Is It Time for a New Manufacturing Partner? Here’s What to Look For
Switching manufacturing suppliers is a big decision that buyers and engineers don’t take lightly. Building new relationships requires time, trust, and effort.
But staying with a supplier that consistently creates unnecessary obstacles can introduce even more costs and challenges.
If you’re wondering whether your current supplier is truly supporting your success, here are a few signs it may be time to explore a better partnership.
Don’t Accept “Good Enough”
If you’re constantly chasing updates or dealing with preventable quality issues, it’s worth asking an important question: Are you settling for a supplier that’s “good enough” when you could have one that’s truly invested in your success?
Plenty of manufacturers can produce parts. But the best supplier relationships are collaborative, where they act as an extension of your team.
What Engineers and Purchasing Teams Look For
Although every customer has different priorities, we generally see two types of buyers: engineers and purchasing teams.
Engineers typically assess a manufacturer’s capabilities, evaluating whether a supplier has the experience, equipment, and engineering knowledge necessary to successfully manufacture the project.
Purchasing professionals often have a different objective, seeking a partner that can deliver quality parts on time, offer competitive pricing, and provide a straightforward buying process.
A One-Stop Shop Saves Time and Stress
Many of our customers at CAMM Metals want to receive a completed, production-ready part. That means handling your machining and metal fabrication services, as well as coordinating outside finishing processes like:
Anodizing
Galvanizing
Painting
Plating
Powder coating
Recently, our team chatted with a customer who had been receiving fabricated parts from us before sending them to another company for painting, unbeknownst to us. This added several weeks to their lead time and created another vendor relationship they had to manage. When we offered to coordinate the painting ourselves, our customer immediately embraced the idea. Now, instead of juggling multiple suppliers, they receive finished parts ready to use. That’s exactly how a manufacturing partnership should work.
Strong Relationships Matter
We hear from many of our customers that other manufacturers provide little to no communication between the time the purchase order comes through and the parts arrive on their dock. That’s not the norm at CAMM Metals.
We believe the strongest supplier relationships should include Design for Manufacturing (DFM) recommendations, fast responses to questions, proactive problem-solving, ongoing project communication, and other touchpoints.
Strong relationships extend beyond the customer-manufacturer connection, too. An experienced manufacturing partner should also have trusted relationships with outside vendors to help ensure a smoother experience for everyone involved.
Modern Manufacturing Requires Modern Technology
Advanced equipment and software help improve quoting accuracy, production efficiency, and everything in between.
When evaluating a supplier, consider whether they’re continuing to invest in efficient quoting systems, modern equipment, and quality inspection technology. In addition, inquire about what process improvements they are making on a regular basis; after all, a manufacturer that continually invests in its operations is often better positioned to support yours.
The Right Manufacturing Partner Makes Your Job Easier
Sometimes the biggest reason to explore a new supplier isn’t that something has gone terribly wrong, but because there’s simply a better way of doing things.
At CAMM Metals, we strive to simplify our customers' supply chains by coordinating outside processes and delivering finished products that help our customers succeed.
If your current supplier has you chasing updates or accepting unnecessary compromises, it may be worth exploring your options. You may be surprised by how much easier your job becomes when you work with a manufacturing partner that has your best interests in mind from quote to delivery.
Contact the CAMM Metals team or request a quote today to see how we can simplify your next project.