Metal stamping is a low-cost manufacturing method, but it's not cheap. In today's competitive business environment, companies need to do what they can to save money. Here are 13 ways your company can cut costs when using Metal Stamping China manufacturing.
Scheduling and Planning
Last minute manufacturing costs can be high. While manufacturers may be able to speed up production, it usually comes at a cost. Plan your supply chain ahead of time to find the best partners. Rushing production can also mean there is no time to optimize the process, which can mean a higher defect rate.
Watch metal prices
Metal prices often fluctuate. These changes can be huge -- a ton of aluminum was around $1,960 at the beginning of 2021, and six months later, the price climbed to $2,320, an 18% increase! Raw material cost is an important cost of metal stamping, so the change of raw material price will directly affect the overall project pricing. Choosing to manufacture when prices are low can save you a lot of money.
Design stamping process to reduce scrap metal
Scrap metal is sheet metal that is not included in the final part. Scrap metal is not wasted because it can be recycled. Still, waste is less valuable than raw materials because it needs to be reprocessed. Any scrap metal represents a loss of money.
Innovative die design will reduce the amount of scrap metal. Good mold layout will maximize the use of sheet metal. Working with your engineering team to optimize your processes, you can dramatically reduce costs.
Make tolerances as wide as possible
Some engineers get a little too strict in their design specifications. Accuracy is always necessary to limit defective parts, but overly precise tolerances can increase the cost of your tools. Understand your parts and manufacturing process - what level of accuracy is actually required downstream? Relax your tolerances where possible and save your budget for important parts.
Design parts to reduce downstream costs
Your hardware stamping cost is not just your hardware stamping cost. Are there any finishing steps required once your parts are manufactured? Is there any way to reduce post-production costs by improving mold design? Can you change parts or processes to make final assembly easier? Or are you completing unnecessary declutter steps? Make sure you account for all expenses in your final cost analysis.
Optimize your stamping process
Optimal mold design is an impressive feat of engineering. Each part should be produced using the most efficient route to reduce processing costs. On the other hand, cutting corners in the manufacturing process increases the defect rate and risks damaging the chip. Finding the perfect mold will ensure that your parts are consistent without causing unnecessary downtime.
Good mold design is also related to speed of operation. Longer production cycles mean slower production times, which means higher personnel and equipment costs. Optimizing all of these variables is a complex task.
Choose cheap metals
Sometimes, the choice of metal is easy -- there is only one metal that can help you with your product, or you are following a customer's specifications. Other times, you can have some flexibility in the materials you use in your work. Ask the engineer if there is a lower cost material for you.
Choose a metal of lower thickness
Thinner sheet metal is usually cheaper than thicker sheet metal. The reason is obvious - thinner thickness means less metal is used. If you can use metal to high specifications, you can reduce your material costs substantially. Thin metal is also easier to punch, bend, or cut, which means you can reduce operating costs and raw material costs.
Use the right type of mold
Both continuous modeling and engineering modeling have advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost. For small batch production, it is usually cheaper to use an engineered die because the price of the build die itself will be lower than the continuous die. Alternatively, if you need a large number of parts, a continuous die is usually best (if available).
For more information about continuous death and engineering death, please read our overview.
Order the correct number of parts
Both over manufacturing and under manufacturing can be significant costs. Overmanufacturing means producing too many parts. Because many parts are manufactured specifically for specific applications, selling excess parts can be challenging. Alternatively, organizing a second part order can be expensive, especially if the order needs to be filled quickly.
Depending on your industry, deciding how many parts to order can be challenging. Work with your manufacturing and sales teams to develop realistic forecasts.
Select plants close to downstream manufacturing
Shipping can be very expensive, especially when moving large amounts of metal. Suppose your parts are a small part of a larger supply chain. In this case, it is effective to keep your manufacturing plants close together to reduce shipping costs. Hosting will also simplify logistics, as you will be dealing with fewer shipping companies or regulators.
Outsource your hardware stamping
Dongguan Changan has been the world's manufacturing metal mold town for many years. There is a good reason for this! Located in the heart of China's technology and manufacturing hub, DongguAO provides large-scale support for product improvement and cost reduction across your product line. Low cost does not mean low quality - manufacturers are experienced at producing parts to your exact specifications while keeping expenses low.
Use experienced metal stamping company
Your manufacturing process is only as good as the engineers, manufacturers, and mechanics you work with. An experienced team can tell you which cost reduction approaches work and which lead to problems.
Experienced teams will also deliver on their promises. Poorly managed plants that produce late or their parts will have a higher defect rate. These problems can be costly in the long run, especially if you need to order another batch of products.