Quality matters. Each of us defines quality and our expectations of the delivery of that quality differently. The entrepreneurs and new product engineers that work with Profile Precision appreciate the fact that tooling costs are very low, prototype aluminum extrusion samples are included with the purchase of an extrusion die, and small production runs are encouraged. Production and material managers define quality as shipping orders on time and the aluminum extrusions they buy have much less dimensional variation than industry standards allow.
Shipping on Time is a Measure of Quality
Today aluminum extrusion customers are faced with extremely long lead times. 20-week lead times for domestically produced extruded aluminum tubing and shapes are not uncommon. Long lead times for extruded shapes and tubing means it’s even more important that orders are shipped on time, and in tolerance. Ask your existing or potential aluminum extrusion vendor what percentage of their production ships on time. If they can’t answer, or if the answer is less than 80% of the time, you should challenge them to do better. The best mills in the industry understand shipping on time is a measure of quality.
Product Innovation is a Measure of Quality
Does your current aluminum extrusion vendor support new product development? Do they have low tooling costs? Do they include samples with the purchase of a new tool? Do they supply a first article inspection report at no charge? Do they ship samples for approval ahead of running production orders? If your new design is outside the manufacturing limits of their equipment, do they suggest other mills that might be able to produce the design? The best mills in the industry understand new product development support is a measure of quality.
Quality Means Being Precise
Higher precision equals less variation. For the machinist, less variation in the raw material means less money spent on set ups. It also means higher productivity when machining a production order. For the assembler, less variation means spending less time putting parts together. For the end user, less variation means the device runs longer and is less prone to breakdown. The best mills in the industry understand that minimizing variation is a measure of quality. Being precise matters so much, it’s in our name!
We all want to get our money’s worth when we make a purchase. It doesn’t matter if the purchase is a pack of gum, a gravel bike, or a new pick-up truck. We want the value we experience to be worth more than the amount we pay for the item. Does your extruded aluminum tubing and shapes vendor ship on time and support your new product development? What about offering dimensional tolerance variation much lower than the industry average? Have some of the shortest lead times in the industry as of September 2021? If not, contact Profile Precision Extrusions. You can find lower prices, but you can’t afford lower quality. Contact us today!
