You get what you pay for in manufacturing. Unfortunately, many buyers learn this lesson the hard way—something we’ve seen firsthand at our AS9100 machine shop. 

There has been a recent trend of buyers returning to Focused on Machining for parts we lost bids on months ago due to our “high” prices. The buyers selected cheaper shops but paid the ultimate price: poor quality, lost time, and costly rework. One is now six months behind schedule and under the gun to complete a critical project. 

We’re happy to work with these buyers now to get them the parts they need. But imagine the time, money, and stress they could have saved by having us machine their parts in the first place. 

The Importance of Vetting Suppliers

One potential reason for this trend is that buyers and suppliers aren’t arranging shop visits with the frequency they once did pre-COVID. 

When visiting a precision machine shop, buyers have the opportunity to observe the shop’s systems, equipment, people, and processes. They get a good sense of what the shop can offer them, and the shop can instill confidence that they’ll get the job done right and on time. 

Today, many initial conversations occur over the phone instead of in person, and buyers have less insight into what’s happening behind the scenes at a shop. Still, the right supplier should be not only willing but also happy to answer key questions to instill confidence in their work: 

• Does the shop have a robust ERP system? 

• Does the shop have a fully detailed scheduling module they can show you? (Trust us, not all scheduling modules are created equal.) 

• How does the shop arrive at their costs (i.e., what are their labor, quality, and overhead rates?) 

• What is the shop’s on-time delivery rate? 

The Focused on Machining difference 

In the case of our AS9100 machine shop, there is a lot going on behind the scenes as we quote jobs and prepare to make promises to customers in high-risk industries like aerospace, defense, and medical. These industries require (and deserve) the very best—and that’s what we deliver.

We develop fast, accurate quotes using Paperless Parts quoting software. 

We look at our ERP system, scheduling module, and machines to assess open capacity and plan jobs. 

We track material orders and calculate how long it will take for a part to undergo all necessary operations. 

We follow strict processes with proven track records for success. 

We’d be more than happy to walk you through our processes and give you a tour of our shop—either in person or virtually. Just let us know if that’s something you’re interested in!

Higher Costs = Higher Value 

It’s true that our prices are often 15-20% higher than other suppliers—there’s no use denying it. But just as low prices come with hidden costs, higher prices promise hidden value. When you work with Focused on Machining, you’ll see that value in the form of the following: 

• On time delivery of your project

• High quality, and a guarantee to correct any mistakes should they take place

• AS9100 certification 

• Advanced software and processes, that enable us to achieve parts on time and at a high quality 

Simply put, we have what it takes to get your parts done right the first time. 

Tip: consider the total product cost

When you think holistically about your project and consider the total product cost instead of focusing too much on the price per piece, you’ll find that, in many cases, a higher price per piece yields a lower total product cost. Some of our customers learned that lesson the hard way, but you don’t have to.

The next time you need critical parts for a high-risk application, partner with an experienced AS9100 machine shop that will deliver the most value for your money. Request a quote from Focused on Machining.