Choosing your Manufacturing Partner

Top Things to Look for When Choosing a Manufacturing Partner
Whether you are a Fortune 50, a mid size business, an entrepreneur or successfully scaling your business to the next level, choosing a manufacturing partner to develop a prototype or line of products can be a stressful decision. Handing over such a major part of your critical project over to a new partner can be hard for you, especially if you’ve been unilaterally in control of the process for years. Not to mention, keeping the cost of production in budget and on the critical path timeline is vital to your bottom line and overall success. 

While it's normal to be apprehensive at this stage, if you do some research and choose the right company as your manufacturer, you can feel confident that your product will turn out as you designed, and envisioned. There are honest, hardworking manufacturers who have the experience and skill to help guide you though the process of making your product. If you’re selecting a manufacturing partner for the first time, here are some tips to keep in mind as you navigate the process. 

Choose an Experienced Manufacturer 
Even if you’re manufacturing simple components that fit into a straightforward design, it’s important for the manufacturer to know what they are doing and how to do it. A manufacturer with experience can advise you on the differences between molding types, whether your product needs to be custom molded, and how long it will take to machine and produce everything. Manufacturers who have not done much production can end up with various issues in the final product they send on to you. Many new entrepreneurs end up wasting time and money due to production errors that make them unable to fill their first set of orders. 

Ask the Right Questions 
Many manufacturers will claim they can do everything you need in order to get your business. Ask more precise questions to get a better idea of how well the company knows their stuff and what to expect as you proceed. Some of the questions you may want to ask include: 

• What is the fastest you have turned a custom machined tool, and the finished product around for a client? 
• What methods of molding do you offer?
Have you used overmolding in the past to create more durable products? 
• What hours does your production line operate? Does production stop each day? A dedicated experienced manufacturer, like Rubber Industries, operate around the clock to offer fast production. Others keep normal business hours, limiting the amount of products they can make each day. 

Select a Partner with Domestic Offices 
Working with a manufacturing partner located overseas can make many experienced purchasing managers anxious. If you would prefer to work with a company that you can visit easily, but also want to get your production costs as low as possible, selecting a partner with domestic and international offices is a perfect solution.

At Rubber Industries, we give clients the best of both worlds. Our Minnesota based office is here to work with American customers during business hours and create products for those who prefer to manufacture in the United States. 

If you are looking for a new manufacturing partner, Rubber Industries can help guide you through the process from conception and design to receiving the finished product, whether it's one prototype part, or millions of parts annually.  Our 50 years of successfully serving our customers is our demonstrable guarantee of being your "go-to partner" with your project.