Lloyd Sevack, President, P. Eng.
Montreal, Quebec
A few years ago, we did a “Secret Shopper” exercise with some CNC fabricators.
And what I discovered utterly shocked me. In fact, I was deeply troubled by it. Why?
Because as the owner of a metal fabrication and stamping company, we can do so much better. We owe this to every client no matter how big or small. But I also know that it’d be an incredible disservice to all clients if I said nothing and kept quiet about this dirty little secret I experienced first hand.
The gist of it: Out of 8 CNC fabricators we contacted, not one spotted any drawing errors. There were 9 errors in total. Simply put, they would’ve been happy to process my order without any follow up or concerns raised about the soundness of my drawings or it’s manufacturability!
What I did
We supplied CAD models to X metal fabricators with X drawing errors; conflicting information with a few impossibly tight tolerances.
Though we received quotes from most, not a single one communicated anything to us about these errors. No comments. No questions. No red flags!
I shudder to think what these parts would have looked like; my expectations completely misaligned with the fabricator’s!
Why I did it
Because we received feedback from some prospects that we take longer than most to quote. I wanted to understand why. And now it’s clear to me through this simple exercise.
In short: we take more time to flush out all potential problems, errors, and even cost drivers at the outset. We aim to solve problems before they occur! We don’t just blindly accept orders without fully investigating every option and cost-saving solution for our OEM clients.
We’ve always operated this way: with a Design for Manufacturability (DFM) focus. It’s part of our DNA.
Lessons learnt
So, what I thought was normal is quite “abnormal” in our industry.
At Tripar, we may quote a little slower than your average CNC fab shop but that’s because we care. We take pride in your designs and take full ownership to ensure that your products can actually be manufactured.
We do both metal stamping and metal fabrication, allowing us to offer whichever process best suits your parts and volumes or sometimes a combination of the two. In fact, we’re among the very few suppliers who offer both capabilities. That’s a massive benefit to you, the OEM.
We coined the term “hybrid manufacturing.” This is when a part may begin with stamping (with hard tooling using one or more dies), but have some features completed by CNC fabrication (with little to no tooling) or vise versa. This forces us to slow down and analyze what is the best way to build your OEM products at the lowest possible cost!
Sure, we’d like your order but not if it’s going to cost you more than it should!
So, if you think “quoting speed” is the only thing that matters, you may be in for a big surprise.
What it means for you?
Benjamin Franklin coined it best; “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” The impact of unmatched expectations can be massive and costly to your business. It’s best explained in the following blog.
Who’s left holding the bag?
So, you may think your supplier is holding the bag, but they are not (at least not initially.)
Think about the impact of parts that you thought were a bargain, now out of spec and unusable, holding up delivery for your expensive products, and now burned customers or ex-customers who are waiting for a re-order that might take weeks if not months! Try getting them back after this. Cheaper isn’t always better.
My advice to you
Scrutinize what you ask for as well as supplier quotes.
If only one supplier questions your designs but everyone else remains quiet, this should be a red flag. Why aren’t others saying anything? What is it going to cost you if problems are not addressed during the quoting process and you only catch them later? Does your company have a clause to protect yourself? All important questions.
Be demanding about finding a true partner. One that looks out for your best interests and adds value to your business. They are worth gold to your business and bottom line. And they will save you on more than just one occasion. That’s a true friend and partner.
Your friend,
Lloyd
