3 Things to Look for When Choosing Supplying Manufacturers

Manufacturing suppliers are critical for companies selling physical products, but finding a reliable manufacturer can be tough. For the past 15 straight months, suppliers have been struggling to keep up with orders, with the Supplier Deliveries Index dropping another 1.6 points between June and July. This reflects problems with labor retention and recruitment issues as well as stability problems, ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee says. This trend reflects widespread supply chain problems, with over eight out of 10 companies reporting suppliers being unable to meet requirements, according to the ASQ 2017 Manufacturing Outlook Survey.

With reliable suppliers in short supply, choosing the right supplying manufacturer can make the difference between business success and failure. Here are three things to look for to make sure you select the right supplier for your needs.

Compare Costs to Pick the Right Price

While price isn’t the only consideration when picking a manufacturing supplier, keeping costs low is obviously an important consideration when choosing a manufacturer. The best way to find an affordable supplier is to shop around and get quotes from multiple suppliers. Online directories such as MFG.com can help you locate suppliers and request quotes in order to compare manufacturers. You can also use your local library to access premium resources, and you can ask for recommendations and referrals from peers in your industry or other business resources.

When comparing prices, find out if suppliers you’re considering have minimum quantity requirements and if they offer bulk discounts. Also make sure that you consider the total cost involved, not just the price of the product. Factor in fees such as shipping and support. In some cases, a local supplier with a higher price point may be a better buy than a remote supplier with a lower price after shipping is factored in.

Research Supplier Reliability

After cost, reliability is one of the most important qualities to seek in a manufacturing supplier. One indicator of a reliable supplier is a track record handling your industry and the type of product you need. A trustworthy supplier will be financially stable, with a strong base of satisfied customers testifying to their reliability. You should also look for a supplier who has enough production and shipping capability to keep up with your delivery needs, both in terms of your current volume and in terms of your projected future volume should you scale up.

To research prospective suppliers’ financial stability, you can check their financial reports, accessible through resources such as Salesforce’s Data.com service. To verify their ability to meet your shipment scheduling needs, you can read reviews from their customers, talk to companies who’ve used them, and request information about their production capability, shipping policies and guarantees.

Compare Manufacturer Quality

Quality is another top priority when selecting manufacturing suppliers. To maintain quality, a supplier should have in place a quality control system that meets your industry’s regulatory standards and registration mandates. A suitable supplier should also have quality customer service, demonstrated by a willingness to provide technical support to assist you in optimizing your product design for cost-efficient production.

The best way to verify a supplier’s quality is to test it. A best practice is ordering a sample before making a bulk purchase. For example, o-ring and seal manufacturer Apple Rubber provides an online free sample request form for its clients. You can also verify a supplier’s quality control standards by visiting for on-site inspection, asking for a documented survey or requesting to see official certification of quality system registration.