Are you looking for a high-capacity manufacturing partner? Those are everywhere, even in the niche world of roll-formed parts. But how many of those possess the agility and communicativeness of a small business?
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While it's certainly niche, roll forming is still like any other metal manufacturing process. A little collaborative engineering and a lot of lean manufacturing practices equal mutual success.
Even the most talented metal fabricators may struggle to churn out a winning part if you make the production process hard for them.
Conversely, there are steps you can take to ensure your vendor is using the best roll forming process for the job.
As a specifying engineer or purchasing agent, you need to find the perfect material to suit your specific job needs, but still want to keep your budget in line. One advantage of roll forming is that it’s the most economical process for shaping certain materials -- especially in parts with complex[...]
You’re a busy manufacturer that can’t afford to wait for materials to come back from the roll former. You’re also keeping a close eye on your budget.
You need a metal forming process that will produce a quality product at the right price, meet your inventory needs, and ensure your product is delivered on time.
Customers don't ask for much. All they want is the right product at the right price, delivered on time and free from defects. That doesn't seem unreasonable, but many manufacturers struggle to hit all four points simultaneously. Hitting all four on a consistent basis is harder still.
When you think about supply chain risk mitigation, what are the first things that come to mind? For us, the usual suspects are:
- Controlled costs
- On-time delivery
- Freight capacity utilization (proximity and load efficiency)
- Quality control
- Correctly designed packaging
Maintaining an inventory of what a client needs for production is a delicate and complicated balance. As inventory ages, it can depreciate to a level that no longer adds value for the producer. This is especially true in metal forming processes.
The idea behind a supply agreement
-- whether with a roll forming company or another manufacturer -- is pretty simple. The supplier provides everything a customer needs for a particular service, and the customer can count on a specified price and single-source service.
