1. Define the work before you define the supplier
Write down the process, material, tolerance drivers, quantity, expected repeat volume and delivery requirement. If you cannot fill in a field, mark it open rather than guessing — an honest unknown gets better answers than a wrong assumption.
2. Match capability, not category
"CNC machining" describes hundreds of very different shops. Filter on the specifics: envelope, tolerance, material, volume band and quality system. This single step eliminates most mismatched quotes.
3. Qualify before you quote
A ten-minute call about volume fit, current backlog and similar past work saves weeks. Shops appreciate it too — nobody enjoys quoting work they cannot win.
- Do you regularly run work like this?
- What is your current lead time?
- What volume band fits your shop best?
- Who would I be working with day to day?
4. Send identical packages
Every shop should receive the same drawings, quantities and requirements. Differences in quote should reflect differences in the shop, not differences in the information.
5. Compare total cost, not unit price
Include tooling, freight, minimum order quantities, payment terms, inspection cost and the realistic cost of a late delivery. The cheapest unit price frequently is not the cheapest program.