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And since nobody ever names names, your startup gets to make these same mistakes over again!

Can't name names, but I would say - take a hard look at the amount of square feet the CM has. The larger the manufacturer, the more they can scale. The smaller the manufacturer, the more they care about your business. It would seem like the 2nd is the one you want, but it is not, go with the large one. Look for a CM with "new product introduction" expertise, and their experience and size will pay great dividends.

I agree with your statements of going with the large CM and one with extensive "new product introduction" (called NPI in the biz) experience.

I will re-iterate the points from my previous post. Extensive due diligence is a must. You need to make sure their goals are exactly in line with yours. It is very difficult to move a CM in a direction they aren't already going.

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