Millwright
The line startsStation 0102030405 / 05
Insight
What a late part really costs
Overtime, air freight and a stopped line. The numbers behind on-time delivery.
30 Jul 2026 · 5 min read
Insight
What a late part really costs
Overtime, air freight and a stopped line. The numbers behind on-time delivery.
30 Jul 2026 · 5 min read
Insight
What a late part really costs
Overtime, air freight and a stopped line. The numbers behind on-time delivery.
30 Jul 2026 · 5 min read
A late part rarely shows up as a line in the accounts. It shows up as overtime, air freight and a customer who starts looking for a second source.
What a day costs
Take a line that builds twelve machines a month. One missing bracket stops a machine worth far more than the bracket. A week of delay can cost more than a year of that part's purchases.
Why parts are late
- The order was placed against a lead time nobody checked
- Material or coating was ordered after the purchase order arrived
- A first article failed and there was no time to correct it
What on-time delivery really measures
Ask a supplier how they count it. Delivered on the day first promised is the only honest version. Ours was 99.2% last year, measured that way.
How to buy for delivery
Share the forecast, even when it is rough. Agree stock for the parts that would stop your line. Order the first article early, apart from the series batch.
The lowest price per part is not the lowest cost if the part is not there on the day.
What we do about it
Every order has a planned ship date on the day it is confirmed, and you can see it. If anything puts that date at risk, you hear from us that day, not on the due date.
Have a drawing on your desk?
Send it over. An engineer reads it and answers with a price and a date inside 24 hours.
Keep reading
Two more fromthe shop floor.
01Guide2 Oct 20266 min readDesign for machining: six choices that set the price
Corner radii, pocket depth, tolerances and setups: where the cost of a machined part is decided.Read the article
02Guide24 Sep 20265 min readHow to read a CMM report in five minutes
Thirty pages, three columns that matter. What to check and what to ask your supplier.Read the articleA late part rarely shows up as a line in the accounts. It shows up as overtime, air freight and a customer who starts looking for a second source.
What a day costs
Take a line that builds twelve machines a month. One missing bracket stops a machine worth far more than the bracket. A week of delay can cost more than a year of that part's purchases.
Why parts are late
- The order was placed against a lead time nobody checked
- Material or coating was ordered after the purchase order arrived
- A first article failed and there was no time to correct it
What on-time delivery really measures
Ask a supplier how they count it. Delivered on the day first promised is the only honest version. Ours was 99.2% last year, measured that way.
How to buy for delivery
Share the forecast, even when it is rough. Agree stock for the parts that would stop your line. Order the first article early, apart from the series batch.
The lowest price per part is not the lowest cost if the part is not there on the day.
What we do about it
Every order has a planned ship date on the day it is confirmed, and you can see it. If anything puts that date at risk, you hear from us that day, not on the due date.
Have a drawing on your desk?
Send it over. An engineer reads it and answers with a price and a date inside 24 hours.
Keep reading
Two more fromthe shop floor.
01Guide2 Oct 20266 min readDesign for machining: six choices that set the price
Corner radii, pocket depth, tolerances and setups: where the cost of a machined part is decided.Read the article02Guide24 Sep 20265 min readHow to read a CMM report in five minutes
Thirty pages, three columns that matter. What to check and what to ask your supplier.Read the articleA late part rarely shows up as a line in the accounts. It shows up as overtime, air freight and a customer who starts looking for a second source.
What a day costs
Take a line that builds twelve machines a month. One missing bracket stops a machine worth far more than the bracket. A week of delay can cost more than a year of that part's purchases.
Why parts are late
- The order was placed against a lead time nobody checked
- Material or coating was ordered after the purchase order arrived
- A first article failed and there was no time to correct it
What on-time delivery really measures
Ask a supplier how they count it. Delivered on the day first promised is the only honest version. Ours was 99.2% last year, measured that way.
How to buy for delivery
Share the forecast, even when it is rough. Agree stock for the parts that would stop your line. Order the first article early, apart from the series batch.
The lowest price per part is not the lowest cost if the part is not there on the day.
What we do about it
Every order has a planned ship date on the day it is confirmed, and you can see it. If anything puts that date at risk, you hear from us that day, not on the due date.
Have a drawing on your desk?
Send it over. An engineer reads it and answers with a price and a date inside 24 hours.
Keep reading
Two more fromthe shop floor.
01Guide2 Oct 20266 min readDesign for machining: six choices that set the price
Corner radii, pocket depth, tolerances and setups: where the cost of a machined part is decided.Read the article02Guide24 Sep 20265 min readHow to read a CMM report in five minutes
Thirty pages, three columns that matter. What to check and what to ask your supplier.Read the article
Request a quote
Send the drawing.Get a quote in 24 h.
Tell us the part, the quantity and the material. An engineer reads your drawing and comes back with a price, a lead time and anything that would make the part cheaper to make.
- Quote in 24 h
- NDA before files
- No minimum order
Request a quote
Send the drawing.Get a quote in 24 h.
Tell us the part, the quantity and the material. An engineer reads your drawing and comes back with a price, a lead time and anything that would make the part cheaper to make.
- Quote in 24 h
- NDA before files
- No minimum order
Request a quote
Send the drawing.Get a quote in 24 h.
Tell us the part, the quantity and the material. An engineer reads your drawing and comes back with a price, a lead time and anything that would make the part cheaper to make.
- Quote in 24 h
- NDA before files
- No minimum order