It will be highly appreciated if you could share your thoughts about only accept the shop in within the US? It really stranger.
You look like someone who just joined and is using the forum only to get work but I'll share my thoughts and reasons anyway. After all, I rarely have anything to contribute myself since I only play machinist when I'm working on a prototype.
I work in the marine, oil and gas sector so travel, equipment, other engineers, fabricators and machine shops all over the world is just part of the daily job. I don't blindly proclaim USA only as that would be absurd. I source work and equipment from all over as needed depending on who makes the best product or is in a location that makes sense for my current job. This isn't consumer goods for people who only consider price, this is subsea systems and specialized equipment that needs to work in a rough environment.
As a result my considerations are roughly in this order:
1-Physically possible: If I can't get it made or where it needs to go in time then I can't consider it.
2-Quality: If a cruise in a logistically remote part of the world depends on a piece of equipment it better work. If it is something that will hurt someone it better not fail no matter where it is on the globe.
3-Ease of transaction: My project backlog stretches years past my eventual death and if you can help me move through it quicker you are valuable, if you are difficult or a hassle for any reason then you better be my only option because I am going to find someone else if I can.
4-Price: In the end cost drives everything but for small volume systems that will be owned and operated by my company chasing that around at the production level doesn't make sense. Total life cycle cost is what matters and as the engineer my greatest control over that is the design choices I make. Risking my system to save a few pennies on the backside just isn't worth it.
5-All else being close enough I desire to foster manufacturing locally if for no other reason than the selfish one of having that capacity available to call on easily when I need it.
These particular parts are a natural fit for only considering the USA. Some reasons:
Location: I'm in the US and the vessel these parts are going onto is in the US
Quality: I've encountered bad shops in the US and elsewhere but my experience has been that the US is one of the countries that I have better odds in.
Ease of transaction: This is such a small order that the hassle of importation/shipping/communication barriers from another country makes it not even worth considering, my time cost outweighs whatever can be saved even if I am confident in quality.
Risk: These parts are a small order and have a realistic lead time but unnecessarily manufacturing in another country increases the odds that I end up in the spotlight scrambling to get a contingency solution out while a $ vessel $ sits $ in $ drydock $ waiting $ on $ me $$$$. Not worth it, I spend enough time there because of other peoples unrealistic schedules, I don't need to volunteer!
So, I am interested if you have or do something better than everyone else or if you offer quality and convenience when I am in your region. Otherwise it isn't worth the bother of a quote for you or me.
Ivan
