It is not a secret that plastic injection molding is one of the most cost-effective manufacturing techniques to create high-quality products in large volumes. If you are an established brand in a market that is in high demand, you have to make revisions on the manufacturing procedures to keep production costs low and profits high.
A proper manufacturer can deliver both without problems given the large number of competitors out there across the world. Even if your manufacturer doesn’t offer a hint about cutting costs every once in a while, you can learn some tricks on your own and keep tabs on the manufacturing budget.
plastic injection molding parts*
Here are some of the most common hacks used by well-established brans in the market:
· Manage Your Part Sizes
Unless you are working with customized parts that need to fulfill the requirements of international regulations, there is no reason to create great products if they are not called for. Reducing the size of your part decreases costs a great deal, especially if they don’t have a complicated design. This concept is hard to grasp when you are creating something that must have a snug fit, such as smartphone cases or protective gear. You can always find the right balance to make something functional and cheaper at the same time. This might require some additional tinkering in the drawing board and the CAD models, but there is a high possibility that the finished product will be an improved version of the previous one.
· Improving the Design to Make it Easier to Manufacture
We already touched some of this in the previous point, but let’s expand a little bit more on this idea. The notion of a functional product is something that does what you expect it to do following the basic mechanism you have devised for it at the design stage. There is always room for improvement, and a proper manufacturer will let you know right away about what can be hanged in your model to work better. It may have to do with the overall design; it can be related to the materials you plan to use. What matters the most here is that you have an open mind to accept the ideas of people who know their craft too well. It’s hard to believe a manufacturer is looking out for your pocket, but he relies on you coming back to him to keep their workshops running.
· Materials Used for the Mold and Colors of the Finished Product
Everyone loves a sturdy mold, but not many have a proper notion about how expensive they can be. Most molds used on plastic injection molding projects are created using metal. The carved surface where the molten plastic will take shape costs a pretty penny. Little detail, such as choosing cheaper materials for the mold, can work out if they won’t affect the quality of the finished parts. Adding colors to your product also causes additional expenses. You may create neutral-looking pieces instead of colored ones. This is especially useful if you are producing parts for inner mechanisms since the aesthetics don’t count for much there.
· Use the Latest Technology and Equipment
New technology makes everything cheaper. If your manufacturer is working with the latest models of manufacturing technology, he’s likely to offer some of the best rates when it comes to prices of the overall project. The use of smart technology has reached the manufacturing market for some time now. Any workshop working with older tech is likely to charge more since they need to work their way around the more complex commands of their outdated devices.
· Handle all Secondary Manufacturing In-House
A lot of entrepreneurs are not crazy about the idea of shipping their unfinished parts to another manufacturer to handle a stage of the product that can’t be completed by their leading operator of choice. This is understandable since the logistics of changing workshops are a nightmare, especially if we have to fulfill a schedule on time. The best way to avoid this problem is by making sure our manufacturer can handle secondary stages in their workshop. They must be able to complete the whole project without needing third parties.
· Building Trust
Not all manufacturers operate equally. Some of them will be very vocal about their recommendations to help you save money, while others will comply with your requests and discuss any failures after you have spent additional money on tests. Ask them for their input and build a relationship based on mutual trust with them. They will offer their feedback without bias since they know how to make your ideas work the best way while saving money. In the end, that’s all you are looking for in an independent operator that will help you build your brand.
Reference
*Image from https://www.process-cooling.com/