What is the supplier’s casting products list?.Do you see your company doing business with them? Can you build a relationship with them?.What are their values and do they align with yours?.
Is the company stable with a strong history and future?.What value-added services do you need? Does the supplier offer them?.Do they regularly deal with the alloys required?.Does the supplier have the proper testing capabilities?.Does the supplier currently have the certifications you require?.What is REALLY important to you? Is it quality? Price? Customer service? Something else? How do supplier strengths compare with your needs?.Can the supplier fulfill several of your product requirements to limit the number of needed vendors?.Does the supplier have experience in your products and/or markets?.If, by the end of the tour, you have doubts about operations, capability or culture, they are probably not the right supplier for you. What better way to determine if someone is the right casting supplier than to see their operations firsthand with a plant tour? Most manufacturers are more than happy to have you as a guest in an effort to gain your business. Do you have a need to raise the expertise of the overall metal in your company through training or information sharing? What do you need from your casting supplier? Are you looking for someone to just deliver a metal component to your doorstep or do you need more? For example, if you do not have in-house metallurgy expertise, confirm that the supplier can provide guidance in selecting the proper alloy based on your specific application. Choosing The Right Supplier Value Added Services Problem or no, integrated machining simplifies the supply chain and reduces handling time and shipping cost before the product makes it to the customer. The foundry “owns it” and there is less time needed for processing, shipping, and handling or replacing. Is it a casting issue or a machining issue? If the casting supplier discovers an issue during machining, the problem is resolved faster with no dispute over whose fault it is. If a third party is machining, it may result in “finger-pointing” about who is at fault. This can avoid conflict if defects are discovered during machining. Machining Capabilitiesīuyers increasingly select casting suppliers who have machining capabilities. If your application does not require any testing, a casting supplier specializing in high compliance work with in-house capabilities may not be the right fit either. Be diligent.ĭo you require non-destructive testing (NDT), mechanical testing, or chemical testing? While all metal casting suppliers can outsource any needed testing, some have all those capabilities in-house which can potentially save time and money. Most casting suppliers will list their certifications on their website, and companies are searchable by certification. Granted, a supplier could go through the process to obtain the required certifications but more than likely, time does not allow for that. Which are your “Must haves”? Lowest price? Meet the spec? Quick response? Easy to do business with? Certifications and Testingĭoes your application require that the casting supplier have proper certifications such as ASME, Nadcap, or PED? If so, confirm that your potential supplier has the proper certs. If the lowest price possible is most important, for example, the supplier will likely not be world class in quality and service. Take an internal audit on what really is important to you, noting that most companies may be acceptable in all areas but can probably only truly excel in one. When selecting the right casting supplier, careful consideration should be given to quality, service, and price. When combined with other integrated capabilities, this can help simplify and compress the supply base. If working with a single source for all of your casting needs is important to you, the supplier needs to be diverse in its capabilities. If your components have a range of designs, applications, and sizes, it is likely that the best casting process is not the same for every part. But what if using the sand casting process is best for you and your needs? Instead, look for a supplier that offers a range of casting processes so the best option for YOU is selected. For example, a company that only uses the investment casting process will try to sell you on why that process is best for your application. Companies try to sell you what they have to offer and some casting suppliers only offer one type of casting process.
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