QuotedPartAnswers · Updated 2026-10-30
A potential customer is coming to tour the shop: what do they look at?
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A visitor is judging one thing: would this shop make my part right and ship it on time? They infer it from small signs: a clean floor, gauges with calibration stickers, parts that are labeled and located, a clear path from material to shipping, and people who can answer questions. Spend the week before on those, and have a short folder of records ready. A clean, ordinary shop beats a staged one, because visitors notice what's hidden.
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What they walk past, and what it tells them
Look at the shop the way a visitor would, in the order they walk it: receiving, floor, inspection, shipping, office.
| Area | What a visitor notices | What to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving and stock | Material labeled with heat or lot; incoming inspection; separate quarantine for suspect stock | Material receiving log; a mill cert matched to a bar on the rack |
| Machines and floor | Clean machines, no leaks, orderly tooling, travelers at each machine, current revision on the print | A job in process with its traveler filled in |
| Inspection | Gauges and micrometers with calibration stickers and due dates; a clean inspection table; a plan for what gets measured | Calibration list; a recent inspection report |
| Nonconforming parts | A marked area for rejects; a record of what was done | Your nonconformance form and one example |
| Shipping | Parts packed to protect the finish; correct labels; certs with the shipment | A C of C and a packing slip |
| Office and quoting | Quotes by customer and part; contract review; how a change is handled | A recent quote and PO with a revision check |
| Capacity and safety | Machines running, not just standing; safety equipment; a sense of the schedule | A simple load view for the next four weeks |
| Export-controlled work | Marked areas, restricted access, who can see what | Your written access rule for ITAR and CUI files |
The week before
Clean by function, not for show: floors, benches, machine exteriors, the coolant smell, trash, the restroom. Put away what isn't in use. Label what remains: racks, bins, shelves. Check every gauge's calibration sticker and send out any that are past due. Walk the route yourself and look at each station as a stranger.
Decide who talks. The owner explains the shop; a lead explains each area; nobody makes up an answer. "I'll find out and tell you" beats a wrong one. Prepare a one-page overview of capabilities, a short equipment list, and a list of customers you can name with their permission.
Be honest about what you don't have. A shop with no ISO certificate and an honest explanation of its controls usually does better than a shop that overstates. If they ask for a document you don't have, say so and say when you will.
The meeting itself
Start with the part. Bring a sample of something you make that's like what they buy, with its inspection report. Walk the route that part takes. Ask what matters most to them: delivery, tolerance, price, communication. They will tell you, and the visit becomes about their problem.
Afterward, follow up within a day with what you promised: documents, a quote, answers. A visit that goes well and then goes quiet is a visit wasted.
Sources and limits
Claims are dated where they can change. Product calculations are examples from the stated inputs, not a promise about a customer's quote. Competitor wording is attributed to the source shown.
- The checklist reflects common supplier-audit practice; it is not a standard, and no survey result is claimed.
Questions
Should I repaint the floor?
No. Clean and organized beats new paint. Fix safety and labeling first.
What if my machines are old?
Old machines are fine if they're maintained and capable. Show the maintenance and the results.
Price one of your own parts
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