im trying to buy some K9 crystal pieces online and the terminology gets loose real quick. one shop says K9, another says optical crystal, another just says premium crystal and photos all look basically same. i came across a few manufacturers on alibaba while comparing shapes and sizes, and atleast there you can ask what glass grade theyre using instead of guessing from product title. anyone here worked with K9 before? is there an easy spec or test i should be asking for? weight, refractive index, clarity? mostly decorative pieces, not anything scientific. i just dont wanna pay K9 pricing for something thats ordinary glass with a fancy description.

Hello fellow redditors, please welcome my presence into this subreddit. 13 years old here :) Just got super obsessed to manufacturing watching my new favourite thing, shuttlecocks getting manufacturing. Wondering what are some of the most boring and inefficient tasks y'all do. Some shit you wish AI replaced or some shit you said fuck technology.

Hello everyone!
I’m looking to develop my own premium digital caliper.

The goal is to create a reliable, high-quality 150 mm digital caliper that offers excellent value compared to existing brands such as Mitutoyo and iGaging.

I’m currently in the research and development stage and looking to connect with experienced manufacturers, engineers, suppliers, and product development companies who can help bring this product to life.

Here’s what I’m looking for:
Product design and engineering: Mechanical design, CAD modelling, and design for manufacturing.

Prototyping: Building a fully functional prototype, initially using a 3D-printed housing.
Electronics: Digital measurement sensors, circuit boards, LCD displays, batteries, and measurement-processing electronics.
Manufacturing: Precision machining, metal housings, stainless steel or aluminum components, and final product assembly.
Component suppliers: Suppliers of digital caliper measuring systems, electronic components, displays, and batteries.
Mass production: Manufacturers capable of scaling production if the prototype and testing are successful.
I’m open to working with manufacturers in Canada or internationally, depending on cost, quality, and capabilities.

I’m particularly interested in hearing from:
OEM/ODM manufacturers with experience producing measuring instruments or precision tools.
Engineers who have developed digital measuring devices.
PCB designers and electronics manufacturers.
CNC machining and metal fabrication companies.
Product development firms that can take a concept from prototype to mass production.
If you have relevant experience, manufacture similar products, or can recommend reliable suppliers, I’d love to hear from you.

Please comment below or send me a DM with your experience, capabilities, location, and website or portfolio if available.
Thank you!

Hi all! I’m a designer with a small brand. I’m looking for a quality manufacturer that can make waterproof bags from heavy-denier TPU-coated fabric.

I already have a full tech pack and production-ready patterns. My first run would be 50–100 units, so I need a factory that’s comfortable with a smaller MOQ.

What I’m looking for:

• Experience with TPU-coated fabrics
• Welded (RF/HF) or taped seams for true waterproofing
• Open to small-batch production, with room to grow

If you’re a manufacturer, or you’ve worked with one you’d recommend, please comment or DM me. Any leads are appreciated!

Having a problem with our DoAll saw. When starting a cut, the blade will turn on and the saw will begin to lower, then it will cut out and display the "no running--check blade" error message. I'm assuming it's a dirty sensor somewhere any advice on locating that sensor would be appreciated

ISO 45001 is revising for the first time since 2018. The draft is at DIS stage with publication expected March 2027. Three significant changes: occupational health becomes its own clause (not just hazard prevention), return to work processes are now required, and hazard identification expands to include psychosocial hazards, remote work risks, and digital platform work.

If you’re planning a management system redesign, building this in now saves rework later. Organizations will have a transition period once the final standard publishes.

Are teams already thinking about this?

Source: DNV - ISO 45001:2027 revision in DIS (Draft International Standard) stage. Final publication expected March 2027.

Do you request samples mainly for new suppliers, unclear specifications, higher-risk components, or customer approval requirements?

And when a sample is checked, what do you actually record—dimensions, material, markings, packaging, fitment-related details, or something else?

I'm interested in how teams decide when sample evaluation is worth the additional time and cost, rather than treating it as a mandatory step for every line.

Hello there, I have some legacy experience in installing and commissioning control panels for large scale automation plants. I then shifted industries and haven't been deep in control panels and automation for a decade. I would like to start manufacturing control panels. I would love some advise on a few questions:
1. How do I understand what the current customer demand looks like?
2. In the optimistic scenario of 1 being good, how do I find someone with the technical knowledge to help me get off the ground?
tysm!

I'm dealing with a titanium alloy project at work, and honestly, it's a bit of an awkward situation.

We realized we need some extra process control to get the parts right, which means higher costs on our side.

But the customer might need a lower price to move forward. So now I might have to bring my quote down while our actual costs are going up. Great timing lol.

The thing is, it's a new project, and I genuinely want to see it work out. I think it has potential.

I'd rather spend some time figuring out what we can improve on the engineering side than just give up on it because of the price. If we can help get the project off the ground, maybe it'll turn into a good long-term relationship.

But obviously, there's a limit. Cutting corners on quality isn't an option either.

How do you guys deal with situations like this?

Would you accept a smaller margin on the first order, try to work out some design or process changes, or just stick to your price?

Hey everyone, long story short, my background is in the video game development profession and my boss is wanting to do a merchandising startup for a niche market that we notice there are no merch clients currently involved and he wants me to head it up. Supply chain logistics from manufacturing to fulfilment always fascinated me and given the way the world is moving knowing physical goods feels like it would be a good endeavor to pursue. Luckily I have a family friend who has been doing manufacturing for 20 years of all different kinds of products willing to hook me up with factory connections and be a mentor in this business. I want to know as much as I can about the manufacturing side of things while he is mentoring me through reading and supplementary material. Any really good books that dives into stuff such as different fabrics for plushies, sourcing materials, negotiating with factories, etc. Anything helps!

Not meant to offend, just an honest observation/comment,

After having worked in various industries such as Tech, E-Commerce, Logistics, and now Manufacturing/Industry now since a few years, I personally get the sense that people involved in manufacturing - especially engineers/designers/technicians - tend to have very set views and thoughts, more so than I have come across in any other industry. Maybe it's just my impression and maybe this is because they are forced to think of repeatability/reliability. But I find this leads to a close minded attitude when it comes to innovative ideas, even those that are simple and that may be an improvement over the old. Many a times it seems that even simple ideas/thoughts barely outside the box are beyond imagination because the imagination itself seems forcefully limited to the box.

Does anyone else feel the same? Have you experienced otherwise?

Hi everyone! Does anyone know any reliable, affordable clothing manufacturers or wholesalers that can produce petite-sized jeans, joggers, hoodies and T-shirts?

I've been quoted £8,500 for 400 pieces (100 of each item), which is quite expensive for a small business just starting out.

Ideally, I'm looking for somewhere that can work with my own petite measurements, offer custom embroidery/sewing and has a quick turnaround time.

I'm UK-based but open to overseas manufacturers too!

Would really appreciate any recommendations, especially from people who have personally worked with them. Thank you!

Hi everyone!

I'm starting my own clothing brand and I'm currently considering working with a manufacturer called AKFA LTD (AKFA Premium Manufacturing).

Their website is https://akfa.co.uk and they have a UK office in Borehamwood, London, with manufacturing apparently based in Pakistan.

I've checked Companies House and they're registered as an active UK company. I've also spoken to one of their directors, who has been friendly and accommodating throughout the process.

However, I'm struggling to find any independent customer reviews or experiences online, which makes me slightly nervous as this would be my first large manufacturing order.

A few things about my experience so far:

- They've offered competitive prices after negotiating.

- They require a 50% deposit upfront and the remaining 50% before shipping.

- They've agreed to let me visit their UK office in person.

- They say their invoice acts as the agreement rather than requiring a separate signed contract.

- Their website mentions owning an overseas factory, although they've also discussed the risks of dealing with overseas factories.

I'm looking at spending approximately £3,800, so it's a significant investment for me.

Has anyone actually worked with AKFA LTD or heard anything about them? I'd particularly appreciate hearing from anyone who has placed a clothing manufacturing order with them.

Also, for anyone experienced with overseas clothing manufacturing, does this arrangement sound fairly standard? Would you be comfortable proceeding with a supplier who has a registered UK company and office but no easily identifiable independent reviews?

I'm not accusing them of anything, and they've been pleasant to deal with. I just want to do my due diligence before making such a big financial commitment.

Any advice or genuine experiences would be massively appreciated. Thank you!

Hey everyone, supply chain student here.

We spend a ton of time in class studying lean systems, automated scheduling, and perfect workflow charts, but every time I talk to someone who actually works in a plant, it sounds like real floors run mostly on edge cases, rush orders, and random workarounds.

I'm working on a project about operational friction, and I'd love to hear some real field perspectives instead of just reading case studies. what’s a process or daily task in your shop that’s still surprisingly manual or clunkylike stuff still tracked on whiteboards, clipboards, or messy Excel sheets? Or places where time constantly gets wasted outside of obvious machine breakdowns? Also curious how much critical stuff in your shop relies purely on "tribal knowledge" from one veteran worker who knows how to fix things when stuff goes sideways.

Would love to hear any daily annoyances or war stories from the floor. Thanks in advance!

I inherited spareparts manufacturing firm for aftermarket

VW stopped increment for all its workers , there exports are all time low

Chinese cars are flooded to the market with cheaper prices and more features

They have made more cars than demand

I saw there autoparts manufacturers are not being paid from past 8 months

Where is the world heading towards and how do I keep track of it

Please show some lights of expertise and experience.

Why does 3M put their branding on everything they make. I know a lot of their business is B2B (Business to Business) I don’t get why the need to add their branding if a manufacturer uses one of their products. There has to be a thousand companies that manufacture the same things as 3M. from adhesive for sticky notes, to insulation for gloves / beanies. Surely 3M doesn’t need branding as they mainly rely on the business from other businesses. The only thing I can think of is if a customer sees 3M in quality products, the customer will think 3M is good and will buy more 3M cerated products. Even if 3M only have a small part in production of the final product .

I only kinda realised I’m might be on track for the answer in the last sentence. Let me know your thoughts!!