Turning sheet metal into various shapes and designs is defined as metal stamping, making it a booming industry in today&#;s era. Many companies use stamped parts to build their innovative products, whether it be in automotive, consumer electronics, medical equipment, or other sector.
For more information, please visit our website.
When you require the services of a metal stamping manufacturer, an understanding of their capabilities, track record, and other critical factors must be known beforehand, in order to meet your company&#;s aims. There are many things to be aware of, so this article will examine
With the right partner, avoiding costly mistakes and unwanted product results can be accomplished. Finding the right partner means searching for a reputable metal stamping firm and though there are hurdles to overcome, professionals always consider the following when choosing a metal stamping manufacturer.
Metal stamping manufacturers provide additional essential services, such as assembly and treatment. While most can stamp steel and aluminum, knowing the full range of metals and materials they can process is crucial. After all, you may need a variety of metals and/or plastics for your project. Your product design will dictate size and thickness requirements as well, so keep these factors top-of-mind.
Manufacturers have distinct abilities and rarely are any two alike. Team with a company that shares your vision. Carefully evaluate their systems and processes regarding the materials, thickness limitations, and production services they provide to ensure they can meet your needs.
A company&#;s reputation is best determined by examining its record of successfully completed projects, and by listening to previous clients&#; word-of-mouth assessments of past performance. Also, determine if the services offered align with your standards of manufacturing stamped parts. This has a significant impact in avoiding intractable problems in the long run.
Aside from standards, make sure that they have experience and knowledge of your product. For example, if you are from the electronics industry, look for a provider specializing in these parts and components because it will be easy for you to discuss your needs and it ensures that you are in the right hands.
Location preferences may vary widely, based upon on your available time, how hands-on you are, and your desire for convenience. For example, if you foresee frequent visits to monitor the manufacture of your stamped metal parts, you will go to a metal stamping manufacturer that is near to you. Alternatively, you may prefer an international partner, requiring you to source outside your country.
Many companies prefer a location in the city&#;s center where internal and external customers are nearby. This option allows you to save up money and generate more income. It&#;s essential to choose the most convenient, cost-effective location that can meet your needs.
Being knowledgeable about your partner&#;s capabilities, credentials, and understanding the ramifications of their location are the three most important things to know before engaging a metal stamping manufacturer. Having a grasp of these three things will give you cost efficiency, intrinsic advantages, and a great outcome. That is why these three factors are fundamental to your initial planning.
Without a metal stamping machine, the production won&#;t run. Metal stamping machines or stamping presses are a metalwork tool used in cutting, shaping, and forming metal with a die. They may also be used in forging and die cutting various materials. Hence, a press is a fundamental for any metal stamping manufacturer.
There are various types of machines for stamping metal, such as mechanical presses and hydraulic presses. Below are a few things to consider before buying a machine.
Metal stamping is used extensively to produce large parts and components with great precision, accuracy, and speed. Demand is high for many applications and products used in the aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries.
To create a stamped metal part, the use of a press or stamping machine is needed. There are two types of precision stamping machines.
Overall, using precision metal stamping presses will lower production costs, reduce the need for secondary processes, and produce components with high tolerances, which are the primary requirements of most industries. Bottom line&#;know which type of machine best meets your needs.
When purchasing a machine press, a manufacturer needs to consider its ease of operation, its sustainability for future use, and its level of accuracy. Fortunately, most stamping machines have advanced, computer-controlled features that can improve efficiency and production speed.
In addition, a sustainable mechanical or hydraulic press helps the environment, using less energy and reducing material waste.
Indeed, before buying any machine tool, you need to understand its operation, setup, and the advantages it will give your company and your workers. Choosing a suitable stamping machine is not just advantageous, it is an investment.
Worldwide, various industries are joining the growing metal stamping industry because of its undeniable usefulness. When buying stamped metal products, there are many features to consider. One must be keen on material specifications, where and how it will be used, and that it serves its primary purpose.
Choosing the right metal stamping material for your product is always key. Metals have unique characteristics, such as corrosion resistance, flexibility, malleability, and tensile strength, which are vital in the stamping process. These are some of the various metal types and their uses.
The use of certain metals depends on the application, desired finished product, and design concept. It would be best to talk with your manufacturer about these things to determine the thickness and strength needed for your project.
We all know how important quality is for stamped metal parts, but let&#;s not make the mistake of equating expensive materials or products with high quality. Quality parts and components are produced when created with the suitable material and given the proper treatment.
Both expensive and cheap materials are available in the market. Make sure to always have a quote from two to three qualified suppliers or manufacturers and compare the pros and cons of each product. Here at Gold Precision, we ensure quality and cost-efficient metal products and services for your stamping needs.
When you apply the seven key factors before buying a service, a machine tool, or materials for your project, you can enjoy the peace of mind investing with a reputable and professional partner provides and, at the same time, get the best for your project&#;s needs.
greatlionparts are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.
Building a metal stamping company is no walk-in-the-park, nor is choosing a metal stamping manufacturer as your partner. There will be ups and downs and trial and error. Regardless, always make sure that you are with the right provider. For your metal stamping needs, visit us at https://www.micpressed.com/, and we will do our best to deliver what&#;s best for you!
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
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.