01
Freight eats the unit price
A quote looks low until ocean freight, duty and brokerage land on the invoice. For a 2 kg aluminum housing, freight can add more than the machining cost once the shipment is split across two ports.
Sourcing reference
Near Sourcing White Paper
A working reference for engineers moving CNC work closer to the point of use. It covers landed cost, transit time, tolerance capability and rework risk, using numbers we can verify from our own shops.
±0.005 mm toleranceISO 9001:2015IATF 16949:2016No minimum order12-hour quote
15 yearsMachining since 2011
127High-precision CNC machines
±0.005 mmAchievable tolerance
3–5 daysTypical part shipping
Where sourcing breaks
Four failures this white paper should fix
These are the problems engineers bring to us after a bad sourcing cycle. Each one has a measurable cost.
02
Weeks lost to transit
A design revision that arrives during a 30-day ocean leg pushes the build back a full quarter. Air freight recovers the schedule but erases the savings that justified the offshore move.
03
Rework with no local fix
A bore comes in 0.02 mm oversize. The supplier is 12 time zones away, so the part sits while emails cross. A local shop can re-cut the feature the same week.
04
Documentation gaps
Material certs, inspection reports and change records arrive incomplete or untraceable. Auditors ask for the paper trail, and the sourcing team spends days reconstructing it.
How we frame the decision
Three numbers decide the source
Landed cost, calendar time and process capability. Everything else is a preference.
Cost
Landed cost, not unit price
Unit price is the easiest number to compare and the least useful. Landed cost adds freight, duty, brokerage, incoming inspection and the engineering time spent chasing missing documents. For parts under 5 kg, those adders often outweigh the machining delta.
We quote the machining operation and the finishing steps separately, so you can see where the money goes. If a feature can be reached in three axes instead of five, we say so and the quote drops.
- 1Quote in 12 hoursWith free DFM analysis on the drawing.
- 2No minimum orderOne prototype or a 10,000+ part run.
- 3Setup visibleFixture and tooling cost shown as its own line.
Time
Calendar time from drawing to dock
A domestic or near-region shop compresses the loop between quote, first article and production. Production can start within 24 hours of a released order, and parts ship in 3–5 days. The freight leg is measured in days, not weeks.
That matters most when a design is still moving. A change made on Tuesday can be cut on Thursday and inspected before the next build meeting. Offshore, the same change costs a full cycle.
- 124 hours to spindleMaterial and stock checked before release.
- 2Days in transitNot weeks, for the region you serve.
- 3Change-friendlySmall revisions handled without a new PO cycle.
Comparison
Sourcing model at a glance
Use this to frame the conversation with your sourcing team.
| Factor | Far offshore | Near sourcing |
|---|---|---|
| Transit leg | 20–40 days ocean | Days by road or air |
| Revision response | Next production cycle | Within the same week |
| Incoming inspection | Full check required | Report travels with parts |
| Rework path | Return or scrap | Re-cut at the source |
| Communication window | Overnight email | Same working hours |
| Documentation | Often incomplete | Certs and reports on request |
What we run
Processes behind a near sourcing program
Six capabilities that cover most metal and plastic parts in a sourcing review.
01
5-axis CNC machining
16 simultaneous 5-axis centers cut contoured faces, deep pockets and angled holes in one setup. Best for complex geometry where stacked fixtures would add error.
02
3- and 4-axis milling
27 three-axis machines and 12 four-axis mills handle prismatic parts, plates and brackets. Fast to set up and cost-effective at volume.
03
CNC turning and mill-turn
16 mill-turn centers cover shafts, fittings and parts that need turning plus cross-features without a second operation.
04
Rapid prototyping
Prototype quantities from one piece. Useful for form, fit and function checks before tooling or a production run is released.
05
Surface finishing
Anodizing, plating, powder coating, black oxide, blasting and laser marking. Minimum character height 1.5 mm for laser marks.
06
Inspection and reporting
100% inspection before shipment, with raw material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection. Reports issued on request.
Capability
Machine and tolerance envelope
Pick the row that matches your part envelope before requesting a quote.
| Category | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum part size | 4,000 mm | Long rails and beams |
| Large travel | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm | Single-setup long parts |
| Medium travel | 750 × 1,150 × 550 mm | Enclosure and plate work |
| Compact travel | 500 × 500 × 450 mm | Small precision parts |
| Rotary table | Ø400 mm | Indexed and contoured work |
| Achievable tolerance | ±0.005 mm | Feature dependent |
| Fine finish | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm | Ground or polished |
| As-machined finish | Ra 1.6–3.2 μm | Standard milled surface |
Why GreatLight
Six reasons a sourcing review lands here
Numbers first, adjectives second.
15Y
Operating since 2011
Fifteen years of production machining. Processes are documented, not improvised per order.
127
CNC machines on site
16 five-axis, 12 four-axis, 27 three-axis and 16 mill-turn centers. Capacity is in-house.
±0.005 mm
Tolerance we hold
Feature dependent, verified at final inspection. Reports available when your drawing calls for them.
99.99%
Qualification rate
Parts that pass inspection on the first submission, tracked across production runs.
12 h
Quote turnaround
Quotation and free DFM analysis within 12 hours of receiving a drawing and quantity.
ISO 27001
Confidentiality controls
Secure uploads, restricted access to files, and an NDA available on request.
7,600 m²Manufacturing space
3Wholly-owned plants
150Technicians
<2%Historical late-delivery rate
Industry fit
What each sector demands, and what we ship
Aerospace brackets
Thin-wall brackets and housings where weight and traceability both matter.
- ±0.005 mm
- Material certs
- 5-axis
EV and automotive fixtures
Jigs, end-effector plates and drivetrain components at prototype and low volume.
- IATF 16949
- Ra 0.8–1.6 μm
- 3–5 days
Medical instrument parts
Stainless and titanium components with cleanable surfaces and documented inspection.
- ISO 13485
- 316L
- 100% inspection
Robotics and automation
Arm links, gripper jaws and mounting plates that need repeatable fit across builds.
- 7075-T6
- Anodizing
- No MOQ
FAQs
Questions engineers ask before switching
What counts as near sourcing in this context?
It means placing production close enough that transit is measured in days and a revision can be handled inside the same week. The region you serve sets the boundary.
For North American and European buyers, a supplier in Dongguan with a Singapore plant shortens the air and sea legs compared with a supplier that ships from a single distant port.
Does near sourcing always cost more per part?
Not always. Unit price may be slightly higher than a far-offshore quote, but landed cost includes freight, duty, incoming inspection and engineering time spent resolving documentation gaps.
For parts under 5 kg with tight tolerances, the adders often close the gap. For heavy, simple parts moving by sea, far offshore can still win on cost.
How do we decide which parts to move?
Start with parts that have open design changes, tight tolerances or short program schedules. Those are where transit time and rework risk cost the most.
Leave high-volume, stable, generous-tolerance parts where they are until the process is proven. Move one part family first, measure the cycle, then expand.
What tolerances can you actually hold?
±0.005 mm on features that support it, with the material and geometry taken into account. Thin walls, deep bores and soft plastics behave differently.
We confirm achievable tolerance during DFM review, before the order is released, so the drawing and the process agree.
How fast is a quote and a first article?
Quotation and free DFM analysis come back within 12 hours. Production can start within 24 hours of a released order.
Parts typically ship in 3–5 days. Complex 5-axis work or multi-step finishing extends that, and we say so in the quote.
What about our drawings and IP?
Uploads are secure and confidential, with restricted access inside the company. An NDA is available on request before any file is shared.
We hold ISO 27001:2022 for information security, alongside ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 13485:2016 for quality.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
No minimum. One prototype and a 10,000+ part run go through the same quoting and inspection process.
For low quantities, setup and fixture cost dominates the unit price. We show it as a separate line so you can judge whether the quantity makes sense.
Which materials and finishes do you cover?
Aluminum 6061, 7075 and 2024 grades, stainless 303 through 17-4PH, alloy and tool steels, copper and brass, titanium, Inconel and engineering plastics including PEEK and POM.
Finishes include anodizing in four types, electroless nickel, zinc, silver and gold plating, powder coating, black oxide, blasting, polishing and laser marking.
Send a drawing, get a landed-cost view
Upload your files and we return a quotation with free DFM analysis within 12 hours. No minimum order, and an NDA is available before anything is shared.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum orderNDA on request
