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When we talk about wooden objects, there are some fundamental aspects you have to look attentively at. Wood, in fact, is not easy to process: the manufacturer you select must have specific knowledge and expertise and must be able to create a successful partnership to achieve perfect results. Here are some points to take into consideration.
Knowledge of wood—Wood is not easy to process because it changes constantly, being a natural material. It means that the wood maker must have a deep knowledge of the different types of wood and their specific characteristics. Each wood type, in fact, has its precise tolerances and needs the right machinery to be managed. To guarantee precision and quality, great expertise and innovative tools are fundamental.
Precision & quality consistency—Wooden components are generally designed to be assembled with other materials, so you need to be sure about the perfect fit. For example, in the world of cosmetic or spirits packaging, caps must fit perfectly on the bottles to avoid contamination or product leakage. In other cases (such as hand tools or gun stocks), wooden parts should accommodate metal or plastic components. A lack of precision results in additional processing or production waste. The ideal wood maker should also be able to guarantee maximum precision and quality consistency for large lots of production parts.
Cost-effective—Wood is expensive, so you have to be sure to find a wood maker who can guarantee cost-effectiveness. It means that he must provide high-quality products delivered on time at a competitive price. This requires a deep knowledge of wood processing to optimize production and develop the most effective flow, from ordering raw materials to delivery.
Eco-friendly certifications and social responsibility—Sustainability is a subject particularly dear to modern consumers because they are more and more aware of the problems of the planet and the ecosystem today due to a lack of regulations and attention by most companies. Wood is sustainable, but it has to be collected following strict guidelines for environmental and forestry protection to preserve the natural ecosystem. FSC certification demonstrates it, but not all suppliers adhere to the necessary requirements. Innovative firms can’t ignore the social context in which they operate and must consider more ethical values that go beyond profit. If the company purpose is not the sole pursuit of profits, it positively influences the work of employees too.
Let’s discuss them.
A serious and competent wood maker guarantees clients’ deadlines and delivers each order as scheduled. But how can you know that in advance? To determine if the supplier can be reliable, look at the company structure and reputation.
First, you have to ensure that the custom wood products supplier has modern and innovative machinery, a consolidated process, and tailor-made logistic solutions. If the company has a decennial heritage, its competencies have been demonstrated over the years and are recognized even by its main competitors, it means that it’s trustworthy and solid (economically too).
Then you have to consider that, if the supplier is recognized as an expert in the field, he has probably collaborated with prestigious and famous brands. This can truly demonstrate and certify his professionalism and quality of work.
Focus on industry 4.0
Producing one hundred perfect components is easy. Producing one million requires special skills, and your selected supplier must be able to create one million high-quality, precise pieces. Many companies are not able to do that. You need to ensure that the producer follows strict manufacturing procedures and uses ground-breaking technologies to guarantee precision for each production lot.
All these aspects make the company more flexible during production and design phases, guaranteeing a fluid and adaptive organization even in such a complex environment. The evidence is manual quality control. If the custom wood products maker can show you that besides automation and sophisticated software there is also human control over production, the possibility of obtaining precision and consistency is greater. Constant care is not an option.
Risk management
Constant care also means the capacity of individuate, anticipate and possibly manage risky situations. The ideal manufacturing company is multi-plant: it means that if some major damage occurs in one of the plants, the supplier is able to quickly switch production to another plant. In this way, the process becomes smarter and can continue without any negative consequences for clients.
Processes & cost optimization
Products must be cost-effective: the supplier must guarantee quality, but you have to pay the right price for that. The positive aspect in working with wood is that it doesn’t require moulds, which are expensive not just in terms of money but also of time:
Being able to guarantee “just in time” delivery is also fundamental. Some suppliers can provide customizable private stocking solutions, manufacture products in advance, and store them in secure and safe warehouses. In this way, clients can order their components from stock with virtually instantaneous delivery. If one of these elements is absent, it is impossible for the supplier to guarantee perfect and impeccable service.
Empathy & cooperation
Finally, the human aspect is important. To get a wooden product that responds to your needs and standards, you have to find an emphatic and responsive wood maker who is ready to cooperate with you and help improve the different aspects of the final object. This means that during the design phase the supplier must be able to provide consulting services before moving on to production.
Finding a supplier which corresponds to all these requirements is not always an easy task. However, if you look at manufacturers with several decades of experience in different industries (like Minelli S.p.A) you’re more likely to identify the right partner. Since 1937, Minelli S.p.A. has ensured perfection in the quality and design of each product manufactured, and its experienced specialists serve customers in the best way possible, following rigorous processes and environmental sustainability.
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