What Is Contract Metal Fabrication?
Businesses that need metal parts or components do not always have the equipment, shop space, or available workforce to make everything themselves. Contract metal fabrication provides another option by allowing a company to outsource some or all of that work to a specialized shop.
So, what is contract metal fabrication? It is an arrangement in which a business hires a metal fabricator to produce parts, components, assemblies, or other fabricated products based on its requirements. The fabricator may perform a single process, such as cutting or welding, or handle every stage required to produce a finished component.
This approach differs from keeping fabrication entirely in-house. Buying equipment, maintaining additional shop space, and having employees available for every type of fabrication work may not make sense for every business or project. Outsourcing can provide access to equipment, experienced fabricators, or additional production capacity without requiring the customer to add those resources internally.
Contract metal fabrication can be used for both individual projects and repeat production. The right arrangement depends on what needs to be made, the processes involved, and the quantity required.
How Does the Contract Metal Fabrication Process Work?
The exact process depends on the part, material, quantity, specifications, and work involved. Most projects begin by determining what needs to be produced and what information is available to guide the job.
A typical contract metal fabrication process may include:
Project review: The fabricator reviews the part, intended use, quantity, dimensions, and other available requirements.
Material sourcing: The appropriate type, size, and amount of material are identified for the job.
Production planning: The shop determines which fabrication processes are needed and the order in which they should be completed.
Cutting: Material is cut to the required size and shape using processes such as plasma, waterjet, or saw cutting.
Forming: Metal may be bent, rolled, or otherwise formed into the required shape.
Welding and assembly: Individual pieces can be joined when the finished part requires multiple components.
Inspection: Finished work is checked against the agreed dimensions, tolerances, and other requirements.
Delivery: Completed parts or assemblies are prepared for pickup, shipment, or the next stage of the customer's process.
A business does not have to outsource every step. One shop may need outside help cutting material but handle the remaining work internally. Another may need cutting, forming, welding, and assembly from the same provider.
Drawings and detailed specifications are helpful when available, but a project may also start with a sketch, sample, existing part, measurements, or other information that shows what is needed. Material, quantity, tolerances when applicable, and desired timing should also be discussed. For recurring work, established specifications can provide a consistent reference for future orders.
Contract Metal Fabrication vs. Custom Fabrication
Contract metal fabrication and custom fabrication can overlap, but the terms often describe different types of working relationships.
Custom fabrication commonly centers on a specific need. A customer might need a unique component, replacement part, equipment modification, repair, or another item that cannot simply be purchased off the shelf.
Contract fabrication may include custom work, but it can also support repeat or ongoing production. A manufacturer, repair shop, equipment business, or other operation might use a contract fabricator to produce the same component whenever additional quantities are needed.
The right approach depends on the job. Some businesses need a single custom part, while others need a reliable way to source repeat components.
What Can Businesses Outsource to a Contract Metal Fabricator?
Working with a contract metal fabrication company does not mean turning over an entire manufacturing operation. Businesses can outsource only the work they need, whether that is cutting, bending, forming, welding, or several processes needed to complete a part.
Common examples of outsourced metal fabrication work include:
Brackets, plates, and supports
Replacement or recreated parts
Structural components
Equipment components
Welded parts
Fabricated assemblies
Repeat parts used in larger equipment or products
This can be useful for a business that performs some work in-house but lacks the right equipment for a particular process. It can also help when existing employees and equipment are already committed to other jobs. Contract metal manufacturing and fabrication can therefore complement an existing operation rather than replace it.
Does Contract Metal Fabrication Work for Different Production Volumes?
Contract metal fabrication is not limited to large production runs. Depending on the fabricator's capabilities and the job, it can be used for an individual project, a small batch of parts, repeat orders, or ongoing production.
For recurring work, established material specifications, dimensions, tolerances, and other requirements provide a consistent starting point when more parts are needed.
Outside capacity can also help when workloads change. A shop might handle its normal workload internally but need additional support during a busy period. Another business may regularly need a particular part but not in enough volume to justify buying the equipment required to make it.
The best fit depends on the component, fabrication processes, quantities, order frequency, and resources the business already has available.
Benefits of Contract Metal Fabrication
Different jobs can require different equipment, shop space, and fabrication experience. Maintaining every possible capability in-house may not be practical.
Depending on the project, working with a contract metal fabrication business can help you:
Avoid unnecessary equipment purchases. Access outside capabilities without buying equipment that may only be needed occasionally.
Access additional fabrication processes. Fill gaps when certain cutting, forming, welding, or fabrication capabilities are not available internally.
Add production capacity. Keep work moving when existing employees or equipment are already busy.
Keep internal resources focused. Dedicate employees and equipment to the work the business is set up to handle.
Respond to changing workloads. Use outside fabrication when quantities or production needs change.
Use several processes through one shop. A fabricator with multiple in-house capabilities may complete several stages without sending work between multiple providers.
Cost is only part of the picture. Performing work internally can involve equipment, labor, materials, maintenance, shop space, setup time, outside processing, transportation, and possible rework. Looking at the complete job can help determine whether in-house production or contract fabrication makes more practical sense.
Industries and Applications for Contract Metal Fabrication
Contract metal fabrication can support many industries because fabricated parts are often used within larger equipment, vehicles, structures, or operations.
Transportation and tanking businesses may need brackets, supports, replacement components, or fabricated parts for trailers and other equipment. Agricultural operations can require parts for farm equipment, hauling equipment, feeders, and other everyday working needs. Construction companies may need plates, supports, structural components, or custom pieces for a particular job.
Manufacturing and fabrication shops may use contract services for processes they cannot perform internally or when additional capacity is needed. Municipal operations, oil and gas distribution businesses, and small industrial companies can have similar needs for replacement parts, equipment components, and fabricated assemblies. Projects can range from a single component to batches of repeat parts.
Quality, Consistency and Production Planning
Clear requirements help keep a contract metal fabrication project on track. Materials, dimensions, quantities, tolerances, and other applicable specifications should be established before production whenever possible. For repeat work, these specifications provide a common reference for each production run.
Planning also involves material availability and scheduling. Discussing quantities and deadlines early helps both sides understand what the job requires. Changes should also be communicated before production begins. If a part's dimensions, material, quantity, or other specifications change, the fabricator needs current information for the next run. Clear communication can help prevent incorrect parts, delays, and unnecessary rework.
Contract Metal Fabrication with BEP in Bismarck, ND
BEP provides contract metal fabrication in Bismarck, North Dakota, for businesses that need individual parts, repeat components, or additional fabrication capacity. Customers can bring BEP a complete fabrication project or use specific capabilities to supplement work they already perform in-house.
BEP works with steel, stainless steel, and aluminum and has equipment to complete many fabrication processes in its own shop. Capabilities include plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, saw cutting, bending, forming, welding, and custom fabrication. Keeping these processes in-house lets BEP handle jobs that require multiple fabrication steps without routing work to outside providers.
Customers also do not need to arrive with a finished design. BEP does its own drafting and can start with drawings, sketches, samples, existing parts, measurements, or other available project information to determine what the job requires.
These capabilities support transportation and tanking businesses, agriculture operations, construction companies, manufacturing and fabrication shops, municipal operations, and other industrial customers throughout the area.
If you are still deciding what to look for in a fabrication provider, read our guide to choosing the right metal fabrication company. Need help with an individual part, repeat components, or an ongoing fabrication need? Contact BEP to discuss your project and request a quote.