Why Sharing Information Beyond the Print Leads to Better Results
When customers send out requests for quotes, the focus is naturally on the drawing itself. Dimensions, tolerances, materials, finishes, and quantities all matter tremendously. But at CAMM Metals, we’ve learned that some of the most important project details go beyond the print.
One of the most common causes of avoidable delays or confusion is the omission of critical information. That’s why we always encourage customers to share as much as possible upfront, so we’re set up for success to support their project from quoting through delivery.
Your Internal Processes Aren’t Automatically Visible to Your Manufacturer
Remember, what feels obvious internally may not be obvious outside your four walls
Every company develops its own internal standards and processes over time. For customers who work with the same systems and procedures every day, those requirements can become second nature.
But when that work is sent to a metal fabrication partner, those expectations are not automatically understood unless they’re communicated clearly.
When we onboard new customers, we take the time to discuss engineering expectations, manufacturing capabilities, quality standards, and end applications to ensure we're all on the same page. But no matter how detailed and technically clear the prints are, we always emphasize our need for information beyond what traditionally appears in an RFQ package. Things like:
Material certifications
Inspection reports
FAI requirements
Packaging instructions
Shipping and receiving needs
These details can impact production planning and delivery logistics just as much as the drawing itself.
Certification and Quality Requirements
Certain industries naturally come with stringent requirements. Aerospace manufacturing projects, for example, often require material certs, inspection documentation, and First Article Inspections (FAIs).
While the industries we support are unique in their own right, each of our customers has their own specific needs and quirks that set them apart from the rest. For instance, one customer we support in the machine building industry requires an FAI for every new part we produce, which is somewhat uncommon outside highly regulated industries. But because the customer communicated this need upfront, we’ve been able to:
Quote the work accurately
Build inspection time into production
Prepare documentation in advance
Meet expectations without delays
Packaging and Delivery Needs
Another important example of critical communication that goes “beyond the print” involves packaging and delivery.
A few years ago, we began working with a customer with relatively straightforward requirements. But when we shipped the finished parts on a large skid, we encountered a big issue. This customer operated out of a renovated residential building without a loading dock or forklift, meaning our customer’s receiving team had to physically carry parts downstairs into a basement storage area. All that meant the 400-pound skid we shipped presented a major challenge. Today, when we support this customer’s projects, we have that information captured for all involved parties and package future shipments in smaller boxes for easier transport.
This unique story taught us a valuable lesson: many of our customers don’t realize that they have unique circumstances. They’ve become so accustomed to the norms within the four walls of their shops that they don’t always know what extraneous circumstances are worth sharing with our team.
But we don’t know what we don’t know, and that’s why it’s important that we ask!
Our Rule of Thumb: There’s No Such Thing as “Too Much Information”
At CAMM Metals, we are capable of supporting unique customer requirements. Whether that means inspection documentation, certifications, specialized packaging, or custom shipping instructions, our team is willing and able to accommodate those needs.
But we need customers to clue us in on those needs early. The most successful results happen when communication starts early and stays detailed throughout the process.
Not sure if it’s worth sharing? We promise, there’s no such thing as “too much information” at our shop!
When you’re ready to request a quote from CAMM Metals, don’t hesitate to share any details you think could be useful for our team to know!