In manufacturing, the relationship between buyers and machine shops often feels like a tug-of-war over pricing and terms. But at Accurate CNC, we take a different approach. Our success is built on partnerships—not competition—with our customers.

Genuine manufacturing relationships create value for both parties. These relationships must be built on trust—a principle we share with author and former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, who emphasizes that strong relationships are the foundation of success in any venture. It’s true on the battlefield, and it’s true in business.

Over years of collaboration with buyers, we’ve learned several strategies that enable trust and create winning outcomes for both buyers and manufacturers. Whether you’re an industry veteran or you’re new as a buyer, these insights can help buyers secure better quality, faster lead times, and competitive pricing while enabling suppliers like Accurate CNC to deliver our best results.

Tip 1: Build Relationships Through Dialogue

True collaboration requires more than quick RFQs—it requires communication and engagement. Whether you’re exploring new suppliers or looking to address a concern about our precision machining, our team is always ready for a discussion.

We maintain an open-door policy at our Idaho machine shop—every day is tour day. Our transparency and personalized service have always been key to our long-term partnerships.

Tip 2: Match Your Projects With a Vendor’s Strengths

Every machine shop has unique strengths. Rather than utilizing a strategy of mass quote requests, we encourage buyers to seek out shops whose expertise aligns with their part’s requirements. We’ve seen many cases where choosing the lowest bidder led to quality issues and costly reworks.

At Accurate CNC, we have particular expertise in aluminum and plastic machining, and we’re a perfect match for customers seeking CNC router services for 2.5D parts. We also pride ourselves on guiding customers through new product development, even with challenging parts.

Tip 3: Tap Into Your Vendor’s Experience to Find Cost Savings

Cost reduction doesn’t always require comparing quotes. Long-term manufacturing partners can often identify pricing opportunities that may not be initially apparent. For instance, at Accurate CNC we often suggest:

• Adjusting tolerances without compromising functionality

• Improving sheet yield through strategic part changes

• Exploring alternative manufacturing methods, such as 3D printing for complex geometries

Tip 4: Document Tribal Knowledge for Your Successor

It’s practically inevitable that employees will change jobs multiple times in their careers. In these situations, any knowledge transfer can be extremely valuable for the next employee in your role. Consider documenting answers to common questions such as:

• Where do you like to source a certain part—and why? 

• Who do you call if you need a favor? 

• Which company is always willing to help when there’s a problem?

At Accurate CNC, for instance, our flexibility is one of our greatest strengths. If you need a vendor who can help you with a “favor” for a rush order or you have an urgent need for rapid prototyping services, we always do everything we can to accommodate trusted partners.

Tip 5: Share Your Forecasts

If you have forecasts available for coming projects, share them with your vendors! This can help with a variety of buying decisions, from ensuring proper tooling inventory to potential material cost savings through bulk purchasing. This is particularly crucial for large-scale projects where early planning can significantly improve lead time.

Let’s Discuss Our Next Collaboration

Whether you need CNC routing services, laser part marking, or any of our other services, we're ready to demonstrate why strong partnerships drive manufacturing success. Request a quote today and let’s get started!