Start with the finished part
A price for a trimmed casting and a price for a machined, coated part are not directly comparable. Check the drawing revision, alloy, machining operations and finish on each offer. A general description such as “aluminum housing” leaves too much open.
Ask whether threads, inserts, deburring and cleaning are included. For an enclosure, confirm whether the price covers the lid, body, fasteners and gasket or just one casting. Small omissions become assembly work after delivery.
Separate one-time costs from repeat orders
Keep the casting tool, trim tool, machining fixtures and inspection fixtures visible as separate items. Establish who owns them, where they will be kept, and how changes or maintenance are handled. A low tooling line can simply mean some tooling cost has been included in the part price.
Compare unit prices at the same release quantity, not just the same annual forecast. An annual requirement shipped in several small releases can have different production and packing costs from a single batch.
Agree what the sample price buys
Sample approval may involve machined parts, a dimensional report, material evidence and a finish sample. List the deliverables you actually need. A casting-only trial does not confirm the bearing fit or the final appearance.
When a quote is revised, ask which assumption changed. Keep the revision alongside the drawing so purchasing and engineering are comparing the same supply scope.
Put these lines beside each other
| Item | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Part price | Finished condition, quantity per release and included components? |
| Tooling | Ownership, included fixtures and change costs? |
| Inspection | Which characteristics and records are included? |
| Packing | Protection, pack quantity and identification? |
| Delivery | Named destination, transport scope and quoted trade term? |
For your inquiry
You can send an existing quote with prices removed if you want to discuss whether its technical scope covers your part.
Related information
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