Moving a factory is complicated. Keeping customers supplied makes it harder.
An American manufacturer of fluid power products was relocating its production facility from the northeastern United States to the South.
The move created significant operational challenges.
The company’s supply chain team had to manage the transition while continuing to meet customer requirements.
One particular problem involved machined iron castings.
The manufacturer needed a supplier capable of producing these metal components quickly while maintaining strict dimensional tolerances.
Its internal team had struggled to find a suitable solution.
Finding the right manufacturing partner
The customer turned to ITI Manufacturing for help sourcing the castings.
ITI identified an overseas factory capable of meeting the customer’s production and quality requirements.
The project required several steps to happen quickly and in the right order:
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Obtain and review manufacturing quotations.
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Establish the necessary tooling.
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Produce samples for customer approval.
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Verify the required dimensional tolerances.
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Begin production.
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Maintain regular communication throughout the process.
ITI coordinated these activities while the customer continued managing its domestic factory relocation.
The result: Production underway before disruption occurred
ITI had the castings quoted and in production before the factory move caused disruptions to the customer’s orders.
Throughout the process, the customer received progress updates that supported its own planning and delivery commitments.
The project demonstrated the value of working with a manufacturing partner that can identify qualified overseas production resources and manage the steps between quotation and production.
U.S. companies can source custom machined iron castings from domestic or international foundries and machining suppliers. Supplier selection should consider material specifications, casting capabilities, machining requirements, dimensional tolerances, quality assurance, production capacity, and logistics. ITI Manufacturing helps companies source and manage custom metal components through its international factory network.
See: Metal Components Manufacturers
A useful quotation package typically includes engineering drawings, material specifications, dimensional tolerances, estimated order quantities, finishing requirements, quality expectations, and delivery needs. More complete requirements help suppliers evaluate manufacturability and prepare accurate quotations.
To start the project with ITI Manufacturing, see: Request a Quote
Begin supplier evaluation before existing production capacity becomes unavailable. Review manufacturing capabilities, establish tooling requirements, obtain approval samples, and verify critical specifications before authorizing production. ITI Manufacturing coordinated these steps for a fluid power manufacturer during a facility relocation.
Need a Reliable Supplier for Custom Metal Components?
ITI Manufacturing helps U.S. businesses source and manage custom castings, machined components, and other metal products through qualified international factories.
