Metal stamping, also known as pressing, is a method where coils or blanks are turned into the desired shape, size, and design. The coils are achieved from flat sheet metal. The required shape is obtained when the sheet metal is placed in the stamping press. Here, a tool and die level the metal sheet and give the metal a shape required by the metal stamping suppliers.
Metal stamping is a very popular arena, and it is used at large when identical precision parts are required. Several industries use it for meeting the requirements of high volume production. Metal stamping is very useful, and metal stamping suppliers are always on the lookout for giving their customers the best services.
7 Tips to Find the Best Metal Stamping Supplier
As a buyer, always be on the lookout for the top three things — quality, delivery and price. These are the very fundamental things that you want assurance on as a buyer. But how can you be sure that the metal stamping suppliers will meet all their commitments over time? This is why you have to approach this deliberately, and it must be well planned from beforehand.
Here are seven things that you have to add to your checklist before choosing any metal stamping supplier.
Also, Read: Top 6 Software Systems To Increase Workplace Efficiency
Proper Quality Standard Certifications
Quality is a crucial factor. It can change the entire game. If the metal stamping suppliers are well certified, you can put off your worry about the quality factor for the time being. The probable supplier will give out quality products if it is certified to a proper standard.
The standard can be anything like ISO (International Organization for Standardization) or IATF (International Automotive Task Force), or any other military or medical, or other quality standards. All these established standards show that the supplier has a certain investment in their organisation. They have performed the task required to obtain and maintain the registration to the quality standards.
Reinvestment Concerns
Whenever you talk with a supplier, make sure that you talk about reinvesting in their business. Ask if they are up-to-date with their procedures and also if they are willing to expand their capacities and capabilities. Learn if they are willing to increase capacity for greater production requirements.
Value-added Connections
Get some knowledge about your supplier’s connections with their material sources. Are their sources dependable for your products? Check if they have proper buying power along with a stable network and lasting relationships. All these steps will help you make careful progress so that you don’t make any costly mistakes.
Clear and Realistic Objectives
Check well that your prospective supplier has a set of clear and realistic objectives. The objectives should be measurable and understandable. It is best to have a good talk with the company’s management, giving you some clear and honest answers about their objectives and how they are measured there. Also, know about their plans for improving on their objectives. Whatever trend you look at, if the report shows progress, the supplier can be trusted.
Physical Check
Ask for a tour of their facility. It will help you to understand your supplier better. Observe if the place is clean and well-maintained. Does the place assure you that it has the capacity of taking up the order? Do they have the proper room for storing all the manufactured items safely? Do you think that the place can meet all your production requirements? Analyse all these yourself, physically. You will get the idea if the suppliers are capable of taking up your job.
Manpower Training
At the roots of any business, labour is the main component. Get to know the ratio of permanent labour to contractual help. Have some insights about the training and supervision available there. Having a greater number of contract labourers can reduce the quality of products as they tend to be careless and less organised, leading to severe consequences. So, it is crucial to have proper knowledge about your supplier.
AQP
Learn about the company’s AQP (Advanced Quality Planning) from the very beginning; this will ensure that your requirements will be met timely, with no failures, during the whole tenure of the partnership. You will get a complete model that will enhance your communication and relationship with your supplier.
The above list will surely help you to evaluate the metal stamping suppliers to a great extent. Selecting the right supplier for your forthcoming job is undoubtedly a daunting task. Use these tips and partner with the top metal stamping supplier.
