--- title: How to Choose from Different Medical Device Contract Manufacturers? description: Compare and discuss the pros and cons of building medical devices in- or out-of-house, if and when to bring in a contract manufacturer. image: https://www.sanbormedical.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Composite%20image%20of%20doctor%20looking%20at%20xray%20on%20tablet.jpeg --- [![Sanbor Medical](https://www.sanbormedical.com/hubfs/__NBdev/images/logos/Sanbor%20Logo_756HR.png) ](https://www.sanbormedical.com/) - Manufacturing Services - [Medical Device Manufacturing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/services/medical-device-manufacturers) - [Cleanroom Manufacturing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/services/clean-room-manufacturers) - [Testing, Programming & Validation](https://www.sanbormedical.com/services/medical-device-testing-programming-validation) - [Packaging & Labeling](https://www.sanbormedical.com/services/medical-device-packaging-labeling) - Solutions - [Manufacturing Cost Reduction](https://www.sanbormedical.com/medical-manufacturing-cost-reduction) - [Global Project Management](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/global-project-management) - [Multi Volume Production](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/multi-volume-production) - [Product Line Transfers](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/product-line-transfers) - [New Product Introduction](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/medical-device-product-development) - [Global Supply Chain Management](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/medical-supply-chain-management) - [Blog](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog) - About Us - [Why Sanbor](https://www.sanbormedical.com/why-sanbor-medical) - [Our Story](https://www.sanbormedical.com/our-story) - [Our Facilities](https://www.sanbormedical.com/facilities) - [Certifications & Registrations](https://www.sanbormedical.com/certifications) [![Contact Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3483613/0d7c8d2b-b25e-4959-9f7c-8a722139b2e9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3483613/0d7c8d2b-b25e-4959-9f7c-8a722139b2e9) - Manufacturing Services - [Medical Device Manufacturing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/services/medical-device-manufacturers) - [Cleanroom Manufacturing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/services/clean-room-manufacturers) - [Testing, Programming & Validation](https://www.sanbormedical.com/services/medical-device-testing-programming-validation) - [Packaging & Labeling](https://www.sanbormedical.com/services/medical-device-packaging-labeling) - Solutions - [Manufacturing Cost Reduction](https://www.sanbormedical.com/medical-manufacturing-cost-reduction) - [Global Project Management](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/global-project-management) - [Multi Volume Production](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/multi-volume-production) - [Product Line Transfers](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/product-line-transfers) - [New Product Introduction](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/medical-device-product-development) - [Global Supply Chain Management](https://www.sanbormedical.com/solutions/medical-supply-chain-management) - [Blog](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog) - About Us - [Why Sanbor](https://www.sanbormedical.com/why-sanbor-medical) - [Our Story](https://www.sanbormedical.com/our-story) - [Our Facilities](https://www.sanbormedical.com/facilities) - [Certifications & Registrations](https://www.sanbormedical.com/certifications) [![Contact Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3483613/0d7c8d2b-b25e-4959-9f7c-8a722139b2e9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3483613/0d7c8d2b-b25e-4959-9f7c-8a722139b2e9) We help medical device OEMs reduce manufacturing costs by 20-25%. [ Learn More ](https://www.sanbormedical.com/en/solutions/hybrid-manufacturing) May 8, 2018 # How to Choose from Different Medical Device Contract Manufacturers? [Joe Pignotti](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/author/joe-pignotti) [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/how-to-choose-from-different-medical-contract-manufacturers](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/how-to-choose-from-different-medical-contract-manufacturers) Sanbor Medical, as a [highly experienced](https://www.sanbormedical.com/about-sanbor-medical) (**28 years in operation, 17 years in medical**) CM (contract manufacturer), receives a lot of inquiries;  most inquiries are regarding the manufacturing of [Class I & Class II electronic and electromechanical medical devices and high level subassemblies.](https://www.sanbormedical.com/contract-manufacturing)   ![Image of man scientist working in laboratory with microscope](https://www.sanbormedical.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Image%20of%20man%20scientist%20working%20in%20laboratory%20with%20microscope.jpeg?width=300&name=Image%20of%20man%20scientist%20working%20in%20laboratory%20with%20microscope.jpeg) In this particular post, we are delving into a specific question related to working with CMs: **When is the right time to bring in your CM partner?** Many OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), who wish to make their design vision a reality, have different requirements. Some will claim that the CM should be involved as early as possible, so they are knowledgeable about all the specifics of the project and the CM will then have personal stakes in the product whether it be financial or emotional. This approach works the best with CMs with a built-in design house. **Not every company sees the need to keep a vast number of design engineers on the payroll** primarily due to the uncertainty of whether or not their abilities would continuously be needed. On top of that, there can be a need for a multitude of engineers: software, hardware, mechanical, and electrical. Slightly complex medical devices may call for all of these capabilities, which is why some CMs, like Sanbor Medical, choose to work closely with** trustworthy design firms rather than do that work in-house.** We are happy to work with OEMs who bring us their completed designs or we can connect a design group that is located less than an hour away, taking logistics and communication problems out of the equation, to an OEM. In Sanbor Medical’s 20+ years of history, **we have taken every precaution to protect our clients’ designs and have thus never had an Intellectual Property (IP) issue.** ![Composite image of doctor looking at xray on tablet](https://www.sanbormedical.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Composite%20image%20of%20doctor%20looking%20at%20xray%20on%20tablet.jpeg?width=300&height=200&name=Composite%20image%20of%20doctor%20looking%20at%20xray%20on%20tablet.jpeg) At Sanbor Medical, we are happy to see our clients walk through the door with their innovative designs and are eager to see how we can produce their product as quickly as possible while offering **significant cost downs**.  Comparing these two types of CMs, the entry point of a project naturally will be different. A CM with an in-house design team would likely become **part of the medical device project group early on**, so they can work with the OEM on every change to the design, and the OEM would have moderate control over their project, and have to share much information.  On the other hand, CMs like Sanbor Medical are engaged when the design is finished. Their job is to build the device** to its specifications and make sure it functions properly**. In this case, the OEM definitely has full control of the design until they’re satisfied. Medical contract manufacturing has become a booming industry. According to estimates, the market will expand to $41 billion in the next 5 years. As more and more competition enters the emerging market, naturally an increasing amount of potentially confusing decisions arise for medical OEMs. We at Sanbor Medical hope this blog can help some of you navigate through the tough terrain of not just choosing a CM but **determining the right timing to bring them on as your partner.** ![Workers in motion at modern drug factory-1](https://www.sanbormedical.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Workers%20in%20motion%20at%20modern%20drug%20factory-1.jpeg?width=300&name=Workers%20in%20motion%20at%20modern%20drug%20factory-1.jpeg) Please feel free to check back for our future updates. Maybe the next blog will be the exact information you are looking for! Tune in for more insider knowledge, market trends, new technology… etc. [![Connect With Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3483613/f7270784-47e2-4acb-b7b2-bbdc54775607.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3483613/f7270784-47e2-4acb-b7b2-bbdc54775607)   Topic(s): [medical devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-devices) , [outsource](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/outsource) , [contract manufacturer](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/contract-manufacturer) , [electromechanical](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/electromechanical) , [OEM](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/oem) , [medical outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-outsourcing) , [offshore manufacturer](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/offshore-manufacturer) , [finished medical device](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/finished-medical-device) , [Class I Medical Devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/class-i-medical-devices) , [Class II Medical Devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/class-ii-medical-devices) , [global logistics](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/global-logistics) , [usa headquarters](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/usa-headquarters) , [usa based](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/usa-based) , [vertically integrated](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/vertically-integrated) , [medical](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical) , [healthcare](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/healthcare) , [medical equipment](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-equipment) , [overseas outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/overseas-outsourcing) , [offshore outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/offshore-outsourcing) , [electronic manufacturing services](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/electronic-manufacturing-services) , [supply chain consolidation](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/supply-chain-consolidation) , [transfer product](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/transfer-product) , [medical device turnkey](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-device-turnkey) , [new product introduction](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/new-product-introduction) , [new product development](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/new-product-development) , [FDA](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/fda) ## Subscribe to email updates ## Related Posts [medical devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-devices), [outsource](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/outsource), [contract manufacturer](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/contract-manufacturer), [electromechanical](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/electromechanical), [OEM](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/oem), [medical outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-outsourcing), [offshore manufacturer](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/offshore-manufacturer), [finished medical device](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/finished-medical-device), [Class I Medical Devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/class-i-medical-devices), [Class II Medical Devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/class-ii-medical-devices), [global logistics](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/global-logistics), [usa headquarters](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/usa-headquarters), [usa based](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/usa-based), [vertically integrated](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/vertically-integrated), [medical](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical), [healthcare](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/healthcare), [medical equipment](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-equipment), [overseas outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/overseas-outsourcing), [offshore outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/offshore-outsourcing), [electronic manufacturing services](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/electronic-manufacturing-services), [ems](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/ems), [supply chain consolidation](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/supply-chain-consolidation), [transfer product](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/transfer-product), [medical device turnkey](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-device-turnkey), [new product introduction](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/new-product-introduction), [new product development](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/new-product-development) 4 minute read | January 23, 2018 ## [Why Medical OEMs Are Consolidating Within and Across Commodities](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/medical-consolidating-across-commodities) This is a problem that we, at Sanbor Medical, are sure that medical device and equipment makers have faced at one point or another: having to find, negotiate with, and... [Read More](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/medical-consolidating-across-commodities) [medical devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-devices), [outsource](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/outsource), [contract manufacturer](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/contract-manufacturer), [electromechanical](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/electromechanical), [OEM](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/oem), [medical outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-outsourcing), [offshore manufacturer](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/offshore-manufacturer), [finished medical device](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/finished-medical-device), [Class I Medical Devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/class-i-medical-devices), [Class II Medical Devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/class-ii-medical-devices), [global logistics](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/global-logistics), [usa headquarters](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/usa-headquarters), [usa based](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/usa-based), [vertically integrated](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/vertically-integrated), [medical equipment](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-equipment), [overseas outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/overseas-outsourcing), [offshore outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/offshore-outsourcing), [electronic manufacturing services](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/electronic-manufacturing-services), [ems](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/ems), [supply chain consolidation](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/supply-chain-consolidation), [transfer product](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/transfer-product), [medical device turnkey](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-device-turnkey), [new product introduction](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/new-product-introduction), [new product development](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/new-product-development) 5 minute read | February 1, 2018 ## [Medical Production & Regulatory Compliance](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/medica-l-production-and-facility-code-compliance-are-you-meeting-them-all-production) Among the many strategic partners with which a medical device company can choose to work with to help them take their product(s) from design to reality, there is a myriad of... [Read More](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/medica-l-production-and-facility-code-compliance-are-you-meeting-them-all-production) [medical devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-devices), [outsource](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/outsource), [contract manufacturer](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/contract-manufacturer), [electromechanical](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/electromechanical), [OEM](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/oem), [medical outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-outsourcing), [offshore manufacturer](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/offshore-manufacturer), [finished medical device](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/finished-medical-device), [Class I Medical Devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/class-i-medical-devices), [Class II Medical Devices](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/class-ii-medical-devices), [global logistics](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/global-logistics), [usa headquarters](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/usa-headquarters), [usa based](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/usa-based), [vertically integrated](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/vertically-integrated), [medical](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical), [healthcare](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/healthcare), [medical equipment](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-equipment), [overseas outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/overseas-outsourcing), [offshore outsourcing](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/offshore-outsourcing), [electronic manufacturing services](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/electronic-manufacturing-services), [ems](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/ems), [supply chain consolidation](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/supply-chain-consolidation), [transfer product](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/transfer-product), [medical device turnkey](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/medical-device-turnkey), [new product introduction](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/new-product-introduction), [new product development](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/tag/new-product-development) 6 minute read | April 10, 2018 ## [What's the Importance of Medical Patents & How Do We Protect Your IP?](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/ip-protection-on-medical-intellectual-property-contract-manufacture) The development cycle for a new medical device is extremely taxing on its OEM; there are many questions which the OEM must ask themselves before delving into the lengthy... [Read More](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog/ip-protection-on-medical-intellectual-property-contract-manufacture) ## Smarter Manufacturing Starts Here. Connect with our team to learn how a Sanbor partnership is the future of medical device contract manufacturing. [![Connect With Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3483613/f7270784-47e2-4acb-b7b2-bbdc54775607.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3483613/f7270784-47e2-4acb-b7b2-bbdc54775607) - [Why Sanbor](https://www.sanbormedical.com/why-sanbor-medical) - [Certifications](https://www.sanbormedical.com/certifications) - [Blog](https://www.sanbormedical.com/blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.sanbormedical.com/contact-us) Copyright © Sanbor Medical - 2026. All rights reserved.[Privacy Policy](https://www.sanbormedical.com/privacy-policy) Corporate Headquarters | 7584 Morris Court Suite 218, Allentown PA, 18106 |[ 610-530-8500](tel:610-530-8500) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=1891905&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Joe Pignotti" }, "dateModified" : "September 30, 2020, 6:44:54 PM", "datePublished" : "2018-05-08 13:40:00", "description" : "Compare and discuss the pros and cons of building medical devices in- or out-of-house, if and when to bring in a contract manufacturer. 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