Thinking Out of the Box: Pacific Northwest EMS Manufacturer Employs Successful Strategies With IPC

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Allison and Chad Budvarson started Out of the Box Manufacturing, an EMS company in Renton, Washington, just one month after they were married in 2008. To stay competitive, they’ve utilized IPC’s workforce subscription and apprenticeship programs to train and maintain their staff.

Allison, could you give us a brief history of your company?

Allison Budvarson: Out of the Box Manufacturing specializes in PCBA, box build, and cable assembly. We offer quick turns and prototypes for aerospace and defense customers, which are not widely available. We also offer small- to mid-size or small- to mid-volume manufacturing for the commercial aerospace and defense industry. Chad is an engineer and our CEO. My focus is on talent development, and sales and marketing.

We want to employ a group of entrepreneurial-minded employees because we think that elevates the engagement of our staff, which in turn provides better service for our customers. We like to say we do the hard things fast and support our customers as they move into higher volumes or revisions as their product becomes more stable.

What factors influenced you to work with IPC?

Our relationship with IPC has evolved over the past several years. Initially, we saw IPC for its standards. But when I started attending the EMS Leadership Summit at APEX EXPO, I realized there was so much more to IPC, which opened more doors for us, creating growth and partnership opportunities I didn't realize were possible. For one, I like having frank conversations with EMS owners from other areas of the country, and I’m not worried they will steal my “secret sauce.”

It’s nice to know that we’re not alone in our struggles as business owners. I’m still a fairly young owner, so it helps to pick the brains of those who have been in the business for much longer. Tapping into that industry experience has been phenomenal.

To read the rest of this article, which appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of IPC Community, click here.