Certifications, equipment lists and client rosters all matter — but here's what to actually ask before you commit a production order.
Every fabrication and machining shop's website says "quality" and "precision." Here's a shorter, more useful checklist for evaluating one before you commit an order.
First: ask what's actually certified, and to what scope. ISO 9001:2015 covers quality management broadly; AS9100D adds an aerospace-specific layer most industrial shops don't hold. Ask for the certificate number and expiry date, and check it, not just the logo on the page.
Second: ask about equipment specifics, not just categories. "We have CNC machines" tells you little; "Fanuc-controlled VMC with 800 mm X-travel and a 20-tool magazine" tells you whether your part actually fits their process window.
Third: ask who else trusts them with harder work than yours. A vendor list that includes defence, aerospace or nuclear-sector clients is a strong proxy for process discipline, because those customers audit for it directly.
Finally: ask what happens when something goes wrong. A shop that describes its non-conformance and corrective-action process without flinching is one that's actually used it — and that's the partner you want holding your tolerance.
