How Material Selection Affects Fabrication and Manufacturing
By: Scott Bahr
Besides the design of a product, material selection is the most important element that’s factored into the production of anything at Bit Service. That’s because the materials we work with determine how long a product will last and how well it will work. From purchasing Canadian-made products to working with a variety of steel, there are so many factors that contribute to the quality of raw materials.
Canadian-made material
It’s vital for us at Bit Service to work with vendors that we trust and respect as well as find a variety of sources for a variety of raw materials. The scarcity of a material can happen sometimes, and it’s essential to be prepared for this so you can still provide your customers with the best end product. One of the highest deciding factors in material selection is finding Canadian based raw materials. Not only because we want to support our local businesses, but also because we can avoid any additional duties or tariffs on the products coming from other countries which would impact customer value, and delivery is typically much quicker from within Canada.
Cost versus lifespan
Another factor in selecting materials is to consider the price of a material and how long the material will last. For example, you can buy alloy steels that will certainly last a very long time, but they can cost between 10 to 100 times more for just the raw materials alone. A proper alalysis of the design requirements taking into account ROI is required in this case. So, while individual product life is very important, it means the cost will increase dramatically for your client up front. Many times it is better to balance cost and performance and find something that will fit for the work the end product will need to perform.
Evaluate the material and products
Having experience in the industry and vendors you know and trust to be consistent in raw material production is key to understanding who to purchase material from. However, sometimes you will need to try out a new vendor or go with someone you haven’t built a relationship with yet, in order to find that ideal material to work for the project. In some cases working with their Materials Engineer helps to sway the decision towards the alloy best suited for the job.
Get feedback
We are also always evaluating and improving the materials we use at Bit Service. By looking at products already manufactured and assessing how well the materials are working, or how long they are lasting, and then coming up with ways to prolong that lifespan, is key. Plus, if a customer comes back with something that needs improvement or adjustment, we keep this in mind when selecting materials again. It’s all about feedback and evaluation.
Overall, there’s rarely a perfect way to evaluate materials—a lot of it comes down to experience in addition the raw specifications. That’s why it’s important to use the resources you have, from material engineers, trusted vendors, and experienced clients who provide excellent feedback. Over time, improving and understanding the material selection process will be a matter of prior experience. At Bit Service, we have an amazing team of people with a plethora of experience in the field, who can evaluate materials and produce the best products for our clients.