When visiting a potential equipment supplier, how would you evaluate their readiness for a project?

"When visiting a potential supplier, I always ask to meet with the management or owner of the business. I will ask that they show me examples of other customers and similar projects which they have completed. If they can supply examples of past work that make me confident that they can meet our needs, then I will ask to perform an audit on their shop. As part of this audit I will check on many aspects of the business that are required for proper support of our project, as well as the overall cleanliness and organization of the shop."

"I would ask to see their floor of operations. If it seems up kept, that is a plus. But the supplies/ tools should be stocked or at least seem operational. For example, if all of the CNC machines are turned off, and no machinists are present on a weekday, that is a red flag. Also, speaking with the staff and their impression - if they seem alert and capable, that is a good sign. Most important, though, is their level of concern with my presence - if they are customer oriented, it will show."