Communication is the key to successful offshore Automotive Injection Molding

1. Communication is the key to successful offshore Automotive Injection Molding Offshore mold building is a fact of life in the automotive industry because current market price points would be impossible to hit without reliable offshore automotive injection molding partners. But how do you qualify reliable China mold builders who can build molds to high tolerances. Mold builders who can deliver molds that produce parts with no surface defects. Mold builders who understand your injection mold production goals in your facility and who can make molds that can match the Western way you run your injection mold presses…which is fast. Finding and qualifying good injection mold makers can be quite a challenge for Western auto makers and a big part of the reason comes communication. Verbal communication issues, written communication issues, technical communication expectation communication comprehension communication issues. Everyone looks to China mold makers with experience in automotive injection molding for one primary reason. Price. down to issues, issues, But if the communication is poor and mold build quality suffers because of communication then your original cheap price can become very expensive when you start missing deadlines. Here are 3 key communication points to keep in mind when looking for an automotive injection molding partner in China. • Look for a Western owned factory in China: Not easy to find but there are a few. The tolerances you need for your automotive injection molding projects are high. Your chances of being able to successfully communicate tight tolerance needs and your complex project details will go up 20-fold if you find an American or European owned factory in China. Suppliers who, at minimum, have key experienced mold building personnel who can speak native English. • Look for suppliers who offer advanced engineering:If you can’t find a supplier with engineers who speak English as a native language then at least find a factory who can communicate with you through advanced engineering tools like DFMPro and Moldex3D. A great DFM analysis is also essential but industry leading technology and the reports they generate can help bridge the communication divide with a lot of key points about your part design and mold design relayed to you in engineering terms. • Mold trial communication is an essential part of qualifying your mold quality: What you are looking for here is clear communication on the mold trial process. Getting parts that are in spec is great, but what injection molding process did the factory use to achieve these good parts? Did they fill fast and did they open/close fast? What clamp force did they use? The point is are they mimicking the same injection mold process parameters you will use in your facility back home. Written and verbal communication on mold trials is a big part of qualifying a great automotive injection molding partner. Better yet, communicate in person by witnessing the mold trial yourself at the factory. Bring a trusted translator if your supplier does not have native English speakers.