Why Do Parts That Work as Prototypes Fail in Production?

Your prototype fit perfectly, passed tests, and looked production-ready—until full runs started failing inspection. Suppliers blame “design drift,” but nothing changed on your drawing. Parts that work as prototypes often fail in production because prototype shops hand-adjust fits, skip full inspection, or rely on material lots that never repeat in volume runs. Once the process […]

Are High CNC Quotes a Polite “No”?

You send your drawing out for quotes, and one shop replies with a number that’s triple the others. Another says “too difficult,” and one just goes quiet. It’s frustrating—and familiar. In sourcing, a high quote often isn’t about cost at all—it’s a supplier’s polite way of saying “no.” Yes — in many cases, an unusually […]

Why Didn’t Replacing the Gears Fix the Noise Problem?

You replaced the gears, installed them carefully — yet the same noise remains. The supplier says everything “meets the drawing,” but the problem never changed. That’s a clear sign you’re facing a diagnostic gap, not a machining error. Replacement gears rarely fix noise because most shops only match dimensions, not the real contact behavior. Noise […]