When Should You Involve Your Contract Manufacturing Partner in a Project? (Hint: ASAP)

Manufacturing is a business that’s all about the details, and as a contract manufacturer partner, the more we know and the sooner we know, the better the end result for all involved.

But how early should you start discussing your needs with your manufacturing partner?

The answer to that is — it depends. But with a bit of information as to the why behind lead times, you’ll quickly realize the benefits of getting your manufacturing partner involved earlier rather than later and when it’s essential that you do so.

At Nu-Way Industries, we have over 50 years of experience in sheet metal fabrication. We know what it takes to manufacture high-quality products for our customers and deliver on time every time. Whether you’re looking for a sheet metal fabrication partner for a new product or need volume production of your existing parts, Nu-Way Industries can provide you with the quality contract manufacturing services you need. 

Mitigating the Risks of the Unknown

Aside from open capacity and industry-wide supply chain disruptions, lead times are principally driven by the risk of the unknown; in other words, what challenges we might encounter during manufacturing. While that may sound a bit nebulous, it’s really quite simple and based on two key things: familiarity and complexity.

Familiarity: New Parts vs. Reorders

When we say familiarity, what we mean is whether we’ve manufactured a specific part or product for you before. When manufacturing something for the first time, there’s often a degree of uncertainty involved in what it takes to get the job done correctly — and sometimes, this can take a bit of extra work, as well as a bit more time.

Orders for New Parts & Products

As a rule of thumb, when you come to us with a new part or assembly for us to produce, we generally require 6 – 8 weeks of lead time to get your order on our production schedule and guarantee the best results. Additionally, the better your documentation and the more detailed your specifications, the easier it will be for us to understand your needs.

To further reduce the risk of any issues that may impact quality or lead time, if you come to us just a little earlier — even a week or two — we’ll be able to more thoroughly discuss your designs with you, perform any required manufacturability engineering, and get all the necessary approvals to ensure that everything arrives to you on schedule.

Repeat Orders for Parts & Products

As a contract manufacturing partner, things become more efficient the more we work together, and orders of parts and products we’ve manufactured before are naturally more streamlined. Since we’re already familiar with your part designs and specifications, so long as we don’t need to account for any design modifications, all we have to do is fit your order into our production schedule. 

It’s that simple.

While lead times can vary depending on our open capacity, we’ll always provide you with clear communication so you’ll know when exactly your parts will be completed, shipped, and delivered.

Complexity: Simple Parts vs. Complex Parts

Whether a part is simple or complex can depend on various factors, but in sheet metal fabrication, it largely depends on your part or product’s design, application, and the features it needs to have.

Simple Parts & Products

Simple parts are just that: simple. As such, they have fewer variables to consider in terms of manufacturability. This makes them inherently low-risk, with few potential unknowns, and we can manufacture these types of parts quickly, accurately, and efficiently.

Complex Parts & Assemblies

Complex parts are typically more challenging, and there’s a higher risk of encountering unknowns during manufacturing. These might include manufacturability issues that require redesign, sourcing hard-to-find purchased items in the BOM, or any other issues that could arise due to the nuances of your part or product.

But regardless of what’s driving complexity, these types of parts require more study, planning, and care in execution to mitigate the risks of the unknown. This is a multidisciplinary effort that requires frequent, meaningful, and accurate communication within our team and also between your team and ours. With regular open communication and detailed specifications, we can ensure that when it comes to manufacturing your complex parts and products, nothing is left to chance. 

It’s Never Too Early to Get Your Contract Manufacturing Partner Involved

While identifying all potential issues that may arise during manufacturing is nearly impossible, working with an experienced contract manufacturing partner can reduce the risk. At Nu-Way, we have an impressive range of in-house capabilities spanning all facets of precision metal fabrication and sheet metal finishing. By having all of this in-house, we can quickly and efficiently address any issues that may arise, ensuring a smooth manufacturing process from start to finish.

With decades of experience providing sheet metal fabrication services, we’ve worked with customers to manufacture parts and products of all complexities and volumes, and have delivered exceptional results every time. If you’re seeking a contract manufacturing partner that can provide you with a streamlined service for your manufacturing needs, reach out to our team and request a quote today.