Selected work
Described without identification of customers, in accordance with our supply terms. Two concern parts we declined.
A part we sent elsewhere
A hydraulics component requiring a ground bore finish beyond what we hold from machining. We declined, described the type of shop required, and have quoted everything else that customer has sent since.
A lead time three weeks longer
An equipment builder comparing five quotes. Ours was the slowest and the only one delivered on the date given.
An inspection report that showed a near-miss
Production parts within tolerance but consistently close to the upper limit. Reported to the customer, who adjusted the drawing before it became a problem.
Scrap we absorbed
A setup error producing a batch out of tolerance. Remade at our cost without a discussion about responsibility.
A quote we would not give
A prototype in an unfamiliar superalloy. We explained that a first attempt would be expensive learning for both parties and did not quote.
A low-volume job priced honestly
A short run where setup dominated cost. We quoted what it actually cost rather than at a production rate on the assumption of follow-on orders.
How we commit to a date
A lead time is a promise about a shop floor that already has work on it. Most missed dates are not manufacturing failures; they are scheduling optimism at the quoting stage.
We quote from the actual schedule. The date accounts for jobs already committed, planned maintenance, and the setup time your part requires on the machine it needs. It is frequently longer than other quotes on the table.
Subcontracted operations are included. Plating, coating, and heat treatment have their own queues, and a lead time omitting them is missing one to three weeks depending on the process.
We tell you early when a date is at risk. A week’s notice that a delivery will slip is useful. Notice on the despatch date is not, and a shop that hides slippage until the last moment is protecting itself rather than you.
We will decline rather than over-commit. Where your required date cannot be supported, saying so at quotation is better for both parties than accepting the order and managing the disappointment afterwards.
What buyers ask before placing work
Why did you decline our part?
Because it sits outside what we hold reliably. The decline comes with an explanation of what the part needs and the kind of shop that has it.
Why is your lead time longer?
Because it is quoted against the work already on our floor rather than an empty schedule.
What tolerances do you publish?
Those we hold across a full production run, not the best figure achievable on a single part.
What happens if you make it wrong?
We remake it at our cost, without a conversation about responsibility.
Do you supply inspection reports?
As standard, including measurements close to the limit rather than only the passing ones.
Can you hold stock for call-off?
Yes, on repeat production where the pattern is agreed in advance. Holding stock against an unconfirmed forecast is a risk we will discuss rather than absorb quietly.
What if our drawing is incomplete?
We ask rather than assume. It makes our quote slower and considerably more likely to be the price you pay.