May 2021 MiMfg Magazine 7
MFG Game Changers
Firstronic is Bringing Disruption to Electronics Manufacturing
Grand Rapids-based Firstronic thinks big — really big . So big , in fact , that the company ultimately hopes to change the entire ecosystem for electronics manufacturing services ( EMS ).
VP of Quality and Program Management , Sandy Kolp , started at Firstronic over a decade ago when they were a small operation . Since that time , the company has grown into a global provider of electronics manufacturing services that generates roughly $ 165 million in annual revenue . First , what is electronics manufacturing services ( EMS )? Simply put , Firstronic and other companies like it are contract manufacturers that provide electronics assemblies to a variety of customers . Some EMS manufacturers serve large OEM customers , such as Apple and Dell , while other “ mom and pop ” shops will accommodate smaller customers for prototypes and one-off builds .
Firstronic is focused on process and innovation — something that is highly fundamental to their DNA , according to Kolp . This focus , and the company ’ s core values , is what they are relying on in order to have a broad impact on the industry .
“ I don ’ t think we are satisfied being ordinary ,” says Kolp . “[ We ] always want to pursue more to become better . To do that , you need people and companies to push the boundaries of what can be done . It ’ s all about change . If
Scan to Get More ! Check out the MMA Blog for more gamechanging stories at mimfg . org . nothing changes , nothing new is created , nothing is improved .” There are a substantial number of mid-sized businesses that rely on the contract EMS providers . Trying to find the right vendor for the demand and the quantity can be challenging for those companies that fall somewhere in the middle , says Kolp .
“ We recognized that this is a niche market which would provide an excellent opportunity for growth ,” says Kolp .
Seizing on this niche market strategy , Firstronic has been able to support mid-sized customers in automotive , medical , LED and industrial sectors . These are the customers that need more volume than a mom-and-pop shop can provide but would not attract the attention of the larger EMS companies around the world .
In order to impact the EMS marketplace , Firstronic realized they would need to borrow some practices from other industries and upgrade their own systems . Thus , they have invested heavily in Industry 4.0 technologies and implemented Synchronous Flow Lean processes which improves flexibility in production and scheduling .
“ Our investments in Industry 4.0 technology enable our production equipment to identify quality issues and make process adjustments to correct those issues without human intervention ,” Kolp explains .
This added agility from the supply chain all the way to production was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when their strategic internal processes helped steady the ship through the toughest periods of the pandemic .
Learn More About Our Gamechanger
Headquarters : Grand Rapids
Phone : 616-456-9220 Web : firstronic . com
What ’ s Next for Firstronic ?
Firstronic is simply staying the course and fulfilling its vision as an industry disruptor . The company has recently invested in new equipment and technology to sustain its growth and continues to evolve its services to its growing market niche of midsized customers . But , when it comes down to it , Kolp credits the company ’ s success to its people and values .
“ You need people who share the same passion , share the same vision , who have the same DNA ,” says Kolp . “ These are people who are ‘ change agents ’ and are always looking for ways and methods to improve .” 6