In today’s world, customer expectations across nearly all industries have changed as a result of what many call the “Amazon model.” Buyers expect to easily find the lowest price, click a button, and receive their product with minimal friction. And this approach has, in part, led to the rise of online manufacturing marketplaces, which take your RFQ and connect your project with an available supplier in their network.
These platforms can serve a helpful purpose; for instance, simple, fast prototypes with loose tolerances are good use cases. However, opting for online marketplaces in complex or critical projects can lead to quality issues, unexpected delays, and higher costs.
At Focused on Machining, we always recommend partnering with a precision machine shop for challenging parts. Learn four clear indicators that your project requires a custom manufacturer.
Critical Parts Demanding Proven Reliability
Recently, a former customer reached out after moving to a new company. In her previous role, this buyer had always insisted on working with us for our reliability and consistent quality. However, her new company had insisted on using an online manufacturing marketplace to reduce costs.
While the marketplace parts were inexpensive, the quality reflected the price. These parts were challenging copper components with tight tolerances, and she told us they had to discard the vast majority of the parts after testing them. What appeared to be cost savings instead disappeared when she factored in waste and the burden of starting procurement from scratch.
Your Timeline Can’t Risk Unexpected Delays
Many customers opt for these platforms because of the rapid turnaround times they advertise. The promise is clear: choosing from an entire network of shops with open capacity will mean faster completion. However, busy shops are typically busy for good reasons: reliable shops have earned customer loyalty through consistent performance.
In contrast, with online manufacturing marketplaces, we regularly hear stories about scrapped parts. While some of these platforms do offer rework policies, we haven’t heard anyone who actually wanted to go back to the site and seek out a rework from their anonymous shop. Instead, they discarded those parts and restarted elsewhere.
This restart creates new delays that can significantly affect a project’s timeline. At Focused on Machining, we provide realistic timelines based on our capacity, then we deliver your quality parts on schedule. If we discover an error, it becomes our top priority to fix it for you as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Scaling Beyond Initial Prototypes
Online manufacturing marketplaces can be useful in certain applications. At Focused on Machining, we specialize in CNC production machining and contract manufacturing services. If you need a quick initial prototype with loose tolerances simply to test basic functionality, a marketplace would be a better match for your project.
However, as your project moves past initial prototyping and nears or enters production, requirements become more demanding. If you need tight tolerances, repeatability, and reliable quality control, a custom manufacturing partner is essential.
Your Industry Requires Certified Manufacturers
In industries like aerospace and defense, transparency is more than a preference. You need complete visibility into every aspect of your manufacturing process, from material traceability to detailed inspection results.
It’s essential to know who will manufacture your part so you can understand their certifications and communicate directly. However, most online manufacturing marketplaces do not provide that transparency, because it conflicts with their business model.
At Focused on Machining, we pride ourselves on our communication, service, and transparency. Our certifications are readily available, our team is responsive, and we can even arrange for you to visit our facility. As an AS9100 machine shop nearing CMMC 2.0 compliance, we’re built to serve aerospace and defense, easily providing the documentation you need for your project.
Partner With Us Today
Online manufacturing marketplaces fill a specific niche, but they’re not ideal for everything. If your project requires complex, precise, or high-quality parts, especially at high volumes, your project will be far more successful when you collaborate directly with a precision machine shop.
We’re ready to handle your next challenge with transparency and precision. Request a quote today!