Every metal fabricator hears the same question when discussing project details with a customer, “How quick can you turn this around?”
It’s not a surprise, fast turnaround time is one of the most important differentiators a company can offer. Along with high-quality work and excellent customer service, quick project completion is crucial because it keeps our clients reaching their goals.
Quick turnaround isn’t just on the metal fabricator. Faster lead times are a collaborative effort between the two participating parties, and customers can do their part to assure a project is done on time or even before a deadline.
These tips make the job of the metal fabricator less time consuming and can help customers get a faster quote or finished project.
Have a Drawing
The fastest way to slow down a fabrication project is to have only an idea, but no drawing.
Drawings and the eventual 3D modeling of a part are what will take it from conceptualization to being delivered to a customer.
A value-added benefit that some fabricators offer, including Alloy, is on site engineers who can help design a prototype for you. While this service can be extremely helpful and expert engineers can make the process easier, a project that requires in-house engineering is going to drive up the time it takes to finish on deliverables. It won’t just cost time either, as adding in-house design help is also going to have additional expenses.
Starting a new project with a drawing, or even better, a 3D model rendering from a program like SolidWorks will be beneficial. In the end, having something for your fabricator to work from when manufacturing your parts will be a significant saving in both time and cost.
Know Limitations
Every metal fabricating shop is unique and different machines, technologies and processes can cause hurdles for fast turnaround.
Even if a customer has a drawing or a 3D model, a project can still be slowed if they aren’t aware of both fabricator and part limitations.
A great example is a fabricator’s bend allowances. When designing a part from flat sheet metal, the inclusion of bends will require the correct bend allowances for proper fabrication. When curves are introduced to flat material, the outside material of the bend is usually stretched while the inside is crushed, changing the amount of alloy necessary to manufacturer a part correctly.
A customer might not be educated about the specific bend allowances a fab shop might be able to accommodate or the limitations within their own part. This can cause a slowdown because even if a project arrived that has previously been modeled, it might need to go back through engineering and development to correct limitation issues.
Simplicity
Simple parts are easier and faster to fabricate. This doesn’t mean parts that require a more complex design can’t have a quick turnaround, but in general the more straightforward the piece, the easier it will be to design and eventually produce.
Simplicity isn’t just about the part design, it can be applied to other aspects like requested material. Using common alloys and thicknesses will remove any potential design holdups or tolerance issues. Understanding the material, you need for your application is crucial because it will remove any engineering snags that may drag out the timeframe of a project.
Give us a call at 330-948-3535 or contact us today to learn more about our services and our ability to meet deadlines on fast turnaround projects.