Questions to ask a machine shop before you send a job

What materials and tolerances do you work to? Ask for examples of similar parts they've made.

What equipment will run the job? Machine type and capacity tell you whether the part fits their floor.

What inspection do you do, and what documents come with the parts? Agree on inspection reports up front if you need them.

What's the lead time for a first article, and for production? Get both, in writing.

Who is my contact if a drawing question comes up? A named engineer or planner saves days.

Can you quote to my drawing as is? If the shop suggests changes, ask for them as a separate note so you can compare quotes fairly.