Selecting the wrong manufacturer could be costly to your business in many ways, not just monetarily. It could cost you time, quality of the final product, and trust from your customers, especially if you are involved with the US companies that require accuracy and consistency from their suppliers.
When selecting the right custom machine manufacturers for your needs, whether you’re working in the aerospace, oil and gas, robotics, or industrial automation industries, it will be one of the most critical business decisions you make. This blog post will help you break down the different criteria you need to look for when making your confident selection.
Prefer an Industry Expert
First and foremost, not all manufacturers are made equal, and not all manufacturers have the capability to make products for every industry. A manufacturer that specializes in making consumer products may not have the capability or certification to make aerospace-grade product components.
Before signing a contract or obtaining a finished product from your CNC machine manufacturer, make sure to review their history of completing work for customers who have similar requirements to what you will be needing. Be sure to look for a CNC machine manufacturer that has worked within the same industry as you do.
A manufacturer who has proven experience producing products in demanding industries, such as the semiconductor industry or producing parts for the high-pressure oil and gas industry, has a proven ability to meet very tight tolerances and develop complex engineering designs.
Assess Quality Management Systems and Certifications
Certifications are more than just plaques; they represent systematic verified quality systems which provide safety to your product through all phases of manufacture.
Choose producers who have both ISO 9001 and AS9100 certified quality management systems. Both standards indicate that processes exist at manufacture to document inspections, record material traceability, and perform corrective action. By obtaining ISO 9001 or AS9100 certified status, a CNC machining manufacturer has already demonstrated a commitment to producing parts of consistently high quality.
If your product needs to comply with particular industry standards, ensure that the manufacturer can demonstrate compliance with such standards prior to the start of production.
Evaluate Machining Capabilities
Every machine shop has different machining capabilities. Some have only basic turning/milling capabilities while others offer multi-axis CNC machining along with clean room support, and high-pressure testing capabilities.
When evaluating a potential CNC machine shop, ask what types of materials they use, their equipment specifications, including tolerances and production volume capacity. If your part has tight dimensional tolerances/accuracy, find out how they handle in-process inspections.
A reputable CNC machine shop will be able to furnish you with their complete equipment list and adequately discuss how they can meet more unique requirements or more complex or custom jobs.
Inquire About Lead Times and Production Timelines
In terms of delivery, timing plays an equally as important part as the quality of the product. If a supplier manufactures high-quality parts but continually misses production deadlines, they will create issues within the overall supply chain for you.
When speaking with a company producing your custom machine, be sure to inquire about the average lead times on jobs similar in scope/scale to your own. Additionally, ask the supplier about their manufacturing process should a customer have an urgent production requirement. Also, inquire of the supplier how they will communicate with you regarding changes in manufacturing timelines.
A supplier who is completely open about their lead times and will provide you with timely updates on any changes made will help you maintain a good relationship with them moving forward. If a supplier cannot provide you with specific delivery dates and is vague in nature regarding their timeline, that is a red flag in your business relationship.
Look for Strong After-Sales Support
The manufacturer relationship does not end once the parts are shipped. The quality of the after-sales service relationship is indicative of the value a shop places on long-term relationships.
A reliable CNC machining supplier will provide post-delivery support, addressing customer service issues, providing documents for inspections, and working with the shop regarding any parts that do not meet specifications. If the parts supplier disappears once the parts have been delivered, the supplier is just a vendor, not a partner.
Make sure to ask prospective suppliers how they handle defective parts, requests for rework, and quality issues to see if there is a customer-driven process. A supplier with a clear direction of accountability illustrates that the supplier takes accountability on all levels seriously.
Review Communication and Responsiveness
It’s common for production to run into problems such as part delays, tooling issues, or design changes. The difference between a company that is good at producing products and one that isn’t is their ability to communicate clearly and quickly if something requires your attention.
Before selecting a CNC machining manufacturer to manufacture your product (or parts for your product), evaluate how quickly and how detailed their responses are when providing quotes. If the shop provides clear and timely communication, they will likely operate the same way during the production process. If they don’t provide clear and timely communication throughout the quoting process, it is unlikely that they will improve their communication during production.
Consider Location and Logistics
For businesses operating in the United States, manufacturing domestically offers several tangible benefits. A manufacturer that has shorter shipping distances will provide a larger number of shipments within an established time frame, resulting in reduced shipping costs. In addition, you can travel to a manufacturer’s facility within the United States very easily for facility audits, production reviews, or quality control inspections.
By working with a manufacturer located in the United States, you’ll have easily accessible communication without having to deal with different time zones and the complications, issues, and regulations of importing goods into the United States. There are also some mandatory domestic source rule requirements in certain types of government contracts, which will be easier to satisfy with a U.S.-based manufacturer.
Compare Pricing without Quality Being Compromised
When determining your ultimate price point, cost will always play a role. The lowest quote from a manufacturer will generally not be the best value; over time, a manufacturer that takes shortcuts in the raw material they utilize and/or their inspection process will ultimately cost you much more money over time due to rework, delays and replacements.
When comparing custom machine manufacturers, be sure to request to see a detailed quotation. Look at the various pricing lines; each quotation should be broken down into/setup, material, machining, inspection, and finishing; by doing so, you’ll have a better understanding of where the costs are coming from and that you’re comparing “apples to apples”.
How Mentco Manufacturing Stands Out?
Mentco Manufacturing, a US-based CNC machining manufacturer, serves industries that require the most exact levels of precision. It is AS9100 and ISO certified and has CMM inspection systems in-house, as well as having rigorous material traceability processes in place.
Mentco’s CNC machine shop capabilities include tight tolerance machining, high-pressure component manufacturing of up to 60,000 PSI, and support for semiconductor manufacturing through a clean room. The company serves the aerospace, oil & gas, robotics, instrumentation, and industrial automation industries with these capabilities.
The distinguishing factor of Mentco from other manufacturers is its commitment to customer communication and accountability for the after-sales. All projects are supported with a file of detailed inspection reports, and the Mentco team will address any quality concerns after the project has been delivered.
Conclusion
Determining suitable custom machine builders involved more than just comparing price; finding suitable custom machine builders required assessing the manufacturers’ experience, qualifications, capabilities, communication practices, and support systems together.
A high-quality CNC machining shop will create accurate parts on time, support their work with documentation, and view your company as a relationship, not just a customer. If you want to get a prototype or an entire production range completed quickly and inexpensively, you have to carefully select who you do business with from the outset to minimize waste created during manufacturing and maximize time and financial savings later on.
Mentco Manufacturing is the right choice for those searching for US-based CNC machine shops that combine quality with dependable services. Mentco provides both capabilities and accountability necessary to satisfy the needs of the most discerning industries.
