Manufacturing | How To's | By Duff-Norton | 02 Jan 2020
Choosing a supplier is about more than just finding one that has the right motion technology products for your application; it’s about finding one that you can trust and build a lasting relationship with.
Here are five questions you should ask before you settle on a supplier.
While this might sound obvious, this is the best question to ask yourself at the beginning of your search because it will help you eliminate a number of suppliers who don’t make the cut. Not only do you need to know if they stock the right type of product, but also do they have the right variety to meet the requirements of your application?
If you’re not certain what specific product you need, reach out to a couple of the suppliers and see whether they can advise you. As well as getting the information you need, this will be a good test of the supplier’s expertise and knowledge.
It might be that a supplier doesn’t stock the product you’re after. Or, it might be that your product isn’t a standard fit and therefore no supplier will stock it. If this is the case, you’ll need to find a company that can design and build the exact product you need for your application.
If the answers to the first two questions are ‘yes’ then it’s time to factor in the logistics. Will the supplier be able to deliver the product to your location within a workable time frame? If this information isn’t readily available on their website, get in touch with them to find out.
As we mentioned before, choosing the right supplier is about finding a company you can trust and rely on long-term. Before you give your custom to any supplier, do what you can to determine whether they are the right fit for your business. It’s likely that you’ll get a good idea of this during your pre-sale conversations with them, but you can also ask to be put in touch with some of their past clients or have a look at any case studies they might have.
The hope is that once you have bought the right product it will work as planned for the foreseeable future. However, complications are a fact of life and motion technology is not always infallible. If something does go wrong, or if you just want extra advice on how best to use your product or extend its life, you’ll need a supplier with excellent customer support post-sale.
It might take a little time and effort to choose the right supplier for your motion technology needs, but it is almost always worth it in the long run. When you take the time early on to evaluate possible candidates, you can come away with a better quality product, confidence in your decision and, ideally, a long-term partnership.
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