Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and Original Parts Distributors (OPD) depend on quality parts that are up to exact specifications. With many different cable harness engineering solutions, the team at Meridian helps OEMs source the very best components to use in their cabling systems.
Today’s Livewire News spotlight is focused on how Meridian meets the needs of OEMs and OPDs. Read on as we cover everything you need to know about the many OEM solutions Meridian’s cable harness engineers help develop every day.
What is OEM & OPD?
As stated, OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. OEMs are able to manufacture products to the exact specifications needed to fit within a larger system. An OEM is traditionally a company that produces parts to be used as part of another company’s final product. One of the largest OEM markets is for different automotive parts. Different companies create expertise in creating certain components that are then all assembled together by another company who then sells the product to consumers.
As you might expect, the OEM auto parts have to be exactly right. They must be official and genuine to the vehicle maker’s specifications. In this way, OEMs are able to produce an exact match for the vehicle component at hand, which helps keep America’s automotive industry rolling.
An OPD is a company that acts as an intermediary between the OEM and the next entity in the distribution channel. This helps the producer focus on improving production, rather than having to try and distribute the product themselves. In essence, OEMs rely on OPDs to help get their products to market and OPDs rely on OEM to have something to distribute.
Best Ways for Sourcing OEM Cable
As an OEM or OPD you rely completely on custom cable manufacturers like Meridian to do a perfect job of creating a solution that fits within a very unique set of parameters. Luckily, designing and manufacturing custom cable solutions are what we do here at Meridian. In fact, we design over 70% of the products we manufacture.
When looking for OEM cable sources, it’s important to consider the capabilities, past track record, and certifications of the manufacturer behind the product.
Capabilities of a Quality OEM Cable Manufacturer
To produce OEM cable, you have to start with the best components. At Meridican, we are currently certified by UL to produce a wide variety of single-conductor and multi-conductor wires. We are also a UL-approved cable and wire extruder, which simply adds another layer of quality to everything we produce. When it comes to OEM cable production, our team is able to provide:
- Custom cable extrusion – this is a cable manufacturing process where molten plastic is conformed, generally through a die. Depending on the requirements of the client, different methods and materials can be used.
- Insert molding and overmolding – insert molding is a proven process where we can directly improve a product’s durability and functionality by covering components of the cable assembly with engineering plastics like PVC, PP, TPEE, and TPR. Meridian also designs many custom overmoldings for connectors, Y junctions, and many others.
- Manufacturing capabilities – Meridian has two wholly-owned and operated manufacturing facilities – one in Tanggu, China and one in St. Augustine, Florida. These facilities complete everything from cable assembly design to UL approved extruding and manufacturing.
- Process capabilities – Meridian remains a leader in custom cable manufacturing for our ability to provide a full cradle to the grave OEM cable system. Whether the cable needs overmolded connectors to ensure hermetic sealing, silicone overmolding for use in medical devices, or implanting a circuit board inside ultrasonically-welded housing, Meridian holds advanced process capabilities to meet the demands of the project.
- Logistics – having facilities based in the US and in China helps our team judiciously distribute our client’s products per whatever project schedule is required. Integrating Kanban principles and JIT ordering, our streamlined logistics systems keep product deliveries on time.
- Testing/qualification and verification – automated Cirrus testers help make sure our OEM cable is produced to the very highest standards. Sometimes, we even need to design and manufacture a custom project’s very own functional tester for more advanced applications. Each product is always tested for continuity, integrity, polarity, and functionality.
Past Track Record of the OEM Cable Harness Engineer
Producing products that work in some of the harshest environments on Earth requires a manufacturer to be pretty good at what they do and getting to this level is no accident. Over many years, our gifted cable harness engineers have built up a wealth of intrinsic knowledge and a vast array of existing tooling for connectors, junctions, overmoldings, and housings for use in OEM cable assemblies.
Certifications That Matter in OEM Cable
Meridian is so serious about quality in everything we do, we even got certified for it. ISO 9001:2015 is one of the manufacturing industries highest levels of quality assurance certifications. The certification requires continuous commitment to not only improving the quality assurance of the product and the process, but it also requires improving the experience for the customer. QAQC engineering requires examining the process and continually eliminating inefficiencies. This helps us produce superior products and commit to making customer service a priority that remains in the spotlight.
Industries Using Meridian’s OEM Solutions
We’re proud to produce the OEM solutions required in a wide variety of industry applications. With several decades of experience at the highest level of OEM cable solutions, Meridian has built up the expertise and the equipment required to deliver in almost any situation. Meridian’s top areas of expertise fall within the areas of industrial control systems, medical, telecom, military, and automotive.
Industrial Control Systems
Industrial Control Systems help power our nation’s critical infrastructure and other highly-automated facilities such as a bottling plant. The control systems themselves are highly-complex. Many require power and signal conductos in the same cable with custom strain reliefs and cable stops. Others need overmolded connectors to make sure the hermetic sealing is perfect.
Whatever requirements are needed, our cable harness engineers work to our client’s exact specifications to produce a product that is both functional and uniquely suited for it’s required role in the system.
Medical Technology
Speciality considerations that only come with advanced experience in the demanding field of medical technology are the breakthroughs that save lives. We take our responsibility with medical device OEM solutions seriously and can incorporate components like bio-sensitive jacks, strain reliefs, silicone overmolding, and any number of other considerations depending on the needs of the project. We’re proud to have so many instances of turning our client’s most complex medical cable problems into perfect solutions.
Telecommunications
Cable assemblies and connectors help keep our society connected on a global scale. We help produce the critical infrastructure required in telecommunications to help keep connections open. Whether a client needs a cable assembly with ten different connectors or a coax cable with a polyurethane jacket, Meridian’s telecommunications design team can produce OEM assemblies ready for integration.
Military
The military has some of the highest requirements for tough cable assemblies. The OEM solutions produced here may be used in everything from a fighter jet to a communications satellite. Specialized components such as Kevlar® or mylar sheathing can be used to add additional protection to an assembly. Meridian is proud to be able to produce MILSPEC cable assemblies for use in OEM applications.
Automotive & Other Industries
OEM cable assemblies for automotive, alternative energy, broadcasting, and a host of others are all found in Meridian’s expansive wheelhouse. Advanced process capabilities and tooling helps Meridian design and manufacture OEM cable to even the strictest of standards.
Things to Consider When Starting an OEM Cable Project
When you first sit down with the Meridian design team, we’ll start to learn your needs and expectations for the project. A dedicated project manager will start gathering the specifications required for your project and outline a list of required steps to design, manufacture, test, and approve the OEM cable. With this plan in place, the entire team has a blueprint to follow to ensure the project is complete on-time and on-budget.
While there are many steps between design and volume production, prototyping is arguably one of the most beneficial tasks our engineers can integrate into the process. Prototyping is where we get to design and test several different variations of a product to see how different combinations work together. Beyond simply deciding between material and design choices, our team also looks at how the logistics will play out and which design variation is best suited for meeting the project’s specifications.
Getting Started with an OEM Cable Harness Engineer
When looking for an OEM cable harness engineer, remember quality and experience matter. Off-the-shelf cable assemblies may be plentiful but you never know exactly how it fits with your existing system. With Meridian, our engineers take the time to learn your needs, budget, and timeline to produce the perfect cabling solution. Contact the Meridian Team to get a custom quote for your next OEM cable harness project.