Leaning on vital factors such as competitive pricing, quality of services offered, and timely delivery is an optimum way of getting what you need. However, these aren’t the only things you should rely on. Hear me out. Well, you see, they aren’t ideal indicators that guarantee consistency – how would you know that your supplier will meet all your expectations repeatedly?
You just had a “wait a minute…” moment, right? That’s okay because if you’re thinking about hiring a dedicated metal stamping supplier, you’re going to have to take a more detailed approach – give it some forethought. Remember, you need a vendor that can guarantee long-term commitment to your company.
Organizations always require reputed vendors with an ideal track record of working with streamlined precision to provide custom parts that won’t falter and will do the job. In light of this, mentioned below are some of the most valuable indicators you can rely on to quickly determine what metal stamping company will propel your supply chain.
Deep Focus and Enhanced Proficiencies of Critical Industry Standards
This is an excellent indicator to start with. You see, there’s nothing more important than partnering with a vendor that has the knowledge and capabilities to work in line with critical industry standards. A metal stamping vendor that’s taking on your projects for fabricating and creating custom parts must first quantify each one of your specifications and understand what you need. This is the first and most vital step towards complying with the standards of success preached by the vendor.
For instance, product quality and effectiveness are instrumental in the medical industry. Especially in sectors where metal parts are utilized for different types of medical equipment. The same goes for technical equipment such as x-ray and MRI machines, or patient implants. This is where product quality and precision make a huge difference to yield satisfactory outcomes. This is why your vendor must have the experience and insight necessary to know what you exactly need.
Providing Additional Services and Finishing of Parts and Components
The next important factor to look for is the vendor’s ability to cater to additional services. A lot of these secondary services play a vital role when it comes to maximizing the improvement of the initial product. For example, fulfilling a metal stamping order that requires a precision build may need ancillary requirements necessary to improve the durability and performance of the metal parts.
Some additional services are required for the accurate development of different parts. This may include sandblasting, deburring, grinding, etc. to ensure there are no rough edges or any other type of imperfections. It falls on the metal stamping supplier to guarantee that the end product is designed well and up to the standards outlined by the client. These categories of services also include powder coating and heat treatment to further ensure the product can withstand extreme changes in pressure and remains durable against things like corrosion and timely wear and tear. These are top-notch, value-added services that help renowned metal stamping companies stand apart from firms that talk big but produce sub-par parts.
Guaranteeing Authentication of Services
Another preeminent factor that can help you select an authentic metal stamping vendor is to see if the company is certified. Prominent companies have adequate industrial certifications with renowned trade associations. For example, look for a supplier that is ISO 9001:2008 certified.
Similarly, you can also seek a company that is backed by specific industry certifications. For instance, an ISO 13485 certification (for medical devices) and TS 16949 certification (for the automotive sector). These are all authentic industry certifications that prove the metal vendor provides consistent and standardized services.
Streamlined and Proven Metrics of Production
Top-rated metal stamping companies have another way to highlight their services and prove they’re the best. Renowned vendors will always have significantly reduced external parts per million (PPM). This is an essential production metric that shows the number of faults and irregularities found by the client per one million components shipped.
It’s a no-brainer that you would select a vendor that is has a substantially low PPM. And a great metal stamping supplier will have a PPM rating of less than five. Apart from the PPM metric, another way of identifying the efficiency and efficacy of a supplier is to check their “on-time delivery” ratio or OTD. Great suppliers always have a 98% OTD rating.
Openness Regarding Their Capabilities and Shortcomings
Metal stamping suppliers must be transparent about their capabilities from the get-go. They have to tell you whether they can or can’t do something for you. The advantage of being transparent is that it will help the client make more accurate decisions on who to hire.
So, if a vendor highlights their best capabilities – for example, saying that they’re the best at processing and building precision parts or CNC machining, the client will have a good idea of what exactly to hire them for. It’s going to allow the client to plan more effectively and get things done more efficiently.
Not being transparent or providing unclear descriptions of the company’s capabilities will raise a red flag. The client will end up suspecting whether the company can handle their orders or not.
Showing Past Performance to Instill Confidence
Renowned and experienced metal stamping vendors will always be in a position to share their experiences with past clients. They will be able to show you how well they have served their clients to provide you with a sense of security and confidence in their services. The track record and accomplishments of a successful vendor is a powerful asset for them. Why? Well, it’s instrumental in showing how consistent they’ve been in the past and how they’ve effectively proven their service qualities and production efficiencies.
For potential clients, the best way of gathering this information is to look at reviews, testimonials, and relevant case studies. They can do this on the metal stamping vendor’s website. You can also get in touch with the company and thoroughly vet them before signing an agreement.
Final Words
In all, carrying out due diligence in this manner is significantly vital for procurement teams looking to do business with the best metal stamping vendors. You see, once you find a supplier that resonates with your business, proves consistency, and delivers on time – you’ll be working with them for a long time.
2 Responses
I found it interesting when you said that your metal supplier should be able to give experiences to ensure proper service. My uncle told me yesterday that they were planning to build a commercial project on their vacant site, and he asked if I had any idea what would be the best option in finding a reliable metal supplier. Thanks to this informative article, I’ll be sure to tell him that it will be much better if they consult a trusted metal supplier company as they can answer all their inquiries.