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A new sheet metal part drawing comes across your desk. Which do you choose- metal stamping in a punch press or fabricating by starting in a laser or turret and finishing the forming in a brake press? Often the sales staff of a contract manufacturer is asked to guide the customer. Customers are looking for the best value for metal parts and there are a few factors that go into making that decision.  

It can be true in any industry, the more complex the component, the more expensive the price. We find this to be the case in metal forming parts including stamping and sheet metal fabrication. Often a part is designed with unnecessary dimensions and tolerance.

Often the packing and packaging of a product is overlooked, adding unforeseen costs. This could potentially turn a good project sour for both the supplier and the customer. It is important to ask a lot of questions particularly at the beginning of a project.

The impact on steel, stainless, copper and aluminum material cost increases are affecting companies throughout the supply chain. Shortages are consistent across all forms: coil, bar, rod, tube and sheet. This month, material suppliers are implementing price increases as well as surcharges.

Here at R&M, we’ll be the first to tell you we’re not the lowest cost metal fabricator, and we don’t want to be. We do our best to keep prices low for our customers, and in order for us to deliver high-quality components, we have to invest in ways that bring value to our customers.

If you’ve tried buying materials out on the spot market, you know how much of a gamble it can be. Whether you’re seeking a minimal poundage of a special material that your typical vendors don’t have, or you’re still searching for trusted vendors to work with, purchasing from the spot market can leave you with materials that are damaged, under spec, or just plain unusable.

Where you source your raw materials from is extremely important. Here’s why.

The vendors you work with have an impact on your business. Whether that impact is positive or negative depends on a few factors, including each vendor’s dedication to quality. And, like any relationship, things can start going south before you start to realize it. Here are five metal manufacturing vendor red flags to watch out for.

Just over a month ago, I was down in Atlanta, Georgia at FABTECH 2018. And I, along with tens of thousands of individuals tied to the manufacturing industry, attended this year’s FABTECH conference for any number of reasons: to learn, teach, exhibit, network, advertise, or otherwise participate in shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.

Overall, I attended to represent R&M Manufacturing and to freshen my perspective on the manufacturing industry outlook going into 2019. But before we dive in too deep, let’s start with a few of the basics.

Do you have experience with progressive die stamping? Due to recent growth, we have some available metal fabrication jobs in Buffalo, MN. One position we’re looking to fill is for a Progressive Punch Press Setup Operator. This position is available for both first and second shift. You can view the full position details here:

There are no two ways about it; quality assurance is critical to any metal manufacturer. And while every component fabricator will have quality assurance processes in place, how strictly they adhere to those policies has a big impact on how well they meet the needs of their customers. Here’s a look at quality assurance and having zero defects as your goal.