Outsourcing fabrication can feel risky. You’re handing off more than a drawing — you’re trusting someone else to deliver on your quality, schedule, and reputation. If they miss? You’re the one who hears about it.
At General Machine, we hear this concern often. And we get it. We’re not just fabricating parts — we’re stepping into the trust gap between you and your customer. That’s why our process is built to keep you informed, involved, and fully in control. From start to finish.
What’s Really at Stake When You Outsource
Here’s what we’ve heard from customers who’ve been burned before:
- “We placed a reorder, but the second batch looked nothing like the first.”
- “The parts arrived two weeks late with no heads-up. We had to pull someone off the floor just to manage the fallout.”
- “They didn’t catch that the drawing had revved — and neither did we.”
These missteps don’t come from bad intentions — they come from bad systems. When outsourcing is treated like a quick transaction instead of a real partnership, things can go sideways. But with the right process and mindset, you can outsource with confidence.
What to Look for (If You Want to Stay in Control)
If you’re outsourcing fabrication or spare parts, here are six things to prioritize:
- Tight Specs and Documentation
Lock down the drawing, materials, tolerances, finishes, and even the “tribal knowledge.” Clarity upfront prevents surprises later. If you don’t have all the info, work with your vendor to create it. - First Article Approval
Don’t greenlight full production blind. Review and approve a first article so both sides are aligned before the run. Especially if you don’t have all the info up front and have time to work with. - Communication Cadence
Set expectations early. How often will you hear updates? What happens when something’s unclear? How do you want to be informed – email or phone? - Revision Tracking
Ask how they manage revision changes. If they’re relying on memory or sticky notes, that’s not a system, that’s a problem. - Feedback Loops
You want someone who flags issues, asks questions, and proactively helps you make better decisions. And not just at the beginning, but throughout the process. - Process Visibility
If you’re constantly chasing updates or worried about radio silence, that’s not control — it’s stress. Define how, how often, and what needs to be updated to create visibility and avoid fallout.
Case Study: Staying in Control on a Critical Retrofit
Customer: Midwestern OEM in the heavy equipment sector
Project: Retrofit part for an old hydraulic assembly — no model, limited documentation
Problem: Their shop was overloaded, and their lead engineer (the only one who understood the part) was retiring.
They brought us a rough drawing and a physical part. We immediately spotted tolerancing gaps, missing material callouts, and questions about how it was assembled. Instead of quoting blind, we worked with their team to understand the part’s function and dependencies — and built a complete drawing package together.
“What I appreciated most was that you didn’t just say yes and run it. You asked the questions we should have been asking. That’s when I knew we picked the right shop.”
— OEM Director of Engineering
We ran a first article. During review, the customer spotted a functional design issue they hadn’t realized before. Since we hadn’t gone to full production yet, the correction was quick and painless.
“This job was critical to keeping one of our top customers online. It felt like General Machine understood that — and treated it with the urgency and care we would have ourselves.”
— OEM Service Manager
That first job turned into an ongoing partnership. We’ve now built four variants of the same assembly, all documented and tracked in JobBOSS² and reorders are seamless. In fact, we are working on a stocking program to keep them and their customers running at all times.
How General Machine Keeps You in Control
Here’s how we reduce the risk and keep our customers in the driver’s seat:
- Quoting with Questions
We don’t just price off the drawing. We ask what the part does, how it’s used, and where the landmines might be. It’s not nitpicking, it’s risk mitigation. - First Article Confidence
We often produce a sample or small run for inspection before full production. You approve what gets made. Each and every time. - Traceability in JobBOSS²
Every job has a traveler. Every version is tracked. We take pictures and record video. If you reorder a part six months or six years later, we know exactly what we did — and why. - Real-Time Communication
If we hit a snag, we don’t hide it. We flag it, propose a solution, and keep things moving. You’re never left guessing. Or waiting. - Problem-Solving Culture
We take pride in “figure-it-out” fabrication. Legacy parts, oddball fits, low-volume headaches, we live for those challenges. Once we prove ourselves with the hard to predict and tough to build, it becomes easier to source other opportunities. Because it’s a partnership built on trust.
Final Thought: Control Comes from the Right Partner
Outsourcing doesn’t have to mean giving up control, especially when your supplier thinks like a teammate, not like it’s a transaction.
The right shop won’t just make your part. They’ll help you protect your reputation.
Got a project you’ve been hesitant to let go of? Let’s talk. We’ll ask the right questions, walk the drawing with you, and show you how we keep you in the loop — and firmly in control.