A repeatable process, run the same way whether it’s a first order or a tenth. Every step is managed by MTD Manufacturing, the same team, the same framework, every program.
Share drawings, volumes, and target dates – the more detail, the better the match.
The 8-step overview above is the skeleton. Here is what happens at each stage in practice, what MTD Manufacturing does, what the customer provides, and what quality documentation is generated along the way.
Submit part prints (PDF or native CAD), annual volume, target landed cost, required quality standard (APQP/PPAP level, ISO 13485, etc.), and desired country of origin (or put N/A and let MTD recommend). Partial information is always accepted -MTD will ask the right clarifying questions. An RFQ can be submitted at any stage of design maturity, from concept sketch to production-ready print.
MTD’s engineering team reviews the part design in detail, geometry, tolerances, material, surface finish, and assembly context and identifies value-analysis / value-engineering (VA/VE) opportunities before tooling is committed. VA/VE changes might include geometry simplification to reduce machining operations, material grade substitution at equivalent performance.
MTD identifies and contacts qualified suppliers from its vetted 32-country network not a cold directory search. Each supplier is evaluated for process capability, quality management system (ISO/IATF), production capacity, financial stability, and sub-tier supply chain.
Before production tooling is built, MTD develops the full manufacturing planning package: process flow chart (each operation in sequence), quality inspection sheets (what is measured, where, and with what gauge), and gaging sheets (gauge type, calibration requirement, acceptance criteria). For casting programs, this includes mold flow analysis to predict fill pattern, thermal distribution, and porosity risk catching problems in simulation before they show up in aluminum.
Design-for-manufacturability review confirms the part as designed can be produced at the qualified supplier to print tolerance at production yield rates. DFM flags issues that the VA/VE review might have missed in final production context, draft angles, parting line placement, wall thickness uniformity, and feature access for machining fixturing.
First articles are produced, inspected, and documented before production runs begin. First-article inspection includes CMM dimensional report (every dimension on the print), material certification (mill cert with chemistry and mechanical properties), surface finish report, and gauge R&R on critical features. In-process audits are conducted by MTD’s in-country team or a qualified third-party inspection house during production runs.
Freight routing, incoterms selection, HTS classification, customs clearance, and duty calculation are coordinated by MTD end-to-end so that the landed cost at your dock matches the landed cost quoted at program kickoff. No surprise invoices at customs. MTD monitors freight costs, transit times, and tariff changes continuously and flags deviations before they hit the purchase order.
Programs don’t end at first delivery. MTD manages ongoing VMI (vendor-managed inventory) replenishment for C-class fasteners and hardware, supplier scorecards (on-time delivery, PPM defect rate, responsiveness), corrective action requests (CARs) issued and tracked to closure, continuous improvement (kaizen) cycles to reduce cost and improve quality over program life, and risk monitoring.
MTD Manufacturing follows a repeatable 8-step process: (1) Requirements intake – customer submits drawings, volumes, and quality standard; (2) Design review and VA/VE – engineers identify cost reduction opportunities before tooling; (3) Sourcing and evaluation – supplier qualification and full landed cost analysis across the 32-country network; (4) Tooling design and manufacturing planning – process flow charts, inspection sheets, mold flow analysis; (5) DFM and prototyping – design-for-manufacturing review and validation; (6) Production and QC – first articles, in-process audits, PPAP submission; (7) Logistics – freight, customs, duty coordination; (8) Ongoing VMI, replenishment, and risk monitoring. The same process runs every program, first order or tenth.
VA/VE stands for Value Analysis / Value Engineering- the process of reviewing a part design before tooling to identify opportunities to reduce cost or improve manufacturability without compromising function. MTD conducts VA/VE at step 2 because tooling commitment is irreversible: once a die or mold is cut, design changes become very expensive.
DFM stands for Design for Manufacturability, a review that confirms the part as designed can be produced at the qualified supplier to print tolerance at acceptable production yield rates. MTD’s DFM review (step 5) checks draft angles for castings, parting line placement, wall thickness uniformity (to prevent sink and porosity), feature access for machining fixturing, and tolerance stack-up across mating features.
Yes. MTD Manufacturing manages the complete APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) workflow for offshore suppliers at step 6. This includes first-article CMM dimensional reports, material certifications, process capability (Cpk) studies, control plans, and DFMEAs – all delivered to OEM documentation standards regardless of supplier country.
MTD Manufacturing builds landed cost from the first quote, not just unit price. The quote includes ex-factory price, tooling amortization, ocean freight by route and transit time, US tariff at current directional rates, estimated rework rate by supplier tier, and inventory carrying cost based on transit time. At step 7 (logistics), MTD coordinates HTS classification, incoterms selection, freight routing, and customs clearance to ensure the actual landed cost at the customer’s dock matches the quoted model.
Step 1 starts with an RFQ. Submit drawings, volumes, and quality requirements – MTD responds within one business day with a process recommendation and country of origin.
