Guides for engineering and sourcing teams
Practical, vendor-neutral guides on outsourcing mechanical design and manufacturing — written by engineers for buyers in the United States and Europe.
Contract manufacturing in Turkey: a practical guide for US and European buyers
How contract manufacturing in Turkey works for US and European companies: processes, quality control, shipping terms (DAP/DDP), customs and how to choose a supplier.
Read the guide Guide · 7 min readManufacturing in Turkey vs China: cost, lead time and risk compared
An honest comparison of manufacturing in Turkey vs China for US and European buyers: unit cost, lead time, shipping, tariffs, communication and supply-chain risk.
Read the guide Guide · 7 min readHow to outsource mechanical design without losing control
A practical guide to outsourcing mechanical design: when it makes sense, how to write the brief, what deliverables to ask for, how to protect your IP and how projects are priced.
Read the guide Guide · 9 min readDFM checklist for CNC machined, sheet metal and welded parts
A practical design for manufacturing (DFM) checklist for CNC machined, sheet metal and welded parts: tolerances, radii, holes, bends, welds and drawing notes that reduce cost.
Read the guide Guide · 5 min readRFQ checklist: what to send for an accurate manufacturing quote
What to include in a request for quote (RFQ) for machined, sheet metal and welded parts: files, materials, tolerances, quantities, inspection, shipping terms and deadlines.
Read the guide Guide · 6 min readWhen do you need FEA? A practical guide for product teams
When finite element analysis (FEA) is worth it, which analysis types to ask for (static, modal, buckling, fatigue), what inputs are needed and what a useful FEA report contains.
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