With only a quote for "a complete set of molds," it was impossible to know how to compare them.
I received an inquiry from someone considering commercializing a product, regarding a quote for molds. They had received a quote from one company, but they didn't know what was included in the price, making it difficult to determine whether it was high or low.
I also heard concerns that if the specifications change during the prototyping process, it's difficult to predict how much the costs will increase.
The scope of the estimate varied from company to company.
The technical problem was that the quotation did not clearly specify which parts and processes of the mold were included.
The phrase "complete set of molds" alone doesn't tell us whether design fees are included or if trial run costs are charged separately.
Even if you obtain quotes from multiple factories, you cannot compare them simply by listing the prices if the scope of work is not consistent. A seemingly low quote may simply be missing some processes.
A mold is made up of multiple parts and processes, including the core, cavity, and slide.
A mold is not a single solid block, but rather consists of a cavity that creates the outer shape of the product, a core that creates the inner shape, and other components such as a sliding mechanism for forming undercuts (shapes that cannot be removed directly in the direction the mold is opened), and inserts that can be partially replaced.
The process is divided into design, parts processing, heat treatment, assembly, and test firing, and each of these steps requires time and expense.
The criteria for what is included in an estimate vary from company to company. Some companies charge separately for design fees, while others include trial runs in their estimates. Even when using the same phrase "complete mold set," the scope of what is being referred to differs, due to the complexity of these components.
We are checking whether the breakdown is written down by individual parts and processes.
When comparing quotes, the first thing I check is whether the breakdown is separated into individual parts and processes. If design, processing, heat treatment, assembly, and test runs are listed as separate items, it becomes clear where the costs are going.
Another important factor is whether or not you identify in advance the parts of the prototype's specifications that are most likely to change. Movable parts and fitting parts (where components fit together) are areas where problems that only become apparent after actually operating the device are likely to occur, and these are often the areas that require correction during the prototyping stage.
Knowing this point in advance makes it easier to anticipate, from the estimation stage, which parts' molds will need to be remade if modifications are necessary.
After defining the scope of the project, obtain quotes from multiple factories.
In this consultation, we considered a method of obtaining quotes from multiple factories and comparing them after standardizing the scope of work. Comparing prices only becomes meaningful when design fees, processing fees, heat treatment fees, and trial run fees are all presented under the same category.
Another approach we considered was to identify areas where specifications are likely to change beforehand and to agree on an estimate of the additional costs if changes occur before prototyping. By asking in advance about the approximate cost of modifications to movable parts and fitting parts, it becomes easier to forecast costs during the prototyping process.
The concept of aligning the scope of orders can also be applied to orders other than molds.
The idea of standardizing the scope of work when comparing quotes is not limited to molds. It applies to all orders that involve multiple processes, such as sheet metal processing, machining, and surface treatment.
Instead of judging whether a quote is high or low based solely on the amount, first check what services that price covers. Following this order is the starting point for comparison.
We compare options across the entire range, from design to the selection of the manufacturing facility.
MACHICOCO is a company based in Higashi-Osaka that manages projects to bring products to life in collaboration with engineers at local factories. They do not own large-scale facilities and are involved in all aspects of development, manufacturing, and sales.
Regarding mold quotes, we can start by comparing multiple manufacturers after standardizing the scope of the breakdown. If specification changes are anticipated during the prototyping stage, we will also consider a process where we identify areas where changes are likely to occur in advance and discuss estimated additional costs beforehand.
We provide support tailored to your specific needs, from finalizing the design direction to selecting processing partners for mass production.
You can start a consultation even without drawings.
Having the following information will help the consultation proceed more quickly.
- Hand-drawn pictures and photographs
- Approximate dimensions
- Intended usage
- Desired quantity
- If you have any actual examples that could be used as reference, please include those as well.
You don't need drawings. We also receive inquiries from people who have created CAD data using AI but are unsure whether it can be used directly for mold design.
Even at the idea stage, we can work together to consider design, prototyping, and manufacturing methods. You can even consult with us based on hand-drawn sketches or photographs.
