Manufacturing Engineer Mock Interview
Master 31 Manufacturing Engineer interview questions covering process optimization, lean principles, and production systems.
Question 14 of 31
Once you have received multiple quotes for a project, how do you go about making a final supplier selection?
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There will usually be nuanced differences in quotes when working with multiple suppliers, even though they are responding to the same RFQ and specification. Most likely the final supplier selection will be made by a sourcing board or company management, but they will often request the manufacturing engineer's input to make a decision. Ultimately, there has to be a cost justification for the decision, but it is the manufacturing engineer's job to spell out the differences in each quote and provide a professional opinion as to which option is the best. It is important that you show an ability to consider all aspects of the project. You must show that the decision should not be made solely on the price, but that you will be cognizant of the cost at all times.
"After receiving quotes from suppliers, I usually prepare a summary for all quotes received. I present this summary, along with my recommendation, to my management to make a final supplier selection. When summarizing this information, I try my best to clearly spell out the differences in each quote and an estimated cost impact of each difference. Ultimately, I understand that the lowest cost option should be chosen, but sometimes there are hidden costs that are not immediately apparent. I always make sure that these costs are accounted for before a final decision is made."
Daniel Neuhaus is a Tool Design Engineer with 10 years of CAD experience and 3 years in the manufacturing field. He is a University of Cincinnati Alumni with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology.
"If I cannot make the decision on my own, I seek consulting from either management higher-ups or coworkers. Before escalating the question to anyone else, I make a systematic comparison by narrowing down the quotes to the best of my ability. I compare features of the quotes: lead times, pricing, how easy it is to get in contact with the company, and dependability."
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