{"id":32657,"date":"2026-09-04T07:08:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T22:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/archives\/32657"},"modified":"2026-10-04T20:37:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T11:37:46","slug":"manufacturing-qmtblnht42","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/archives\/32657","title":{"rendered":"How to think about who to consult when you want to order metal processing in small batches."},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- lm-skin -->\n<style id=\"mc-article\">\n\/* \u8aad\u307f\u3084\u3059\u3055\u3060\u3051\u6574\u3048\u308b\u3002\u8272\u306f\u8db3\u3055\u306a\u3044\uff08\u7dda\u306f\u898b\u51fa\u3057\u3068\u540c\u3058\u8272\uff1dcurrentColor\uff09 *\/\n.elementor-widget-theme-post-content{max-width:800px;margin-inline:auto}\n.elementor-widget-theme-post-content p{font-size:17px;line-height:1.95;margin:0 0 1.15em}\n.elementor-widget-theme-post-content li{font-size:17px;line-height:1.95;margin-bottom:.35em}\n.elementor-widget-theme-post-content h2{font-weight:800;line-height:1.55;margin:56px 0 18px;padding-left:15px;\n  border-left:7px solid currentColor}\n.elementor-widget-theme-post-content h3{font-weight:700;line-height:1.6;margin:34px 0 10px}\n.elementor-widget-theme-post-content figure{margin:30px 0}\n.elementor-widget-theme-post-content figure img{width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:14px;box-shadow:0 12px 28px rgba(0,0,0,.12)}\n.elementor-widget-theme-post-content figcaption{font-size:.82rem;opacity:.7;margin-top:10px;text-align:center}\n.elementor-widget-theme-post-content img{max-width:100%;height:auto}\n\n\n\n@media(max-width:600px){.elementor-widget-theme-post-content p,.elementor-widget-theme-post-content li{font-size:16px}.elementor-widget-theme-post-content h2{margin-top:44px}}\n<\/style>\n<!-- \/lm-skin -->\n\n\n\n<h2>I only want to make one prototype, but I can&#039;t find anyone to consult with.<\/h2>\n\n<p>In a consultation regarding product development,<br>\nWe received a request to machine just a few metal parts for prototype purposes.<br>\nApparently, most of the factories they contacted refused, citing the small quantity.<br>\nThe situation was such that they wouldn&#039;t even listen to us if there was no prospect of mass production.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>Factories designed for mass production tend to be reluctant to accept small-batch processing orders.<\/h2>\n\n<p>I couldn&#039;t find a company to handle the processing for prototyping or small-batch production only.<br>\nWe were unable to proceed to the next step.<br>\nEven if the design itself is finalized, if we can&#039;t get several prototypes made,<br>\nWe cannot verify the shape or dimensions.<\/p>\n<p>The development schedule was moving forward without us being able to produce a prototype.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>Setup and tool preparation occur regardless of the quantity.<\/h2>\n\n<p>Metalworking involves setting up the material in the machine,<br>\nThere is a step in preparing the tools to be used for processing.<br>\nThis process is almost the same whether you&#039;re making one item or 100 items.<br>\nThe time and cost spent on preparation become more per unit as the quantity increases.<\/p>\n<p>When the quantity is small, the processing cost per unit tends to be higher.<br>\nThe more a factory has equipment and systems designed for mass production,<br>\nThe system is designed to be profitable through large-volume production.<br>\nSmall-lot orders don&#039;t fit this system and are more likely to be rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>We will review the processing details, precision, quantity, and delivery date together.<\/h2>\n\n<p>When considering suppliers for small-batch orders, we make our decision based on a combination of several factors.<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Required dimensional accuracy and surface finish<\/li>\n<li>Which processing method is most suitable, such as cutting, sheet metal work, or casting?<\/li>\n<li>Is it a prototype, or is it a small-scale production run of only a few dozen units?<\/li>\n<li>How much leeway is there before the deadline?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>Even within the same metalworking field, the areas of expertise, such as the volume range and processing methods, vary from factory to factory.<br>\nMy approach is to first organize the requirements, and then look for engineers who seem like a good fit.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>We connect engineers who meet the requirements for each project.<\/h2>\n\n<p>Instead of having large processing facilities in-house,<br>\nWe considered ways to connect with engineers at local factories that met the specific requirements for each project.<br>\nIt&#039;s important to understand the strengths of each technician, such as those skilled in cutting or sheet metal work.<br>\nWe will combine them according to the details of your request.<\/p>\n<p>By including engineers who can provide consultation even for just a few prototypes,<br>\nWe have designed our system to accommodate small-lot orders.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>The idea of maintaining connections from the prototyping stage is not limited to metalworking.<\/h2>\n\n<p>Not only clients who commission mass production,<br>\nThe idea of having connections with engineers who can handle small-scale projects from the prototyping stage is<br>\nThis also applies to other processes such as resin molding and surface treatment.<\/p>\n<p>Having someone to consult with during the early stages of product development is important.<br>\nThe design can be finalized while checking the actual product.<br>\nThis makes it easier to move forward even before deciding whether or not to proceed with mass production.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>We handle everything from design consultations to selecting manufacturing partners.<\/h2>\n\n<p>MACHICOCO is a company based in Higashi-Osaka, and does not own large facilities.<br>\nWe are developing our products in collaboration with engineers at local factories.<br>\nRegarding metal processing, we handle design consultations, selection of prototype suppliers, and more.<br>\nWe also handle the selection of processing partners for small-batch production.<\/p>\n<p>Even when we move to the stage of considering mass production, we will work with you to consider switching to a factory that is suitable for that scale.<br>\nWe&#039;re a company that doesn&#039;t just stop at development and manufacturing; we&#039;re involved all the way through to sales.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>First, please send us the actual item and its dimensions.<\/h2>\n\n<p>When you contact us for advice, please send us the following information to help us get started.<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Hand-drawn diagrams and sketches<\/li>\n<li>Reference photos<\/li>\n<li>Approximate dimensions<\/li>\n<li>How to use and where to use<\/li>\n<li>Desired quantity<\/li>\n<li>Prototypes and actual products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>Drawings are not required.<br>\nEven before the processing method is decided, we can consider manufacturing methods while looking at drawings and actual samples.<\/p>\n\n\n<!-- \u56f3\u89e3\u6848\uff1a\u6a2a\u8ef8\u306b\u300c\u52a0\u5de5\u6570\u91cf\u300d\u3001\u7e26\u8ef8\u306b\u300c1\u500b\u3042\u305f\u308a\u306e\u52a0\u5de5\u8cbb\u300d\u3092\u53d6\u3063\u305f\u6298\u308c\u7dda\u30b0\u30e9\u30d5\u3002\u6570\u91cf\u304c\u5c11\u306a\u3044\u307b\u30691\u500b\u3042\u305f\u308a\u306e\u8cbb\u7528\u304c\u9ad8\u304f\u3001\u6570\u91cf\u304c\u5897\u3048\u308b\u307b\u3069\u6bb5\u53d6\u308a\u8cbb\u7528\u304c\u8584\u307e\u3063\u3066\u4e0b\u304c\u3063\u3066\u3044\u304f\u30ab\u30fc\u30d6\u3092\u793a\u3059\u3002\u5c0f\u30ed\u30c3\u30c8\u3067\u8cbb\u7528\u304c\u5272\u9ad8\u306b\u306a\u308a\u3084\u3059\u3044\u7406\u7531\u3092\u8996\u899a\u7684\u306b\u88dc\u8db3\u3059\u308b\u56f3\u3002 -->\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/manufacturing\/\">Even at the stage where the processing method has not yet been decided,<br>\nYou can consider manufacturing methods while looking at drawings and actual samples.<br>\n<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1\u500b\u3060\u3051\u8a66\u4f5c\u3057\u305f\u3044\u306e\u306b\u3001\u76f8\u8ac7\u5148\u304c\u898b\u3064\u304b\u3089\u306a\u3044 \u3042\u308b\u5546\u54c1\u958b\u767a\u306e\u76f8\u8ac7\u3067\u3001 \u8a66\u4f5c\u7528\u306e\u91d1\u5c5e\u90e8\u54c1\u3092\u6570\u500b\u3060\u3051\u52a0\u5de5\u3057\u3066\u307b\u3057\u3044 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32849,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[171],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-column"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790248443418-E98791E5B19EE58AA0E5B7A5E38292E5B08FE383ADE38383E38388E381A7E9A0BCE381BFE3819FE38184E381A8E3818DE381AEE79BB8.png?fit=2560%2C1340&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32657"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33430,"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32657\/revisions\/33430"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.machicoco.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}