New dimensions of competitiveness of UK Electronic Manufacturing Service (EMS) Providers

The Contract Electronic Manufacturing industry in UK has been influenced by the shortened time-to-market, the unpredictability of the supply chain resources and the ferocious global competition. To increase their competitiveness, UK Electronic Manufacturing Service Providers, also known as the Contract Electronic Manufacturers have developed into a set of new characteristics. The service-oriented strategy has been formulated. As a result, the firms are more vertical integrated and capable of providing fuller range of services, with a special focus on the high value-added ones. Hence the new competitive factors for providing quality services are identified. The new dimensions of new competitiveness should be taken into strategic thinking together with the traditional factors for a physical product provider.