Outsourcing Machining to China or Taiwan: How to Pick the Right Shop (Without Getting Fooled by “Big Factory” Photos)

When we talk to customers who outsource machining to China or Taiwan, the most common question is always the same:

“There are so many suppliers… how do I choose the right one?”

Here’s my honest take: factory size is not the key. Not how many machines they have. Not how many employees. Not how fancy their inspection room looks on a website.

The real key is matching your part to the shop’s core strength.

In machining, every shop has a different “sweet spot.” Before you send out RFQs, you should figure out what you actually need, then confirm what the shop is best at.

For example, ask directly:

• Are they stronger in turning or milling?

• Do they specialize in small precision parts, or larger components?

• Are they good at batch production, or small mixed-volume jobs?

• Do they mainly run repeat orders, or do they handle prototype-style work well?

A shop can be excellent, but still be the wrong fit for your project.

Surface finishing is another big one. Most factories don’t do anodizing, coating, or heat treatment in-house, they work with partner vendors. That’s normal. But you still need to know:

• Do they have real experience with the same finishing process you need?

• Can they control the quality from their finishing partners?

• Have they shipped similar parts with similar finishing requirements before?

  
  

And finally: communication. This matters more than people think.

Some factories communicate through a sales person. Others use an engineer or FAE to talk with customers. Neither is “good” or “bad,” but you should think about your project: If your part involves design details, tolerances, functional fits, or process discussions, you’ll want a team that can communicate clearly and solve problems quickly.

Honestly, if you spend a little time talking with a shop, you can usually tell pretty fast whether they’re a good match.

If you have parts you’d like to outsource, feel free to reach out. We’re happy to take a quick look and help you figure out what type of shop is the best fit for your project.