Full-service roll forming companies should give you expert advice, help you design quality parts, and find ways to keep your costs low.
For example, your roll former should involve its engineers at the very onset of your component design. This ensures your parts come out in the most efficient and economical way.
This is just a taste of the full-service experience you deserve and should expect from metal roll forming companies.
When working with a single-source roll former or a dual-source roll former, you can expect the benefits of collaborative engineering, like:
Choosing a full-service metal roll forming company, whether single-source or dual-source, comes with the advantage of collaborative engineering. These companies offer:
A quality roll former should understand your business’s unique requirements and anticipate how external factors might impact the unit cost of your part. These factors include:
Need a better metal forming process for your components? See what Dahlstrom Roll Form can do for you:
Don’t settle for a supplier-OEM relationship that’s simply a trade of money for roll-formed parts. A roll former's multilevel service package should include:
Your manufacturer should use a "pit crew"-style setup team to minimize machine downtime. This allows you to order small cycles when necessary while keeping fabrication costs low.
The benefits of roll forming are minimized if your supplier isn't actively helping you achieve cost savings.
A reliable roll former will maintain transparency with raw material costs and closely monitor steel and other material markets. By proactively advising you on material pricing trends and passing savings along, your supplier can ensure cost-effective procurement.
Does your roll former back up its claims?
Your partner should make sure your roll-formed shapes arrive on time and meet your quality expectations. For reference, Dahlstrom consistently achieves an on-time delivery rate of 99.5% and a field quality defect of fewer than 4,000 parts per million (PPM).
Your manufacturer should employ point-of-use feedback to develop the ideal Kanban consumption profile for your company. A seasonally adjusted, simple Kanban system results in immediate component availability while inventory turns remain high.
Any good supplier meets with customers regularly to discuss:
This keeps all parties on the same page and ahead of the curve should issues develop within the supply chain.
The supplier may even “go in” with you on tooling. Cost amortization allows you to keep full ownership of tooling and avoid hidden fees. Depending on the awesomeness of your partner, you may get:
You should strongly consider sticking with roll formers that offer economic order-quantity runs. These manufacturers will hold your inventory and distribute it to you as needed. Economic runs maximize volume and reduce setup time, without leaving you high and dry.
You can also approach your roll forming supplier about discounting small orders in exchange for a longer contract. The result may be a win for both sides.
The roll forming process is complicated, but definitely worth it … with the right partner.
When it comes to supplying original equipment components, Dahlstrom is the leading roll forming service in the world, with nearly 120 years of experience.
Our quality system metrics equal those of world-class companies 10x larger than us. We work with you to develop a full-service package that guarantees we understand your consumption profile as well as you do.
If you have interest in a roll forming supply system that has the capacity and agility to meet the dynamic needs of your fast-paced industry, contact us below.
Are you concerned with keeping your budget in line? Read our guide to see how you can keep your roll-forming costs low.
(Editor's note: This article was originally published in January 2016 and was recently updated.)