As an Original Equipment Manufacturer, finding a company to partner with for heat treating of parts and components is an important consideration. Too often, OEMs choose a local company or someone they have done business with in the past, without really considering how these services compare to others.
Before making a choice of a company for heat treating services, there are at least four factors an OEM should consider before comparing the price per unit for processing.
Current and Growth Capacity
Look at heat treating services with a capacity to increase processing requirements as demand for your products grows. Many of the smaller heat treating companies have limited capacity to grow due to high order volume, limited equipment, and space and simple logistics issues.
The larger companies with multiple locations and dedicated facilities are always a good starting point for large-scale OEMs or small to mid-sized companies which are expanding their markets.
Specialized Services
The heat treating company should also offer a full range of heat treatment options. Companies offering a full line of services will be able to match the parts and components to the best and lowest cost processing option, saving the OEM money with every order.
Dependable Completion of Orders
Companies with the capacity to avoid unforeseen downtime issues and still meet the order deadlines are a critical consideration. This means having internal capabilities and capacity to manage orders efficiently or OEMs both large and small.
Superior Quality Control
Heat treating services with a focus on quality control and customer satisfaction have an advantage over other companies in the industry. They are ISO 9001 certified companies and often offer a variety of other industry certifications to ensure their heat treatments meet and exceed all customer specifications and all industry standards.
