We’re not afraid to admit that the services we offer aren’t for everyone. We think that is an important truth to note for our own sanity, if nothing else!
Our identity is very much tied up in being a family-owned and run business - we pride ourselves on our quality and service. However, those things are not on every potential buyer’s priority list.
So, in lieu of shouting about how we’re the manufacturers for you, no matter your needs, here’s 5 reasons we may not be the right fit as your supplier.
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Price
We’re just going to go ahead and say it – we are not the cheapest manufacturing supplier. We don’t cut corners. We don’t offer manufacturing alternatives through satellite companies abroad, unlike some suppliers.
We employ a highly skilled and experienced team, who design and manufacture bespoke engineering solutions across a multitude of sectors from our base in the West Midlands. Our customers appreciate that we put quality first and control every step of the manufacturing process, from start to finish, and that we can communicate excellently without a crowded, low quality supply chain. We’re not the most expensive manufacturer out there but, to put it simply, we are more interested in providing quality tooling solutions than competing in a price race to the bottom.
Ultimately, our value comes from a right first time, always on time approach. You should expect our tooling to work perfectly straight out of the box, with less rectification/ snagging down time and enhanced longevity. If you want cheap as chips, we’re probably not for you!
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Technology
Our investment in technology – whether it’s 5 axis CNC machining centres, top of the range CAD/CAM software, or multiple Faro inspection arms - means that we are well-positioned to take on complex projects. However, you may feel that your requirement does not actually need the level of capability and technological application that we can offer. If a basic, no frills approach is what suits you best, then we are unlikely to be the right solution for you.
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Expectations
We don’t shy away from managing our customers’ expectations, and we won’t commit to projects with unachievable delivery times. Ensuring that we deliver ‘on time, every time’ – one of our core values – requires detailed production planning and know-how. Building a safety margin into our scheduling may reduce our capacity on paper, but it ensures that we never over-promise on delivery times. We won’t tell you that we can shave your original 3 week delivery requirement down to 2 weeks if we can’t. Our customers prefer the absence of last-minute phone calls.
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Values
We don't just issue a final inspection report on delivery - we have in-process checks at every stage of production, ensuring your project is precisely to specification. If you do not want or cannot see the value of such commitment to quality then perhaps your project does not require our level of verification procedures. For us, our values are closely aligned with our processes, so if you don’t value a robust inspection process, then you may be better off choosing another supplier.
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Communication
We will need to know the details of your project, and we’ll ask a lot of questions in order to ensure that we have covered every requirement you have. From design through to manufacture and sign-off, we will keep you updated with our progress, and continue to offer support after delivery. This means that we can ensure customer satisfaction every step of the way, but if you’re not interested in that kind of service then we might not be the right supplier for you.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, if you value precision, quality and reliability, you’re absolutely in the right place. At Central Patternmaking, we’re committed to those values, and we’re thorough in ensuring that we perpetuate them. But if you’re looking for something cheap and cheerful, you’re not too concerned about your component being fine-tuned to an exact specification, or your project is very basic, you might find another manufacturer better-fitting to your preferences. Whatever your needs, we hope this has helped you in selecting the right manufacturer for you. If we’re not the right fit for this project, hopefully we will be for your next one!
Still unsure about your next step? Why not read another one of our blogs: 5 Problems When Buying Tooling From A New Supplier