Vetting Your Supplier an Interview Checklist for the Buyer
Quality. Delivery. Price. Three basic things every buyer wants to be promised. But what assurance does a buyer have that those commitments will be met, time and time again, over the length of the program? When choosing a deep draw stamping and precision metal stamping company, you want to approach it deliberately and with forethought. Here are some tips to help you plan.
Like interviewing a prospective new employee, an interview with a prospective precision metal stamping supplier should include topics that give you a good idea of what their capabilities are, and whether they will be able to produce a quality product, reliably. I&#;ve discussed below the subject areas you should explore with prospective suppliers. We can assume that they will be open and willing to share this information as well, they should have the answers readily available. If not, these alone are indicators of their overall (in)ability to accommodate your needs.
One assurance is that a potential supplier is certified to a quality standard, whether it&#;s IATF (International Automotive Task Force), ISO (International Organization for Standardization), or one of the many medical, military, or aerospace quality standards. Whether your industry requires it or not, if they&#;ve done the work to achieve and maintain registration to a quality standard, it demonstrates an investment in their organization. But a good vetting process shouldn&#;t stop there.
Your prospective supplier should have a well-defined set of objectives that are measured on a regular basis and are thoroughly understood and practiced throughout the organization. A quick interview of the company&#;s management should yield some honest answers about what their objectives are, how they measure up, and what they are doing to meet and improve their objectives. Performance objectives should include things like on-time delivery, customer complaints, customer reject rates, etc. These should be measurable and reported on a periodic basis. A report on cost of quality should not only include the cost of poor quality but also show an investment in prevention and improvement. Any reports should show a trend toward improvement or plan for corrective action.
Click here to download a checklist of interview questions to ask suppliers.
Part of your conversation should be about reinvestment in their company. Are your suppliers expanding their capacity and capabilities, or at least keeping them up to date? Are they able to add capacity for increased production needs? Are they willing to add capacity if you bring them enough business? If they are willing to add capacity, how quickly will they be able to ramp-up for full production and delivery?
Ask about their relationships with their material sources. Do they buy enough from the type of supplier your product will require so that they have buying power and a dependable source? Do they have long-standing relationships with a complementary network, with possible contingencies and options in place should the supply chain get interrupted or compromised for any reason? Ask about their lean manufacturing initiatives. Is there an active program and is everyone trained and committed? You would want your product to be run as efficiently as possible to avoid costly mistakes and delays.
5. Workforce Training
At the core of any operation is the workforce. Find out what percentage is permanent versus contract help. It&#;s important to know how well-trained and supervised are they are ask. It&#;s increasingly common for companies to use a higher percentage of contract help, which can lead to a poorly trained workforce with high turnover, unless they are working in a very controlled and supervised environment. It&#;s too easy for expensive mistakes to be made under those conditions, with serious consequences to both your product and tooling. Costly events such as equipment crashes could result in interruptions to your product supply.
Last but not least, a tour of the facility will be insightful. Is the space well-organized and clean? Does the equipment look clean and well-maintained? Does there appear to be adequate room for your product? Visualize, if you can, your product being processed through their plant. Does it appear there is a good workflow and an overall good fit for your requirements?
Although these questions may sound like a full-blown audit, some clear and structured questions during an interview with a prospective metal stamping supplier should yield some evidence and general indications fairly easily. ISO or IATF standards require these kinds of records, but any well-run company should be tracking their performance against objectives they set for themselves and have the information readily available for you.
The best vetting process still will not guarantee you won&#;t have any start-up issues or minor delays now and again, as things can happen beyond anyone&#;s control. But it will certainly provide some assurance that you&#;ve placed your product in capable hands that have a system in place to logically, nimbly, and scalably flex to your production needs with consistency while maintaining top quality.
AQP
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We discussed advanced quality planning (AQP) in a recent blog. The intention of a AQP is to establish a system, from the very beginning of the manufacturing relationship, that ensures that customer requirements are met (and exceeded) throughout the tenure of the customer/manufacturer partnership for any given tool or metal stamping part. AQP provides a framework of communication among all stakeholders within the manufacturing company, and the process rolls out in five phases. There are some distinct benefits to highlight when following AQP.
Advanced Quality Planning Benefits
The benefits are always two-fold both to the customer and the manufacturer. They include:
Larson has has been practicing AQP for many years, which allows us to be a nimble and flexible precision metal stamping supplier&#;and we can do so in a scalable manner. We apply those characteristics to all projects, passing those advantages on to our customers.
To help you vet your precision metal stamping suppliers, we&#;ve compiled this interview checklist that will guide you through the information-gathering process. Download this checklist that guides you through the information-gathering process when vetting a precision metal stamping supplier.
A metal stamping provider is a manufacturer of metal components. The process involves transforming flat sheets of metal into specific shapes using stamping presses and tooling. These components are used in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, and appliance manufacturing. Metal stamping providers offer services such as design assistance, prototyping, and high-volume production runs. They work with various metals, including steel, aluminum, and copper, and provide precision metal components that meet the exact specifications of their customers. If you need metal stamping for your company, consider these tips.
Choosing an expert metal stamper with experience is vital due to the intricate nature of metal stamping processes and the critical role of metal components in various industries. An experienced metal stamper brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, allowing them to understand the nuances of different metals, tooling techniques, and production challenges. With years of experience, a metal stamper can offer valuable insights, troubleshoot potential issues, and provide innovative solutions to meet specific design and manufacturing requirements. Additionally, their familiarity with industry standards and best practices can contribute to the overall quality, precision, and consistency of the stamped metal parts. Ultimately, partnering with an expert metal stamper with a proven track record of experience can instill confidence in the reliability, durability, and performance of the metal components supplied, ensuring the success of various applications and end products.
When selecting a metal stamper, it is imperative to prioritize a certified provider with a robust quality control program. The expertise and experience that a certified metal stamper brings to the table are instrumental in understanding the intricacies of different metals, tooling techniques, and production challenges. A comprehensive quality control program ensures that the stamped metal parts adhere to the highest standards, offering reliability, durability, and performance. By partnering with a certified metal stamper, one can benefit from their in-depth knowledge of industry standards and best practices, contributing to the overall quality, precision, and consistency of the metal components supplied. Such stringent quality control measures instill confidence in the manufacturing process and final products, ultimately ensuring the success of various applications and end products. With a certified metal stamper, one can expect stringent quality control and adherence to industry-specific certifications, guaranteeing the delivery of high-quality, reliable metal components that meet specific design and manufacturing requirements.
Considering a metal stamp provider&#;s customization capabilities is crucial. Customization ensures that the stamped metal parts align perfectly with the specific design and manufacturing requirements of a project. Providers should be able to tailor their processes to meet unique specifications, which may vary from one industry to another or even from one project to the next. This flexibility allows for the creation of metal components that precisely fit the intended application, leading to enhanced performance and overall product quality. By partnering with a metal stamp provider that offers robust customization capabilities, manufacturers can have confidence that their unique needs will be met, leading to the successful realization of their design concepts and the production of high-quality end products.
A reputable provider with robust customization capabilities can significantly enhance the development process by offering thorough prototyping and testing services. By aligning with a provider that excels in these areas, manufacturers can ensure that their unique design concepts are rigorously tested and refined to meet the highest standards of performance and quality. This emphasis on prototyping and testing not only mitigates potential risks but also paves the way for the successful realization of design concepts and the production of exceptional end products. Therefore, it&#;s essential to prioritize a provider&#;s proficiency in prototyping and testing as a key criterion when seeking a collaborative partnership. This approach sets the stage for streamlined development, reduced risks, and ultimately, the delivery of high-quality products to the market, reflecting the provider&#;s commitment to precision and innovation. &#;
When choosing a metal stamping provider, it&#;s crucial to inquire about the company&#;s production capability and lead times. A reliable provider should have the capacity to meet your production needs and adhere to reasonable lead times for manufacturing and delivering orders. Asking for details on their production volume, equipment capacity, and typical lead times can provide valuable insights into their operational efficiency and ability to fulfill your requirements. By prioritizing a metal stamping provider with a strong production capability and reasonable lead times, you can ensure a smoother and more reliable supply chain, ultimately contributing to the overall success of your manufacturing processes.
The importance of good communication and customer service cannot be overstated. A reliable provider should have the ability to meet production needs and adhere to reasonable lead times for manufacturing and delivering orders. Clear and effective communication is essential in establishing and maintaining a successful partnership with a metal stamping provider. It allows for the sharing of production schedules, lead times, and any specific requirements, thus enabling effective planning and inventory management. Furthermore, good customer service fosters a collaborative and transparent relationship, ensuring that any issues or concerns can be addressed promptly and efficiently. By prioritizing a provider that values communication and customer service, you can establish a more reliable supply chain, ultimately contributing to the overall success of your manufacturing processes. An open line of communication and responsive customer service set the stage for a positive and productive partnership with a metal stamping provider, ensuring that your production demands are met with precision and efficiency.
Choosing the right metal stamping manufacturer is crucial to the success of your project. By prioritizing a provider that values clear communication and responsive customer service, companies can ensure that their production needs are met with precision and efficiency. Establishing a reliable partnership with a metal stamping provider who adheres to reasonable lead times and effectively manages inventory can contribute significantly to the overall success of the project. These considerations are key in ensuring that the chosen metal stamping provider meets the specific needs and requirements of the project, ultimately leading to successful outcomes and satisfied stakeholders.
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