5 Reasons Not To Outsource Metal Fabrication Abroad

Metal fabrication is essential in a wide variety of industries within the United States - including construction, military, telecommunications, lighting, restaurants, retail (point of sale and point of purchase), industrial, medical, dental, agricultural, and chemical sectors - but just because a company is based in the U.S., it doesn't mean that's where the metal fabrication occurs. Outsourcing your sheet metal fabrication, tube bending or other metal fabricated parts abroad isn't all it's cracked up to be, however. Here are five reasons NOT to outsource metal fabrication abroad.

1. Quality

Most U.S. metal fabrication companies have detailed quality plans in effect to ensure the highest possible standards are maintained when they operate. Process engineers create inspection drawings and inspection documentation highlighting all critical dimensions for each step in the process of each part. As processes are performed, each operation undergoes quality inspection to ensure the progressive accuracy of the part. Upon completion of all metal fabrication processes, a comprehensive inspection of the finished part is completed. When you outsource abroad, you have no idea if any quality control will be executed, or what the condition of the factory is where your job will be completed. And because most overseas jobs require that you pay upfront, you could receive a sub-par product and have no way to return it.

2. Payment Options

That brings us to payment options. As previously mentioned, most overseas companies will require that you pay for at least half, if not all, of the services up front before the job is started. On the other hand, in the U.S. you can usually get a credit line or be billed after the fact, even if you don't have the best credit. This not only ensures that you are happy with the product before you pay for it, but it allows you some wiggle room in your cash flow (in other words, you will still have money for operating expenses, not all of your money is going into your product).

3. Reliability

When you order metal fabrication from overseas, you're putting your faith in a company you have no information about. You never know what could happen with your product until it arrives. There could be delays in shipments, a shortage of supplies, or problems with customs - the possibilities are endless. You might get one shipment on time, one shipment a month late, and never receive another shipment! When you get your metal fabrication services from within the U.S. you can research or even visit the plant to ensure it is a company you can rely upon to get your order to you on time.

4. Shipping Times

Speaking of on time, if you're located in the U.S. it's going to be much quicker to ship product to you from within the U.S. than from overseas. If you have an emergency order, you will definitely get your metal fabrication much faster from a U.S. company than an outsourced company.

5. Support American Jobs

Last but not least, by supporting a U.S. company, you're supporting American job growth. Without your business, many jobs could be in danger. Simply said, by "buying American" you can help save jobs and stimulate the struggling economy.