Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) outsource to cover their custom wire harness requirements. However, choosing a suitable and reliable wire harness manufacturer is not easy.
The process of finding the correct wire harness manufacturer for your business is not that different from the employment process. You need to know what to ask to find that perfect fit. Otherwise, it will end up costing you a lot of money and time if the manufacturer doesn’t meet your needs.
So you must conduct thorough research before committing to a manufacturer. Once you’ve found a few potential manufacturers that you believe might be a good match, make sure to set up a meeting with each of them and ask the right questions that can help you choose the best match for your needs.
We’ve compiled a list of questions to aid your decision-making in this article.
#1 How long have you been in business?
Working with an established manufacturing company can be very beneficial for you.
You will want to work with a company that has been in business for many years. For one, this fact will show that they can be a reliable partner, especially when you are looking for a long-term collaboration. Plus, the fact that they have been in business for years can also indicate their success. You don’t want to enter into a new business relationship with a partner who may not be there for long.
Secondly, a manufacturer operating for many years will have accumulated knowledge in handling similar projects, which can be a competitive advantage for your company. You will be able to rely on them for advice on best industry practices and efficient processes.
#2 Have you manufactured similar types of wire harnesses in the past?
Custom wire harnesses are used in a wide range of industries. And each industry has its distinct specifications. For example, wire harnesses in the medical industry are not designed and assembled the same as those in the automotive industry.
You will want to work with a manufacturer that has experience producing wire harnesses for your type of application.
#3 What services do you offer?
A few steps go into manufacturing a custom wiring harness, including the design, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, and after-sale services.
Some manufacturers will only start working based on the provided design, while others can work with your team to help design the wire harness based on your requirements. Whether you will need help with the design phase will depend on your internal capabilities. Nevertheless, it’s good to know whether you can rely on your manufacturer will help for this stage of the process. Especially since after testing, you might need to make design alterations.
Also, you want to look for wire harness manufacturers that can supply you with a prototype so you can test it before placing an order.
Moreover, it is equally important to finding a manufacturer that provides excellent after-sale services. While you may be happy with the end product, you never know what issues may arise in the future. The after-sale services are typically included in the form of a warranty. So, make sure to check whether the manufacturer offers one.
#4 How long does it take to receive the design, prototype, and finished product?
Always ask this question to set expectations up-front. The answer will depend mainly on your requirements. However, if the manufacturer has experience working on a similar project, they will give you a good time estimate.
This question can also help you assess how efficient the manufacturer’s work processes are
#5 What is your min/max order quantity?
Some manufacturers may have a minimum order quantity (MOQ) set in place. That is the minimum quantity of products you can order from them. This may be for several reasons, but mainly, when they produce fewer units than the MOQ, they cannot cover the manufacturing costs.
On the other hand, while not common, the maximum order quantity will be limited by the manufacturer’s capacity and capability to produce a maximum amount of units per batch.
Asking this question to your potential custom wire harness manufacturer will reveal whether they can fulfill your order requirements.
#6 What’s your quality testing process?
The wire harness manufacturer you work with must have a rigorous quality testing process to ensure the end product’s reliability. Ask this question to become familiar with the manufacturer’s quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) system in each manufacturing process step.
In addition, wire harness manufacturers have to comply with the industry regulations of your business. Different industries have specific qualifications that attest to the capability of a manufacturer to deliver quality products.
Make yourself familiar with the ISO certification required to produce wire harnesses in your industry and ask whether the manufacturer can show it to you.
#7 Are you able to source all the necessary components?
With this question, you will be able to assess the sourcing capabilities of your potential wire harness manufacturer.
A custom wire harness comprises many different components, each with its specifications. You should ask this question to ensure that your wire harness manufacturer can source all the necessary parts to produce the exact solution you require.
What’s more, the manufacturer must source the needed components in time and at an acceptable price.
#8 How do you vet your suppliers?
Quality is at the core of a good wire harness solution. And every component counts for the quality of the wire harness.
Most manufacturers have a set testing process or quality standard checklist to vet their suppliers. By being familiar with it, you will know whether the suppliers that your chosen manufacturer works with have the same quality standards that you require.
#9 Do you offer a warranty for your products?
You want to look for a manufacturer that offers a comprehensive warranty for at least 2-5 years. This will provide you with peace of mind that if something goes wrong, you will have a team of experts on call to help you deal with any issues that may arise.
Moreover, the presence of a warranty also serves as quality assurance.
In conclusion
Knowing what to ask a potential custom wire harness manufacturer is critical to the process of finding the best match. The above questions give you the necessary information to choose a suitable and reliable custom wire harness manufacturer. The answers you receive will also shed light on what working with that company would be like and whether you can build a long-lasting and beneficial partnership together.
