Tooling costs continue to rise, but there are ways to maintain a budget and create a sound strategy for any tooling need, including short run tooling.
Winco Stamping offers top considerations and key ways to save ahead of your next project.
Define Your Short Run Tooling Purpose
The first step in creating a successful short run tooling project is to understand its goal. Identifying the clear purpose and what the expected outcome is clarifies the path to creating cost-saving opportunities.
Do you require tooling services for prototyping? A prototype might only require an order amount in the hundreds, whereas a regular order could be in the thousands. Or a validation order might only be for a few dozen parts.
Defining clear parameters for your short run tooling purposes will aid manufacturers by providing them with an understanding of the needs of the project.
Review Design Parameters and Cost Levers
Short run tooling services are achievable when design parameters are established and specific cost levers are put in place.
With metal stamping tooling, consider modular or soft dies and, if possible, laser-assisted processes in order to reduce costs. Be mindful of this as a solution, however, as it can impact part longevity.
The best usages for this consideration could include pre-production models, engineering builds, or lower-volume brackets and hardware.
Create Savings Opportunities In Short Run Tooling
Partner with a local or regionally based manufacturer to shorten lead times and lower delivery costs for your final product.
Utilize soft die metals to keep costs down while giving you an idea of what the product could be if short run tooling services are used for prototyping. If only a few thousand parts are needed, don’t buy heavy multi-stage dies.
Acknowledge Potential Risk
There is always risk in any manufacturing service performed, but there are ways to minimize that in short run tooling.
Short run tooling is best performed by a local or regionally based company. Expected wait times are reduced when the chosen manufacturer is minutes to hours away compared to days. Short run tooling can aid in market testing for products and allow you to gauge demand at a lower cost compared to a medium or large run.
Partner With Winco Stamping for Your Short Run Tooling Needs
Tooling services can get expensive quickly. That’s why we strike a balance between creating high-quality products for our customers at a price that makes sense for both parties.
Since 1948, Winco Stamping has been a mainstay in the metal stamping industry, and our short run tooling capabilities are a large part of what’s made us successful. Our tooling procedures are backed by an ISO 9001 certification, ensuring that no matter the size of your order, quality will never be compromised.
Need a short run tooling partner? Contact us today to see the difference we can make for you now and in the future.
