If you don’t plan ahead, do the necessary research and comparisons, metal finishing costs can end up being much higher than anticipated. In order to reduce your metal finishing costs, here are six recommendations we think you should consider.

Reduce Metal Finishing Costs

1. Consulting with your metal finishing supplier can result in substantial cost reduction of finishing services. Your metal finishing supplier can make recommendations based on the parts you need finished, their complexity, the length of the run and what type of metal finishing is both functional and cost effective. Utilize the wealth of knowledge and experience of your metal finishing supplier.
2. Many times small changes in the manufacturing process can reduce time and labor of finishing. When consulting with your supplier, they can make small suggestions that could help reduce metal finishing costs in terms of time and labor.
3. Using the proper manufacturing material for your desired finish. By using the proper manufacturing material in the beginning of the process, you cut out time that may be needed to redo the project. Choosing the wrong manufacturing material could result in bigger losses for the company.
4. Quality guidelines that are clear, easily understood and measurable are critical to controlling cost and allowing the finisher to understand your exact needs. Ensuring that the finisher has all of the necessary information helps guarantee the quality you’re looking for and can reduce metal finishing costs in the long run.
5. When the manufacturer and the finisher work together as a team with a common goal, quality, turnaround time, cost and customer satisfaction improve. Communication between both the manufacturer and the finisher is the key to the entire process.
6. When engineering a new product the desired finish should be taken into consideration during the design phase. This is especially important when it comes to reducing metal finishing costs. Consult with your metal finisher for more information about metal finish advantages and limitations at the beginning of the design process. Going into a new design with the finish in mind will save you headaches down the line.

When it comes to reducing metal finishing costs, it’s essential for manufacturers to consult with the finisher in advance of production. In order to find the best finishes for your specific project and reduce costs, contact your metal finishing supplier for their recommendations and expertise.

Contact Bend Plating for more information about reducing metal finishing costs.