When this applies
- A product moving from prototype to first sale
- A seasonal or limited batch
- A pilot before committing to hard tooling
- An internal build of equipment or fixtures
Decide quantity with tooling in mind
Tooling changes the economics discontinuously. Below a certain quantity, avoiding tooling and accepting a higher unit price wins; above it, tooling pays for itself quickly. Ask suppliers to quote both routes at your candidate quantities rather than choosing in advance.
Lock the design before you run
Changes made mid-run cost far more than changes made before it. Freeze the drawing, assign a revision, and route any change through a formal update — including on parts you are buying from a sketch.
- Issue drawings with a revision and date
- Approve a first article before full release
- Record any agreed deviation in writing
Plan for the second order
Ask how long pricing holds, what the reorder lead time is, and whether the supplier retains fixtures and programmes. A slightly higher price from a supplier who keeps your tooling ready is often the better long-run deal.
RFQ checklist
Include these in your request and suppliers can quote without a round of questions.
- Drawings or models at a fixed revision
- Run quantity plus expected annual volume
- Whether tooling investment is acceptable
- Inspection level and documentation required
- Delivery schedule and packaging