CCable assembly services manufacture custom, connectorized coaxial, fiber optic, and multi-conductor cables for specific applications on a contractual basis. They are located across the United States and around the world and vary in terms of capabilities. Suppliers that provide design assistance can help with cable and connector selection, layout and manufacturing techniques, and computer aided design (CAD). They may also be able to help upgrade or redesign, re-evaluate or modernize existing cable assemblies to improve performance and/or reduce manufacturing costs. Some cable assembly services provide rapid prototyping or short-run manufacturing prior to mass production. Others handle all aspects of the manufacturing process, including soldering, termination, wrapping and testing. Suppliers with just-in-time manufacturing capabilities can produce parts on demand. Cable assembly services with formal quality assurance or testing processes ensure the quality of all manufactured products and, in some cases, provide test results. 

Cable assembly services manufacture custom products for a variety of applications, industries, and equipment. Some suppliers produce cable assemblies that are suitable for aerospace applications, or that meet military specifications (MIL-SPEC) or military standards (MIL-STD). Others manufacture coaxial, RF, or microwave cables; products that are suitable for audio-visual applications; single-mode or multi-mode fiber optic cables; or power cables for current and heat transfer applications. Many cable assemblies are used in consumer electronic devices and appliances such as dishwashers, dryers, and ovens. Specialized products are used with computer applications, information technology (IT) equipment, and communication standards such as RS232, universal serial bus (USB), and small computer system interface (SCSI). Cable assembly services also manufacture products for capital equipment any machinery, medical and surgical applications, robotics, and grounding. 

Selecting cable assembly services requires an analysis of quality requirements. CE Marking indicates that a product complies with the essential requirements of relevant European Union (EU) directives that uphold national standards for health, safety and environmental protection. The UL Listing Mark indicates that Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) has determined that representative samples of a product meet UL's published Standards for Safety. Products that bear a CSA Mark have been tested by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and meet applicable standards for safety and performance. ISO 9001:2000, part of the larger ISO 9000 standard, provides an internationally recognized framework for quality management systems. Similarly, ISO 14000 provides a standard framework for environmental management, measurement, evaluation and auditing. ISO/TS 16949:2002 is an ISO Technical Specification (TS) that aligns existing American (QS-9000), German (VDA6.1), French (EAQF) and Italian (AVSQ) automotive quality systems standards for the global automotive industry. QS-9000 is a quality standard for suppliers of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation.