Six Questions to Ask When Choosing a CNC Machining Partner

The pandemic was quite challenging for many people, with companies reducing the number of employees coming into the office. With the new rules, one of the major requirements was to get as many people to work remotely, which they did to reduce the spread of the virus. However, that meant that they had to make sure there were aspects of the work they could handle remotely.

For companies handling their work in person, they were subject to changing rules, lockdowns and curfews and had to keep shutting shop and opening up again. One of the best parts about the work that we were doing was that most companies were looking for automated systems that would allow them to have fewer people on the floor and more automated machines so they would meet the targets they had in mind. We had a lot of work coming in, and were trying to meet those requirements ourselves. However, some clients were unsure of what they were looking for, so we thought we would document some of the steps to make the process easier.

When it comes to looking for a CNC Machining Partner, make sure you ask the following questions to know that you have all the information about the company you are planning on working with.

1. What are your capabilities and size?
This question may be the most obvious but remains the most important. It is essential to ensure the CNC machine shop can appropriately cater to the requirements of your project. Likewise, the size of the shop is an important consideration as it tells whether the shop has the capacity to meet your current and future machining needs.

At Affinity Manufacturing, we have facilities spanning over 30,000+ sq. ft with over 25 work centers that provide us with the capacity to handle everything from miniature components to large mechanical parts and assemblies.

2. What kind of services do you provide?
Like their capabilities, it is equally important to know the range of services a CNC machine shop provides to ensure it aligns with your needs. Whether you need design consultation, help with prototyping, or fabrication, make sure the shop can provide the services you need.

Affinity Manufacturing offers a wide range of services catered to our customer’s needs that allows us to provide a one-stop-shop turnkey solution to all your manufacturing needs. Kanban Management, Prototype Development, Design Consultation, Fabrication, Production Runs- Affinity Manufacturing can do it all.

3. What kind of industries do you serve?
This question is a good indicator of the company’s ability and willingness to take on unfamiliar projects. CNC machine shops have experience in multiple industries, which is typically indicative of their ability to run everything from complex parts with long cycle times to simpler parts in high volumes.

Affinity Manufacturing has experience in an extensive range of industries. We are trusted by professionals in the following industries: aerospace, agriculture, clean tech, electronics, marine, medical, oil and gas, optics and photonics, R&D, and robotics and automation.

4. What is your area of expertise?
It’s relevant to partner with a shop whose expertise aligns with your manufacturing needs. With over two decades of servicing the industry, Affinity Manufacturing has expertise in CNC Milling, CNC Turning, Surface Grinding, CMM COC Reports & more.

5. What certifications does your company have?
For machine shops handling complex jobs and problems, one of the most important certifications is the ISO 9001:2015 certification. It is the world’s most recognized Quality Management System standard. It essentially provides a framework for businesses to ensure consistent quality in their goods and services and a good indication of a business’s ability to meet the needs of their customers.

Here at Affinity Manufacturing, we are ISO 9001:2015 certified and are proud to boast about our organizational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

6. What is your standard lead time?
Lead times will vary from project to project depending on a wide range of conditions; however, getting an idea for a company’s standard lead time is a good indication of their capacity and ability to get you your parts quickly. Additionally, it’s important to consider the risks of using offshore vendors when prioritizing lead times as domestic or near-shore suppliers will significantly reduce wait times.

Affinity Manufacturing has the infrastructure, talent, and processes to respond quickly to customer orders and ramp up production when it matters most allowing us to provide our clients with aggressive lead times.

If you are looking for a CNC Machine Shop in Vancouver, BC, connect with Affinity Manufacturing Ltd. We understand our clients’ requirements and create systems that would help them get through the process. We always work to create the most efficient system to help clients better their assembly line or move faster through their work. We focus on customer satisfaction, we have been an integral part of their supply chain for over two decades. If you want a better understanding of our services, please click here. If you are looking to connect with us or think we can assist with a requirement, please click here.