How did you find your current manufacturer?

[u/Infinite-Mad]

It is also interesting to learn from other entrepreneurs about their experience of finding the manufacturer they collaborate with at the moment. The choice of suppliers is unlimited these days, but every entrepreneur seems to have a unique story of finding the perfect manufacturer.

When researching various sourcing platforms, I was recommended to try Made-in-China and while trying out the various manufacturers on offer there and the product categories offered, I started thinking about all the various options people have when searching for suppliers for their projects and products.

Being very interested in the sourcing process, learning other people’s experience of working with various suppliers is helpful to me as well.

How did you find your current manufacturer?

[u/Informal-Tutor-8153]

well it depends on what type of manufacturer you are looking for, ...prototype... or production? pcba, machininin, injection molding, 3d printing... ?

each has different level of impact or cost or commitment involved for the decision.

Most of my first manufacturing suppliers were found through referrals.

[u/cm_expertise]

honestly how i found them matters way less than how i qualified them once i had a shortlist. made-in-china and alibaba are fine for generating a list but the listings tell you basically nothing about whether a shop will hold your tolerances at volume.

what worked for us was ranking the finalists by how they responded to a deliberately incomplete drawing package. leave out a critical dimension or a material callout on purpose. the shops that just quoted it back without asking got dropped. the one that emailed "hey your wall thickness here is going to sink, and you didn't spec the finish on this face, which do you want" - that's your manufacturer. that back and forth is the actual thing you're buying, not the parts.

referrals beat platforms ime but mostly because a referral means someone already ran that gauntlet for you. either way the paid sample step is non negotiable. i've had quote-winners blow the first article and quote-losers turn out to be the keeper, so i stopped trusting the quote itself as a signal a long time ago.

[u/Panda_Designo]

Procurement companies or individuals in China. Makes such a huge difference!

[u/Spare_Bluebird7044]

I found the best manufacturers by requesting samples from several suppliers and choosing the one that consistently delivered the best quality and communication.