Is cutting tool technology a regular part of the product or service you business provides? If it is, you know how critical it is to use the best cutting tool technology available. Using high-quality cutting tool technology impacts the efficiency of you business. It impacts the safety of your employees. Your cutting tool technology impacts the quality of your own product.
However, the cutting tool industry is so saturated with cutting tool manufacturers that it can be difficult to know what is worth the money and what is not. This is particularly true if you need custom cutting tool engineering that hasn’t been used before. When the cutting tools have to be fabricated just for you, you don’t have the option of testing it out before you purchase it. To save you the trouble of using a cutting tool manufacturer that you live to regret, check out our list of common mistakes people make:
- MISTAKE: Choosing a provider based on cost.
If you are looking to cut costs in your business, there are plenty of great ways to do that. Buy single-ply toilet paper. Turn up the temperature a couple degrees to cut your electric bill during the summer. Print on both sides of the paper to cut your office supply expenses. Do not sacrifice the quality of your cutting tools to save you a few bucks. If the tools don’t hold up to the wear and tear of the job, you’ll find yourself having to replace them anyways, which will cost you extra money in the long-run. And worst, using poor-quality cutting tools could hurt the quality of your product, or sacrifice the safety of the people using them. No amount of savings is worth endanging your workers.
We’re not saying that the greater the price tag, the greater the quality of the cutting tools provided by the manufacturer. We’re saying that the cost should not be a factor in choosing a manufacturer either way. Do your homework and find a manufacturer that best meets your needs. If they are the cheapest supplier, great. If they cost a little more than the next cutting tool supplier, it’s still worth the money. - MISTAKE: Making customer service a low priority.
When your business hinges on using your cutting tools, you can’t afford to use a manufacturer who leaves you on your own once you’ve handed them their paycheck. Before making a purchase, make sure that you have the contact information of a company representative (not from the sales team) who you can contact with any questions you have. Test them out by fielding a few questions and make sure they respond promptly, and communicate well with you. If you don’t take the time to do this, when you come across a show-stopping issue with your cutting tools, you could end up sitting on hold with a representative in another country who you have trouble conveying technical issues with at all, let alone getting a clear response. Or worse, you could end up with no help at all. - MISTAKE: Not looking into the reputation of the cutting tool provider.
When you are getting a custom cutting tool fabricated, you don’t have the luxery of testing it out before you buy it. There is a certain level of risk when you try to convey the need to the cutting tool manufacturer, and hope they make it right. If a cutting tool manufacturer is good at what they do, they’ll have have a trail of happy clients that will make you feel more confident in entrusting them with your tool needs.
You can start by requesting three referrals from clients that the cutting tool manufacturer works with. This is a great way to make contact with other people who understand your needs and can provide insight on how the manufacturer met them. To make sure you aren’t just getting biased reviews, look for negative reviews online. Some clients are impossible to please, but if you see a common theme in the negative-review department, it might be an important factor to consider.
Do you have any other tips for finding a good cutting tool manufacturer? Please share in the comment section below!
