’ve worked with major companies like 3M for decades, and when manufacturers see how we operate, they understand why we’re trusted by so many recognizable businesses. 

If your business is struggling to keep up with production demand or looking for a domestic alternative to imported components, we encourage you to schedule a tour today.

📞 Call 651-999-8200 or visit www.MDI.org to set up a time.

At MDI, we work with many manufacturing businesses caught in the crossroads of speed and cost control. For example, they: 

• Landed a major order but realized they couldn’t meet the deadline in-house.
• Received an urgent rework request after a shipment arrived with packaging errors.
• Lack the equipment to expand production quickly.
• Are rethinking their supply chain entirely as tariffs drive up import costs