How to Evaluate a Metal Stamping Shop Before You Award the Job
A good shop for one part is the wrong shop for another. Use this page to match a shop to your part, ask the right questions, check the claims and compare quotes on one scale.
Match the shop to the part
Find the traits of your part in the left column. The right column is what the shop needs to show.
| Your part | What the shop needs |
|---|---|
| Annual volume above 50,000 pieces | Progressive die experience and an in-house tool room that can maintain the die between runs. |
| Deep cup or shell | Hydraulic or servo presses with a die cushion, and draw die references in your material. |
| Thin strip, small features | High speed presses, a precision feed and die protection sensors. |
| Thick or high strength stock | Straight side presses with enough tonnage, and tool steels and coatings chosen for wear. |
| Stainless, aluminum or copper alloys | Experience with galling, slivers or soft surfaces, and clean handling for cosmetic parts. |
| Tight tolerance or flatness | In-house wire EDM and grinding, and a CMM or vision system that reads your tolerance. |
| Secondary operations | Which ones are in-house and which go to an outside vendor, with the lead time each adds. |
| Regulated program | The certificate your program needs, with its scope and expiry, and a record of the documents you require. |
Ten questions to ask every shop
Send the same ten to each shop and compare the answers side by side.
- Which presses would run my part?Ask for tonnage, bed size and stroke rate for the press the quote assumes.
- Which die types do you run?Progressive, transfer, deep draw, fourslide. A shop that runs your die type most days is cheaper than one that runs it twice a year.
- Do you build and repair dies in-house?In-house tooling shortens a repair from weeks to a shift. If it is outsourced, ask who and how far away.
- What materials and thicknesses do you run?Ask for the range, and for a recent job in your material.
- How full is the plant?Ask for press utilization on the press you need, and the earliest slot for tryout.
- How do you inspect?Ask which gauges and CMM or vision systems are used, how often parts are sampled and how records are kept.
- Who owns the tooling?Ask for ownership, storage, maintenance responsibility and what it costs to move the die. Put the answer in the purchase agreement.
- How do samples and approvals work?Ask how many samples, how long tryout takes and what documents come with the first article.
- Which secondary operations are in-house?Each outside operation adds a transit leg and another quality interface.
- How do you pack and ship?Ask about rust protection, separators, returnable containers and who books freight.
Evidence to ask for
A claim means more with a document or a photo attached. Ask for what fits the risk of your program.
| The shop says | Ask for |
|---|---|
| We have the right press | A photo of the press with its nameplate, and a recent part run on it in a similar material. |
| We hold the certificate | A copy showing the certified scope, the issuing body and the expiry date. |
| We hold your tolerance | A measurement report for a similar feature, with the gauge named. |
| We maintain our dies | A sample die maintenance record with dates, hits and the work done. |
| We deliver on time | A reference contact in a similar industry who can speak to schedule and quality. |
| We pass first articles | A sample first article report or PPAP package, with customer data removed. |
Seven red flags
Tick any that apply to a shop you are checking. One flag is a question to ask. Three is a reason to move on.
A weighted scorecard
Score each shop from 1 to 5 on every row, multiply by the weight and add the results. Change the weights to match what matters most on your program.
| Criterion | Suggested weight | A strong answer |
|---|---|---|
| Capability fit | 30 | Runs your die type, material and thickness on a press with the right tonnage, and shows a similar part. |
| Quality system and inspection | 20 | Equipment that matches your tolerance, a control plan and records you can see. |
| Tooling terms and ownership | 15 | Written ownership, maintenance and storage terms, and a stated tool life. |
| Lead time and capacity | 15 | A tryout date and a production schedule backed by open press time. |
| Total landed price | 20 | Piece price, tooling, freight, duty and packaging compared on the same basis. |
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose the lowest quote?
Not by default. Compare the quotes on the same basis first: same material, same tolerance, same tooling terms and same packaging. A low piece price with a short tool life or a missing secondary operation often costs more once the first lot ships.
How many shops should I quote?
Three is a usual number. Fewer leaves you without a comparison, and more adds review work without much new information. This service matches an RFQ with up to three shops for that reason.
Do I need to audit a shop before I order?
It depends on the risk. For a new program with tight tolerances or a regulated end use, a visit or a live video walk through of the line is worth the time. For a simple bracket, samples and a measurement report may be enough.
Have a print ready? Get matched.
Send the print with material, thickness and annual volume. We match you with up to 3 stamping shops and reply within 24 business hours.