Core Evaluation Criteria for Selecting A Stamping Parts Factory

Core Evaluation Criteria for Selecting a Stamping Parts Factory

6 Key Dimensions (Priority Ranking)

1. Technical Strength: Determines Product Precision and Customization Capabilities (Primary Assessment) The core competitiveness of stamping parts stems from technology. It's crucial to verify the factory's "hard power" and "soft power":

Equipment Configuration:

Basic Equipment: Does the factory possess high-precision punch presses (pneumatic/hydraulic/CNC punch presses, recommended tonnage range of 10-300T to meet different sheet thickness requirements), CNC bending machines, laser cutting machines (for pre-stamping blanking), and mold processing equipment (CNC milling machines, grinding machines, EDM wire cutting)? The brand and precision parameters of the equipment (punch press repeatability ≤ ±0.01mm, bending angle accuracy ≤ ±0.5°) directly affect product tolerances.

Automation Level: Does the factory have robotic arms, automatic feeders, and multi-station punch presses (reducing human error and improving batch production stability)? Especially for large-volume orders, automated equipment can reduce the defect rate (PPM value).

Mold Development and Maintenance Capabilities: Molds are the "soul" of stamped parts. Does the factory possess independent mold design (proficient in 3D software such as SolidWorks and UG), manufacturing, trial molding, and repair capabilities? Customized orders require rapid mold development response. Mold development cycles in mature factories are typically ≤7-15 days (except for complex molds), and they can provide a mold life commitment (generally ≥500,000 stamping cycles).

Mold Library Management: Does the factory have standardized mold storage and maintenance procedures (such as rust prevention treatment and regular inspections) to prevent product precision degradation due to mold wear?

Process Technology Reserves: Can the factory handle complex processes such as progressive die stamping, multi-stage composite stamping (integrated blanking, bending, stretching, and flanging), and precision micro-stamping (hole diameter ≤1mm, plate thickness ≤0.1mm)? Can the factory provide process solutions or samples for similar products?

Material Compatibility: Is the factory familiar with the stamping characteristics of different metal materials (cold-rolled steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, copper, etc.)? Can the factory recommend suitable materials based on product requirements and solve common problems such as material springback and cracking?

2. Quality Control: Ensuring Product Consistency and Reliability The quality of stamped parts directly impacts the safety of end products (such as automotive components and electronic equipment). Therefore, it's necessary to examine the factory's "full-process quality control system":

Quality Management System Certification: Whether the factory has passed authoritative certifications such as ISO9001 (basic quality system), IATF16949 (automotive industry-specific certification, if applicable to the automotive field), and ISO13485 (medical field). Certification certificates must be valid and verifiable through official websites.

Testing Equipment and Processes:

Standard Testing Equipment: Whether the factory is equipped with projectors, 2D/3D measuring instruments (for dimensional accuracy), hardness testers (for material hardness), salt spray testing machines (for rust resistance), tensile testing machines (for material strength), etc., to avoid errors caused by "purely manual visual inspection."

Quality Control Process: Does the factory implement "First Article Inspection (First Article Three Inspections: Self-Inspection, Mutual Inspection, Specialized Inspection) → Patrol Inspection (Sampling Inspection Every 100-500 Pieces) → Final Inspection (Full Inspection of Finished Products/Sampling Inspection)"? Can it provide a complete inspection report (including dimensional data and defect analysis)?

Defect Rate Control: The factory is required to provide PPM values (defect rate per million pieces) for past orders. High-quality factories typically have a PPM value ≤100 for precision stamping parts (i.e., defect rate ≤0.01%) and can provide traceability and improvement solutions for defective products (e.g., 8D reports).

3. Production Capacity: Matching Order Scale and Delivery Cycle

It is necessary to ensure that the factory's capacity and delivery time match your own needs to avoid "insufficient capacity leading to delayed delivery" or "overcapacity leading to excessive costs":

Capacity Scale:

Monthly Capacity: Based on your own order volume (e.g., 100,000 pieces vs. 1 million pieces per month), examine the factory's number of equipment, number of production lines, and shift arrangements (whether it supports 24-hour production). Flexible Production Capacity: Can the factory handle both large-volume orders and small-batch customized orders (such as sample orders and trial production orders)? Is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for small-batch orders reasonable (high-quality factories can support MOQ below 100 pieces)?

Delivery Cycle:

Regular Orders: Inquire about standard delivery times (e.g., 7-15 days). Can the factory meet urgent orders (e.g., 3-5 day expedited processing)?

Supply Chain Stability: Does the factory have stable raw material suppliers (such as well-known steel mills like Baosteel and Ansteel)? Can the factory cope with risks such as raw material price increases and shortages, and avoid delivery delays due to raw material issues?

Production Management: Does the factory use production management systems such as ERP and MES to achieve order progress visualization (e.g., real-time production status and delivery time tracking)? Standardized production management can reduce the risk of "wrong orders" and "missing orders."

4. Service Level: Ensuring Smooth Cooperation and Efficient Problem Solving

In customized stamping parts cooperation, communication efficiency and response speed are crucial. It's essential to assess the factory's "customer-oriented capabilities":

Technical Communication: Can the factory quickly understand the customer's 2D/3D drawings (e.g., CAD, STEP formats) and proactively offer suggestions for drawing optimization (e.g., process feasibility, cost optimization, tolerance adjustment), rather than simply "producing according to the drawings"?

Sample Service: Can the factory provide free or low-cost samples (sample fees are generally deductible from bulk orders)? Is the sample delivery cycle ≤3-7 days? Can the factory quickly transition to mass production after sample confirmation?

After-Sales Response: In case of quality issues or delivery delays, can the factory provide solutions within 24 hours? Does the factory support returns, exchanges, and replenishments? In long-term cooperation, can the factory provide regular follow-ups and product optimization suggestions?

Customization Capabilities: Can the factory meet special requirements, such as surface treatment (electroplation, spraying, passivation), packaging requirements (moisture-proof, scratch-proof, customized labels), and special tolerances (e.g., ±0.005mm high precision requirements)? 5. Cost Reasonableness: Value for Money, Not Just Lowest Price

The quotations from reputable stamping parts factories are usually "reasonable but not the lowest." Excessively low prices may conceal quality risks (such as shoddy workmanship or inferior molds). A comprehensive evaluation of "value for money" is necessary:

Quote Composition: Request a detailed quotation from the factory, clearly specifying raw material specifications, processing fees, mold fees (if mold making is required), surface treatment fees, packaging fees, and transportation fees, to avoid hidden charges later.

Mold Costs: Is the mold making fee reasonable (depending on mold complexity, simple molds cost several thousand yuan, complex progressive molds cost tens to hundreds of thousands of yuan)? Can mold ownership be negotiated (e.g., after the customer pays for mold making, the mold belongs to the customer)?

Long-Term Cooperation Advantages: Does the factory support bulk purchase discounts and long-term price lock-in? Can the factory share cost optimization opportunities with customers (e.g., reducing processing fees through process improvements)?

6. Compliance and Reputation: Avoiding Cooperation Risks

Qualifications and Compliance: The business license must include "stamping processing" in its scope of business. If export orders are involved, the factory must have import and export rights and be able to provide the necessary customs declaration documents (such as certificates of origin and material certificates). Environmental Compliance: While stamping processes generate relatively little pollution, when surface treatments (such as electroplating) are involved, it's essential to verify that the factory possesses environmental certifications (such as a wastewater discharge permit) to avoid production shutdowns due to environmental issues, which could impact order delivery.

Industry Reputation: Use online platforms (such as Qichacha and Tianyancha) to check for administrative penalties or legal disputes related to the factory. Consult with peers or upstream/downstream companies for feedback, prioritizing factories with over 3 years of experience in the industry and no negative reputation.