1、 Clear requirements in the early stage: avoid “rework+cost control”
Zero ambiguity in technical details
When submitting processing requirements, it is necessary to clearly indicate the material of the board, thickness tolerance, bending radius, and surface treatment requirements. If the requirement description is vague, the supplier may execute the low-cost plan, resulting in dimensional deviations and material discrepancies in the finished product, and the final rework cost far exceeds the initial processing cost.
Small batch cost accounting
The core pain point of small batch processing is “high cost per piece”, and it is necessary to confirm in advance whether the quotation includes mold cost sharing (such as customized fixtures, special fixtures) and minimum order quantity discounts (some suppliers have tiered quotations for orders of less than 50 pieces). Suggest requesting suppliers to split “material cost+processing cost+mold cost+management fee” to avoid hiding additional items after the total price is packaged.
2、 Supplier screening: Avoiding the “low price trap+delivery risk”
Matching qualifications and production capacity
Priority should be given to suppliers with ISO9001 quality management system certification and similar small-scale cases. Be wary of “ultra-low price quotations”, as these suppliers may use recycled boards and simplify processes, resulting in substandard finished product accuracy. We can verify our strength by requesting past customer cases and sample testing.
Leave a buffer in the delivery cycle
Although small batch orders have a short cycle, a 20% time buffer needs to be reserved. It is necessary to confirm the supplier’s production priority (whether to insert small batch orders into the gap of large orders), raw material inventory situation (to avoid delays caused by board shortages), and clarify the “delay compensation clause” in the contract.