How to Select a Manufacturer
Selecting a manufacturer is a huge step when developing your business and getting your product on the market. Selecting the right partner not only affects the quality of your product, but also your bottom line.
Step One: Identify Your Parameters
What type of product are we making? i.e. is it a medical device, textile, robot, etc.
What type of materials are we using to manufacture our product?
What is our annual, quarterly and forecast of volume production?
What region does our product need to be manufactured in? Should you look for a domestic or international partner?
Do you have any specific quality requirements? Medical devices need to be produced by an ISO 13485 certified manufacturer.
Step Two: Identify Potential Manufacturers
The second step is to identify manufacturers that meet all the above requirements. The Internet is great search tool along with using your personal network for referrals.
Once you have narrowed your list, reach out to see if the manufacturer first has open capacity. If they do it is highly recommended to take a tour of their facilities, meet the people who would be your key contacts and establish a relationship.
Step Three: Request a Quote
Once all of the quotes are received you should not only evaluate cost, but quality of service and lead time proposals. When comparing quotes, it's important to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Make sure you the quotes are for the same quantities and quality of materials.
Sometimes the lowest cost is not always the best. With low cost often times comes poor quality, longer production times and added costs to rework rejected products.
A&D takes pride every product we produce ensuring the highest industry quality standards! Are you currently looking for a manufacturer? Contact us today to find out how we can meet your needs!
