Regardless of what your invention or product is, it can probably be manufactured more cheaply by a foreign company than by a domestic company. This can represent a huge difference in expenditures, particularly if your business is just starting out. As you search for machined plastic components, you should keep a few guidelines in mind.
Unhappy Customers
One unhappy customer, as a general rule, will tell fourteen others, and in this age he might even post about it in a forum, where the news will spread to even more people. Therefore, it is important for you to get in touch with professional trade organizations and obtain all the information you can – good as well as bad – about the manufacture you’re investigating. These sources can also help you identify potential manufacturers to work with if you don’t already have one in mind. The companies that are recommended in this way will often be more expensive than others, but it is worth it if you know you’re working with someone who can be trusted.
You should also be ready to pay an upfront fee in exchange for a prototype of the machined plastic components – you must keep in mind that the manufacturer is also taking a risk by entering into this relationship with you. They may also have to significantly alter their factory setups just to produce that first working model of your products – therefore, you should not be surprised if they ask for an upfront fee or down payment.
Buying in Bulk
Manufacturers for machined plastic components will often require that you buy in bulk – perhaps 5,000 or 25,000 units at a time. This too makes sense, as factories will often have to be retooled to produce the product, and it makes good business sense for the manufacturer to produce larger quantities. If buying in bulk is a concern for you, you should search for manufactures that are willing to deal in smaller quantities. While shipping to the US generally isn’t an issue, getting the shipments past customs can be another matter entirely. You should realize that your manufacture can’t send the machined plastic components to you overnight – the process may take several weeks, and you may also have to build up a rapport with your local customs office. Everything will likely come through in the end, but you must be prepared to deal with hassles (and a fair amount of waiting) along the way. If you keep these guidelines in mind while setting up the process of manufacturing overseas, you should be adequately prepared to deal with the delays and headaches should they arise. If you do things right, it will be well worth the effort.
