Communication, quality assurance, and post-sales support: these are the three factors you’re sleeping on when selecting an injection mold manufacturer. Let’s be clear, there are certainly other factors (price, location, etc.) to keep in mind, but these three are often overlooked and can lead to major issues down the line for manufacturing. As a US mold manufacturer (and injection molder), we’ve talked with clients about what’s burned them in the past, and here are three factors that have helped them in selecting an injection mold manufacturer that has set them for life.
Factor 1: How is Communication During the Mold Design Process?
When you work with an overseas manufacturer, one thing you don’t realize at first is that you’re giving up communication. English as a second or machine-translated language, combined with major time zone differences, can result in not only delays but also miscommunications. Furthermore, if the process involves mold design and development, these issues can lead to final products that differ significantly from what was initially agreed upon. If you’re encountering issues at the start of this process, this is a major red flag indicative of what the rest of the process may be like.
Factor 2: What Does Mold Quality Assurance Look Like?
Plastic injection molds are built for the long term, with thousands to tens of thousands of manufactured parts depending on the type of mold and materials selected. Therefore, any problems with the mold are magnified a thousandfold when it comes to issues such as:
- Final Mold: Is the final mold what you expected? Mold QA can start early in the process, not just with manufacturing, but with mold design and part prototyping.
- Part Defects: Improperly designed and built molds can lead to a wide array of manufacturing and part defects that might require entire mold rebuilds.
- Mold Wear & Tear: A poorly made mold (especially one made with cheaper materials like aluminum) can quickly deteriorate, leading to part defects and stalled manufacturing.
Quality assurance and quality control should be integral to your mold designer’s (and mold manufacturer’s) process, supported by relevant certifications.
Factor 3: How is Post-Sale Mold Support?
What happens after you get your mold? What if you need support for the mold later in its lifetime? It’s essential to ask about the support you’ll be able to expect after they sell you your mold. If your parts manufacturer doesn’t offer mold care, will your manufacturer? If the mold needs to be modified due to issues or to expand functionality, can they modify it? These questions and more are why there are hidden perks to both mold and parts manufacturing in the US, where you can minimize downtime. It’s vital to ensure your injection mold maker is capable before starting work with them. At Midstate Mold, we’ll walk you through the entire process, including our quality control, use of Industry 4.0 manufacturing, and our role as your mold maker and parts manufacturer. Contact us today to start the process or jump right into a quote to learn more. We know our focus on quality, proactive design, and over 60 years of experience is what brings clients back to us.
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