The relationship between a metal casting supplier and the manufacturer is essential. Whether your company is improving on the design of an old product or beginning in metal manufacturing, searching for the right foundry is a process that calls for some scrutiny.
Here are common mistakes to avoid when hiring a new casting supplier.
Lowest Bid
An inexpensive supplier can be enticing to your bottom line. But choosing a foundry based on the lowest bid could cause serious problems, such as winding up with a defective product. Be sure to research the supplier’s reputation. Some considerations to keep in mind include:
- What are past and current customers’ relationships with the supplier like?
- Will the supplier release and discuss complaints they’ve had?
- Is their customer service attentive to you as a prospective client?
Biggest Supplier
One of the easiest mistakes to avoid when hiring a new casting supplier is understanding that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Name recognition might give you a false sense of competence. Even though larger foundries can provide each client face time, they may not necessarily do so. You might end up feeling more like a number and less of a client.
Hiring Locally
Searching for a foundry in your community can be a great way to support your city, but it could limit your options. A supplier that offers a better fit or materials might be somewhere outside your town. Even though hiring locally will provide faster shipping and in-person inspections, the convenience will mean nothing if the quality of your product is lacking.
Finishing
To lower costs, ordering your pieces raw or unfinished (without drilling, boring, facing, or tapping) could be an option to look for with a metal casting supplier. But raw finishes require that you secure outsourced CNC machining. This leaves you with the responsibility of juggling the logistics of multiple suppliers. So, be sure to find a foundry with consolidated machining and finishing.
Simplify your search for heavy steel casting manufacturers, and contact Cast Steel Products today!