The CNC precision components manufactured at Ensinger’s Huntersville, NC, facility are often complex, high-performance parts that demand close attention to detail and rapid response. The team at Huntersville has developed a process that enables them to effectively serve customers while maintaining the highest standards of quality, which has earned them a reputation as a trusted partner for customers in industries where reliability is crucial.
The process for new parts begins with the customer’s request for quote (RFQ) and continues through to final shipment. Each step of the process is focused on accuracy, clear communication, speed, and a thorough understanding of materials and manufacturing requirements.
Complete RFQs Speed the Process
The quoting process begins when the customer submits an RFQ. To deliver an accurate and timely quote, the team requires several key elements, including a 2D drawing, a 3D model, material specifications, finishing requirements, and timing expectations.
Having all the required information up front allows the team to turn quotes around in 48 hours. If any of these pieces are missing, additional communication is necessary before the estimating can begin, which may extend the timeline. Ensinger can work from just a 2D drawing or a 3D model, but having both allows the team to validate certain features and identify potential challenges.
A Thorough Review of the Project
Once the RFQ is received, it may be necessary for the team to speak with the end-user directly to get a better understanding of how the part will be used or clear up questions about design elements.
The engineering staff reviews the part design, tolerances, features, and material to confirm that it can be machined within the company’s capabilities. They verify that the part fits within the dimensions their equipment can accommodate and evaluate the requested tolerances. Drawings are examined for inconsistencies or gaps, such as missing tolerance specifications or conflicting instructions.
Material selection is a critical part of this review. Ensinger manufactures and specializes in high-performance polymers, including PEEK, PI, PPSU, PA, PC, and POM. These materials can be difficult to cut and machine because of how they respond to heat and stress during processing. The team uses its experience with these polymers to ensure that the chosen material will perform as intended in the customer’s application and can be machined efficiently.
If there are any concerns or questions, the Huntersville team contacts the customer for clarification before completing the quote. This eliminates potential issues that could delay production later in the process.
Detailed Quotes with Cost Transparency
Ensinger provides customers with detailed quotes that break down the price at various volume levels, outline material usage, and include any one-time non-recurring engineering (NRE) charges. NRE charges may include fixture design and build, special tooling, and/or CNC programming.
Material optimization is also considered. Many of the stock shapes used in machining—bars, sheets, and tubes—are produced in fixed dimensions. The team looks for ways to maximize the material to reduce waste and lower the overall cost of the project. In some cases, customers may receive alternate quotes based on larger production runs if the available material stock can produce more parts than initially requested.
For customers who require additional documentation, Ensinger can provide First Article Inspection (FAI) reports and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) documentation. These reports, generated in-house, confirm that the first parts meet specifications before full production begins. Including these requirements in the RFQ helps avoid delays and ensures that the final product meets all customer and industry standards.
Clear Communication from Start to Finish
Once a quote is delivered, the team follows up to answer questions and confirm the customer’s timeline for moving forward. If the project is approved, they work quickly to set up the customer in the system and finalize account details. Setting up a new customer account can involve credit reviews and other documentation, especially when working with international companies. To streamline the process, the team has developed standard packages.
If customers require parts on an accelerated schedule, Ensinger can accept credit card payments to expedite account setup and offer expediting services for an additional fee. These options are useful when lead times need to be compressed beyond the standard production window.
Throughout the entire project, customers receive updates on status, shipping, and answers to any questions that arise. Ensinger is committed to ensuring that customers are informed and confident about the progress of their orders.
Maintaining the Highest Quality Standards
Every part manufactured in the Huntersville facility is measured against the specifications provided in the RFQ and subsequent quote. Parts are not shipped unless they meet those specifications. If a potential issue is identified during production, the process is paused until it is resolved in collaboration with the customer.
This emphasis on quality is especially important given the high-performance polymers that the facility specializes in machining. These materials can move and shift during processing, making it more challenging to hold tight tolerances. The team’s expertise in working with these materials ensures that the final parts meet the required standards for strength, dimensional accuracy, and overall performance.
What Sets Ensinger Huntersville Apart
Ensinger Huntersville’s process is built around quality, service, and capabilities. Quality is the foundation of every project. Service comes from clear communication and proactive updates, so customers never feel as if their project has disappeared into a production queue without visibility.
Capabilities round out the equation. The Huntersville facility is equipped to handle complex parts in challenging polymers and other engineered materials. The team excels at milling and turning operations and is also highly capable in other CNC machining processes. They can provide secondary services, including annealing, assembly, cleaning, and packaging, to simplify the supply chain for customers.
With Ensinger’s back integration in materials and shapes, the Huntersville facility maintains a robust inventory to shorten lead times and quickly respond to customer’s needs for parts.
This disciplined approach to CNC precision component manufacturing has helped Ensinger Huntersville build long-term relationships with customers who often return with new parts and projects.
A Partner for Complex CNC Component Projects
Ensinger Huntersville is a customized production shop. Its specialty is high-precision parts with high performance plastics that requires a deep understanding of materials and manufacturing techniques. The facility’s process ensures that every customer, regardless of project size, receives the same level of attention, quality, and communication.
From the initial RFQ to final shipment, the Huntersville team’s expertise helps customers reduce risk, control costs, and quickly receive parts that perform as required. The result is a process customers can count on for precision, reliability, and speed.