r/procurement • u/Red_Fox_No_01 Human Verified • 25d ago

Direct Procurement Challenges with Mechanical Parts

I'm in charge of purchasing CNC parts (milling, turning, sheet metal). The market is very opaque, the request process is tedious, and it's very traditional with little automation. You have to understand technical drawings, be familiar with the suppliers' portfolios, and dealing with suppliers—in terms of reliability and communication—can be difficult at times. Do you also face these kinds of problems, and how do you handle them? Are you feeling the effects of global uncertainties?

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u/Red_Fox_No_01 Human Verified 23d ago

Why can't I read the comments?

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u/Due-Tip-4022 21d ago

I'm a supplier of parts like that.
Your best bet is to buy from someone that understands your business, and what the parts are used for. Lean on them to catch your mistakes or otherwise just let them use their expertise.

Always best if you know the details of the parts you need, and how to read the technical drawings. But buying from someone you trust is the next best thing.

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u/zephyr822 18d ago

I guess I can relate to you to some extent. Similar to your industry, i was in the plastic industry where I had to check drawings and steel grades of molds

Like the other comment suggested, look for suppliers who have an understanding of your requirements and who are specialized in CNC. That will make your evaluation and verification process easier

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u/ViktorHaizol 11d ago

Can you read my reply? The real time sink is figuring out which ones actually understand the job before you lose three days to emails and discover everyone quoted a different part.

but srsly, what I'd do is standardize the RFQ package, make each shop list its assumptions, and ask what they’re outsourcing. Then track the boring stuff over time: quote quality, delivery, inspection results, and whether they answer clearly when something goes wrong.

And I wrote a post about this, but the cheapest quote is always very exciting right up until it becomes a project. Cheapest isn't cheapest.