Table of Contents
One Factory, One Order — What That Actually Means
Most procurement teams dealing with overseas metal fabrication coordinate across three to five separate vendors — a laser shop, a bending subcontractor, a plating house, an assembly line, and a trading company in between. Every handoff adds delay, miscommunication, and markup. WERIX runs all nine sheet-metal sub-processes — laser cutting, turret punching, shearing, press-brake bending, embossing, TIG/MIG/spot/laser welding, and finishing — inside a single 3,000+ sqm facility in Dongguan. One purchase order covers everything from raw sheet to packed carton. Below is the step-by-step workflow for our sample and prototype phase — the process most first-time clients experience when evaluating WERIX for their project. For small-batch and mass-production orders, the workflow extends into production scheduling, tooling approval, and volume QC planning — your dedicated engineer will walk you through that process once sampling is complete.
Step 1 — Upload Your Files, Get a Quote in 24 Hours
The process starts when you submit STEP, IGES, DXF, or DWG files through our online upload portal. Our self-developed AI-powered quotation system — built on a knowledge base of 11 years of production data, accessed through a RAG architecture with a fine-tuned AI model — analyzes geometry, material, tolerance, and finish requirements to generate a costed BOM with pricing calibrated to our equipment, typically within 24 hours. Every quote is then reviewed and validated by a senior engineer who checks for DFM risks, confirms material availability, and ensures the price reflects your exact specifications.
- Accepted file formats: STEP, IGES, DXF, DWG, SolidWorks, Inventor, Fusion 360 exports
- No minimum order quantity for sheet-metal parts — from single prototypes to production runs
- All quotes include DFM flags: items that need geometry changes are clearly marked
- Material sourcing: we stock CR steel, 304/316 stainless, 5052/6061 aluminum, copper, and brass in standard gauges
Our quotation system is built on a knowledge base of 11 years of WERIX production data — cycle times, material costs, setup patterns, and verified order outcomes. A RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) architecture with a fine-tuned AI model finds the most relevant historical data for each new part and generates pricing calibrated to our equipment. Every quote is then reviewed by a senior engineer who verifies DFM feasibility, checks material availability, and adjusts for project-specific details. The AI handles the heavy calculation; the engineer handles the judgment.
Step 2 — Dedicated Engineer Review & DFM Feedback
Every project at WERIX is assigned a single dedicated engineer who follows the order from first sample to mass production. After the initial quote is prepared, your engineer reviews the 3D model in detail: checking bend radii against material-specific minimums, verifying hole-to-edge distances, confirming tolerance achievability, and recommending cost-saving adjustments where possible. Your point of contact is the same person who will supervise your parts on the shop floor — not someone relaying messages between you and a subcontractor.
- DFM review covers: minimum bend radius, flange length, hole-to-edge gaps, tolerance feasibility, and finish compatibility
- Your engineer provides a marked-up report with specific callouts — not generic checklists
- Design revisions are handled iteratively: upload a revised file, get updated pricing within hours
- For complex assemblies, the engineer reviews the full BOM for process consolidation opportunities
Step 3 — Quote Approval
Once your engineer has completed the DFM review and finalized pricing, the formal quote is sent to you for approval. This document includes the full costed BOM with per-part pricing, material specifications, finish specifications, lead time, and any DFM recommendations. We do not begin sampling until you have reviewed and approved the quote in writing — no surprises, no hidden costs.
- Quote includes: per-part price, material grade and gauge, finish specification, lead time, and shipping terms
- DFM recommendations are listed separately — you decide which to accept before we proceed
- Revisions welcome: if the quote exceeds your budget, your engineer can suggest cost-down options (relax tolerances, change material, adjust geometry)
- Written approval required before sampling begins — email confirmation or PO acceptance
Step 4 — Sampling in 3–7 Days
After quote approval and design freeze, we move to sampling. For standard sheet-metal parts, first-article samples ship in 3–7 business days. Because WERIX handles every sub-process in-house — cutting, bending, welding, finishing — there is no waiting for external subcontractor availability. The same facility that lasers your part also bends, welds, powder-coats, and packs it.
| Sample Type | Typical Lead Time | What You Receive |
|---|---|---|
| Single prototype | 3–5 business days | Physical part + dimensional report (CMM data) |
| Multi-part assembly | 5–7 business days | Assembled unit + sub-part FAI reports |
| Urgent / same-day | 24–48 hours | Part only — expedited through priority queue |
Step 5 — Final Inspection & Delivery
Every sample batch passes a four-stage quality gate before packing: incoming material certification check, in-process dimensional verification, final inspection with precision instruments (CMM, calipers, micrometers), and a shipment audit confirming packaging, labeling, and traceability. Samples ship globally with full documentation — material certs, FAI reports, and dimensional data on request. Once you approve the samples, your dedicated engineer will guide you through the production workflow, including volume scheduling, tooling (for stamping), and ongoing QC protocols.
- Packaging: PE foam + carton for standard; wooden crate for heavy assemblies (> 25 kg)
- Shipping: EXW, FOB, DDP, or DAP — your choice. We work with DHL, FedEx, sea freight, and rail (EU)
- Documentation: packing list, commercial invoice, material certificate, COO, and any requested test reports
- After sample approval: your engineer transitions the order to production scheduling and volume QC planning
Timeline at a Glance — Sample Phase
The table below summarizes typical lead times for the sample and prototype phase.
| Stage | Duration | Gate / Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| File upload & quote | Within 24 hours | Costed BOM with DFM flags |
| Engineer DFM review | 1–2 business days | Marked-up DFM report |
| Design revision (if needed) | Same day | Updated quote |
| Quote approval | Customer-dependent | Written approval or PO |
| Sampling | 3–7 business days | First-article part + FAI report |
| Inspection & packing | 1–2 business days | Final inspection report + packing photos |
| Shipping | 3–7 days (air) / 20–35 days (sea) | Tracking number + shipping docs |
Once you approve the first-article samples, your dedicated engineer transitions the project to the production phase. This includes production scheduling, volume-specific QC protocols, packaging specifications, and — for stamping orders — die fabrication and tryout. The sample workflow above is designed to validate your design and our process before committing to production investment.
FAQ
Written by
Tom
Senior Process Engineer
Experienced manufacturing engineer specializing in sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, and surface finishing. Writes practical guides to help engineers make informed sourcing decisions.
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