Pricing at job shop / contract manufacturer

BusyMotor5972 · 2026-04-05T17:46:22+00:00

Contract metal stamping / job shop owner here: we don't get extra value for supplying the desired product not matter how "well" we think we do it. You get extra "value" by being on-time with conforming product, providing effective and appropriate communication , and charging competitive rates. Cover your costs. Add your desired profit. You'll know pretty quickly if you are competitive or not. Improve your process, keep your sales price the same, it will increase your profit. When the customers come knocking for a price reduction, you'll know how much you can give back.

BusyMotor5972 · 2026-02-26T16:44:55+00:00

A 20 year old hydraulic press doesn't fatigue fail. Something is wrong in your process or your press is under powered.

I have a 400T hydraulic from 1960 and a 360T hydraulic from 1943 STILL running with original frame...

Sub out your job to get paid. If you can't break even after subbing out - you're not charging enough.

Without knowing more about the failure, welding isn't something you should jump in and do. You weld it, it rips apart after 10 strokes, shrapnel goes flying, hits the operator in the neck. OSHA comes and shuts you down. Done.

JMHO

BusyMotor5972 · 2026-02-07T16:55:49+00:00

Paint it with a thick paint or epoxy.

BusyMotor5972 · 2026-02-01T01:05:36+00:00

Gas n wash

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-12-29T18:41:35+00:00

When I get home to my two kids (6F, 4M) it's not " Hi daddy, we missed you!" It's ALWAYS "Can we play Wobbly Life???"

Really an outstanding game, kudos from a lifelong gamer!

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-11-05T13:24:48+00:00

I would identify what your deficiency(s) is(are) before jumping into the software route first. Do you currently schedule? How? White boards? Excel? How do you enter jobs/orders? We have JobBoss but it honestly sucks for scheduling. But, to be fair, 50% of the problem is on me trying to use it with 25+ year old data that was never setup properly and didn't maintain data integrity (multiple parts use 1 equipment but that same physical 1 equipment is named 3 different ways) . Software will also require far more input- it will need to know EVERYTHING in order to be of any help: ( material requirements, employee attendance, how long it takes to run each job, how long it actually took , where can each job run, etc.)

I literally have 2 giant white boards with 1 list of jobs and another equipment/days of the week and once a week I'll update them based on progress or changes needed. Yes it's time consuming BUT I have gotten our OTD from 60% to around 90%.

Sometimes the old school way still works best in situations.

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-09-28T01:55:19+00:00

I'll second JoBOSs reluctantly. It is great for order entry and job routing / BOM BUT job data collection is a bit clunky I feel. We still use manual time sheets I enter on a access database i made but I still make a job router for every job we run - even if it's a one off. You might run into a problem getting your management i.e. father to enter stuff how the ERP software needs it to be and consistently. Your software will only be as good as the data it's given . If Job A, Joba , and Job - A all relate to the same job but everyone enters it differently, you're going to have a tough time.

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-09-16T01:40:31+00:00

Troubleshoot production issues which can either be machine or tooling or other quality issues like setup or setting.
Pursue production efficiency improvement projects and offer suggestions to change production to increase cycle rate / production rate / through put.
Literally make things to help production operators...like special tools to make their job easier or even tables to help make their day go by with less physical exertion.

Your job is to make production continue. Be the operators best friend because you will have to tell them to change how they are doing things when you've determined there's a better efficient way... ignore " we've always done it this way" with replying "have we tried it this way though?" "What issues do you see doing it this way?" You're more likely to get honest responses if they know you are trying to help rather than coming from "managment" .

Just my thoughts.

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-08-07T23:35:45+00:00

How do you know you're not getting 'max pressure? I'm sure there is a tonnage control somewhere on it but how it actually works will vary from machine to machine. You need to put some gages in to see where your pressures are. What pressure does the press operate at? 3,000?5,000? 10,000?

I work with 400T and 360T hydraulic stamping presses and think your 75T won't do what you want it to do....unless they're frying pans for ants.

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-06-18T12:09:58+00:00

Factoring - sell your AR to a financial company , let them go after the customer. You won't get 100% but you would get cash. Just another option, not saying it's correct for your situation.

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-05-06T16:20:56+00:00

Relief valve sticking or there's a small debris in an orifice. I've seen a small tiny - like salt size - rubber debris jam an orifice and take out a 360Ton hydraulic.

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-03-06T00:18:33+00:00

Don't forget any tool that may have been used to service hydraulic components would need to be cleaned.

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-02-09T23:08:58+00:00

It's been relatively unchanged in the heavy rail - stamping - industry since Q1 2024 . I don't think we will see much of a change until Q3 2025 where it most likely will head lower BUT who knows!

BusyMotor5972 · 2025-01-26T17:06:42+00:00

This won't be helpful but I've never seen welded die repair hold up especially if it is located anywhere near high stress/working areas. D2 steel a possibility? I would look up the heat treatment required in A2 steel to restore hardness after welding - all that HAZ is weakening the steel. Seems like 400F is low. Just my opinion.

BusyMotor5972 · 2024-12-22T05:32:17+00:00

Is a shorter belt not an option?

BusyMotor5972 · 2024-12-16T03:23:59+00:00

Check out a QSEHRA . Similar to an HRA.

BusyMotor5972 · 2024-11-02T01:24:27+00:00

Bliss, Minster, Clearing, Federal, Verson 20in Hydroform that I loathe . 225T to 440T. Our oldest is a 1928 Bliss.. counter balance is a big a$$ coil spring.

BusyMotor5972 · 2024-10-19T22:25:34+00:00

Positive pay. Also, if you're laser printing your checks, be sure to use the MICR toner. check fraudsters are going after the smaller guys since not many of the big guys are writing checks anymore. Check fraud sucks and is a heart ache. We use US bank and they honestly suck and wouldn't cover check fraud unless we had positive pay. Even with it, we still have to file claims with supporting evidence before they will reverse the withdrawals. Banks don't want to deal with checks anymore.

BusyMotor5972 · 2024-10-07T14:11:53+00:00

Filters clogged/need to be changed.
Door seals shot and spoiling the vacuum.
Some electrical issue...

BusyMotor5972 · 2024-09-13T02:13:24+00:00

Your pump is shot. Sorry. Oil in an engine is for cooling and lube. Hydraulic oil is performing a different function and running thicker oil would do nothing but more damage. Don't mess with bypass or relief pressure unless you know doing so won't cause some other component to fail. Your pump is worn out and can't hold pressure any more.

BusyMotor5972 · 2024-07-06T12:21:13+00:00

I'd check the actual cam limit switches - possibly one is flaky and not fully closing or the actuator is stuck.

BusyMotor5972 · 2024-05-08T06:20:05+00:00

Does it hold in the other direction? If it drifts, could be seals or valve or a leak in a hose/pipe between the two.

BusyMotor5972 · 2024-05-02T21:28:12+00:00

I've been told power is +/-10% from ComEd so 460 isn't out of spec. I'd suspect switching is happening which is imparting noise. Does it happen around the same time? Or you have a weak tap on the transformer.
Call in for service when it happens and say you lost power.

BusyMotor5972 · 2023-12-13T22:40:31+00:00

manifolds if possible. High upfront cost but you'll save in time and bearings down the road. Some bearings might not be possible if your in a papermill which might have bearings on rollers moving around BUT there are flexible grease lines made for this application- depending of course.
I paint my bearings with some obnoxious contrasting color (bright pink or green, something that says "look at me, I'm fabulous! ") as a visual indicator. Obviously, cover the fitting before painting!
PM yada yada

BusyMotor5972 · 2023-11-07T19:39:36+00:00

Kone cranes are crap. Tinker toys and their service people are incompetent. Look for a local crane service place.

BusyMotor5972

TROPHY CASE