Plan and prioritise · Add-on
Choose and work with a manufacturing partner
Most hardware teams use a contract manufacturer. Choose one that fits your volume and product, and treat them as part of the team.
About 5-15 daysEvergreenLast reviewed 5 November 2026
Who this applies to
- Skills it builds
- Commercial and business senseDelivery and execution
- PM types
- Hardware or IoT
- Product types
- All
- Starting points
- All
- Ways of working
- All
- Experience
- All
- Size of organisation
- All
Steps, by experience
Beginner (under 1 year)
- Learn what a contract manufacturer does: buys parts, assembles, tests and ships.
- List what you need: volume, product type, certifications and location.
- Shortlist three manufacturers, ideally through referrals.
- Send each the same request for a quote and compare more than price.
- Visit or video-tour the shortlisted factories before you sign.
Intermediate (1 to 4 years)
- Match your volume to a partner where you are a meaningful customer.
- Agree quality checks, change control and who orders parts.
- Hold a regular call on cost, quality and lead times.
Experienced (5+ years)
- Set a manufacturing strategy across products, including a second partner.
- Negotiate contracts that cover intellectual property and capacity.
- Measure partners on quality, cost and delivery each quarter.
Who can do this
Owner: Product manager
Can be delegated to
- Hardware / manufacturing engineer or Tech Lead or Architect: Assess each manufacturer's technical capability
- Policy / Legal / Compliance: Review the contract and IP terms
Reviewed by: Hardware / manufacturing engineer, Tech Lead, Policy / Legal / Compliance
Tool examples
- Confluence
- Keep a scorecard for each manufacturer on one page.
- Notion
- Track quotes and visit notes in one database.
Definition of done
- Needs written down
- At least three quotes compared
- Partner chosen with quality and change-control terms agreed
Common pitfalls
- Choosing on price alone
- Being too small a customer to get attention
- No written change control
If you lead the team
What good looks like: Manufacturing partners fit the volume and product, and are treated as part of the team.
Ask your PM
- Why this partner, and what are the risks?
- How often do we review quality and capacity with them?
Warning signs
- The partner is chosen on unit price alone.
- Problems with the partner surface late.