Choosing the most appropriate manufacturing firm is always a critical factor for any fastener manufacturing companies that depends on quality fastener hardware. However, there are some potential issues with this decision-making process and this is everything from lack of research prior to this stage to the lack of well-defined requirements before the process begins. If the following potential mistakes are steered clear from, it will prove beneficial when searching for and dealing with fastener suppliers. Below are five mistakes that one should avoid when selecting a fastener manufacturing company to work with.
- Lack of adequate investigation
It is necessary to shortlist suppliers by conducting research to develop a list of vendors that are
likely to provide the best products and services. Collect information about the type of industry they have worked with, the range of products they design and manufacture or the fasteners they provide, quality standards they meet, their production capabilities and their size of business. This provides direction on what field they specialize in and capacity to meet your needs as required.
For instance, while some manufacturers may produce fasteners by the thousands, others may manufacture fasteners in low, medium or high quantities. Determine whether they are capable of contributing what you require. The other areas to look at are product portfolio, their duration of operation, and background. Successfully strategizing and implementing a particular business plan requires years of experience and specialized domain knowledge. The consequence of not doing it is that one may end up with the wrong manufacturers and this may lead to the production of inferior goods.
- Not visiting their production facility.
Many companies decide or evaluate the fastener suppliers by only regarding their formal information such as website or even just the brochure, or by telephone/e-mail communication. Nonetheless, it is advisable to arrange at least one tour of the manufacturing facility to the manufacturers before making a final decision. The practical look at their premises gives a clear understanding of their equipment, technology, quality control measures, and equipment among others The on-site meeting also allows you to speak with the technical staff to evaluate their knowledge. This helps to confirm all the statements made by the supplier and removes all the questions.
For instance, depreciated machines or lack of testing facilities should trigger a quality alarm even if glamour pushes the product. When choosing a real estate agent, do not neglect site visits as a crucial step. Visiting the facility can help to determine the strength or the weakness of their quality assurance plans in action. It also demonstrates how much they value the customer relations by exhibiting the level of transparency on their production capacity.
- Failure to have full technical discussions.
It is recommended that the proponents engage in exhaustive technical discussions with the short-listed companies before arriving at the final decision. The above discussions assist in creating a correct perception of one another hence creating the right foundation for a successful future relationship. By the time you get an opportunity to interview them, you can judge if they are technically competent enough to grasp the specifications and work as expected. In the same process, they can ask for elaboration to give feasibility feedback also. It is essential in detailed discussions to avoid such surprises and communicate designs after the start of production.
Areas to negotiate include required accuracy, type of material, acceptable tolerances, finish and surface, together with heat treatment, electroplating, passivation and other similar processes In case of a product, one should share samples to ensure the supplier appreciates the aesthetic requirements. Ensure that production volumes and when the schedules will be needed before placing an order. Explain the ways of monitoring the quality during the manufacturing process and if there would be frequency of sending the inspection reports. It is essential to decide on quality processes and specifications throughout the technical discussion in the finalization stage of the project. And failing to do it might lead to unnecessary time loss and problems with the quality of the final product.
- Payment terms are usually undefined
Reasons and specification of payment act as part of the legal relation between the buyers and the fastener manufacturing companies. However, they are most of the time excluded or described in generic terms at the early stages of the project culminating in accounting problems. To avoid this, both parties should negotiate and agree on payment terms even prior to making the initial conversation and include the payment terms in the purchase order.
These Financial payment terms, schedule and conditions if explained in written form right at the start of the contract eliminate all the possibilities of confusion. Both parties also honour their obligations in compliance with the provisions of the agreement, and there is a principle of accountability. This makes it possible to concentrate more on the quality deliveries offered rather than the balance of the money.
- Insufficient contract
Last but not the least, be very careful to ensure you have the right fastener manufacturing contract in place before engaging your supplier. For example, if your current communication consists of informal conversations via mail or over the phone, it is advisable to draw up a comprehensive contract. This serves to protect both the buyer and the seller companies. Key elements the contracts must cover are:Key elements the contracts must cover are:
Technical sheet of specifications – Outlines the size, graphic images, material types, need for coating, acceptable deviation, and other requirements.This increases the level of formality in the relationship between the customer and the supplier which in turn increases the level of satisfaction that they are both likely to get out of the relationship since there is likely to be fewer misunderstandings on the expectations of the two entities. In a way this helps to run the business relationship effectively and enhance supply chain management that concentrates on customers needs.
Conclusion
Selecting the top fastener suppliers is key in determining the performance of the supply chain. As shown above, with the exclusion of the 5 major mistakes discussed above, firms can be able to engage in a systematic data backed manner when selecting suppliers. Carry out extensive research, go for physical inspections, conduct comprehensive technical discussions, set down clear terms of payment and come up with a suitable agreement. By this way, following these best practices into consideration while assessing the fastener companies helps avoiding headache during the whole process of future order fulfilments. When manufacturers are strong and comprehend the needs, and produce high quality on time then business can set its bar higher.
