Electronics manufacturing services (EMS) is a term used for companies that design, manufacture, test, distribute, and provide return/repair services for electronic components and assemblies for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The concept is also referred to as electronics contract manufacturing (ECM).[1]
Many consumer electronics are built in China and countries of Southeast Asia, due to maintenance cost, availability of materials, and speed as opposed to other countries such as the United States.[2] Cities such as Shenzhen, China and Penang, Malaysia have become important production centres for the industry, attracting many consumer electronics companies such as Apple Inc.[3] Some companies such as Flex and Wistron are original design manufacturers and providers of electronics manufacturing services.