Find a Manufacturer

Find a Manufacturer

Finding a manufacturer is not a difficult thing to do... However, finding the right manufacturer can be very costly and frustrating, if you are not sure what to look for.Here are some tips to keep in mind when looking for a new manufacturer, and when looking to grow, or even replace an existing manufacturer.

Source Local

While many companies are following their competitors and taking manufacturing overseas, others are staying quiet about the benefits and competitive advantages gained in sourcing local.

Manufacturing overseas can seem very appealing, however, many companies have found that shorter lead times, greater customer support, ease of communication are giving them the ability to be competitive in a time when customer service is considered outstanding if when a real human being simply answers the phone.

It is not uncommon for companies to feel pressure to manufacture overseas, only to go through the entire process of finding a manufacturer, begin production, experience years of difficulties, to be left sourcing local, only after having burned many valuable bridges.

Start Small

It is a well known fact in manufacturing, "buy in bulk" it is how Wal-Mart has become the retail giant, it is how Target manages to sell Christmas toys for bare bones prices.It is the golden rule in manufacturing, and while this concept is always true, it should not stop you from placing a smaller test order with a new manufacturer.

It is far more valuable to find a manufacturer that is properly outfitted for your needs by testing ,than it is to save money on an initial order, only to find out afterwards that they are not capable of producing your product on time, or to your specifications.Starting small can help to ensure you find the right partner.

The Grass Isn't Always Greener

A company I was involved with had a material supplier that nobody was fond of, they seemed to always deliver late, they were difficult to get a hold of, and were not particularly friendly.Knowing that many companies could offer a similar product with a lot less hassle, the purchaser quickly moved on to a bigger more established company, even for a lower price.It was not more than a single purchase later from the material supplying giant that they were crawling back to the previous supplier asking for forgiveness, and trying to place orders.This giant supplier turned out to have worse lead times, poorly made materials, which ended up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in warranty, topped with an even more difficult customer service department.

After trying the new supplier everyone was much more willing to work things out with the old supplier despite any apparent down falls.

Communication, Communication, Communication

I am not only referring to avoiding the language barrier and extreme cultural difference that exist when sourcing overseas, I am also referring to finding a manufacturer that is willing to discuss designs, ideas, projects, and of course problems, whenever you might need to.There are few situations more frustrating than being caught between a disgruntled customer and a non-responsive manufacturer.For those of you who have experienced this plight you would agree that a little communication can go a long way when your own reputation is on the line.

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