Introduction to Our Production Process
How a Forging Project Moves Through Milwaukee ForgeTech
When a customer requests a quote for a forged component, the process involves more than pricing a part. Each project moves through a series of steps that help ensure the component is manufacturable, meets performance requirements, and arrives ready for use.
At Milwaukee ForgeTech, the process begins with the customer’s RFQ and continues through engineering review, tooling decisions, forging, machining, inspection, and shipping. Understanding this flow helps engineers, procurement teams, and OEM manufacturers know what to expect as a project moves from concept to finished component.
Depending on project requirements, the process may also include machining, heat treatment, finishing, inspection, and other secondary manufacturing services. Milwaukee ForgeTech can help manage these additional processes to support the delivery of finished components from a single trusted partner.
If you are preparing to request a quote, this overview explains how a job typically moves through the company.
1. Request for Quote (RFQ)
The process begins when a customer submits a request for quote. This typically includes a drawing, part print, specifications, material requirements, expected volumes, and any information about the application or performance requirements of the component.
At this stage, the customer success team helps gather the information needed to begin the review process. Clear information at the RFQ stage helps reduce delays and allows the team to evaluate the part more efficiently.
Information that is often helpful in an RFQ includes:
part drawings or models
material requirements
estimated annual usage and estimated annual usage (EAU)
dimensional tolerances
heat treatment or machining requirements
application details and performance expectations
customer specifications
special requirements
The goal of this step is to make sure the job enters the review process with enough information for engineering and production teams to evaluate the part correctly.
2. Engineering Review and Process Selection
After the RFQ is received, the engineering team reviews the part and determines the appropriate forging approach. This review considers the geometry of the part, material requirements, tolerances, production volume, and how the component will perform in service.
At this stage, engineers evaluate questions such as:
whether hammer forging or press forging is more appropriate
what size forges are needed
what is the best method of forming the part
what machining or heat treatment may be needed after forging
whether any design adjustments would improve manufacturability
Once the review is complete, the recommended process is approved internally so the project can move forward.
This step is important because the selected forging method affects material flow, tooling, production efficiency, and the final performance of the part.
3. Die Design, Approval, and Tooling
The next step is die design and approval. The die is developed based on the part geometry and the selected forging method.
During this stage, the team works through the tooling details needed to produce the component correctly. Once this is done, the die is procured or machined in house to design specifications. Tooling may consist of existing equipment or new tooling may need to be ordered.
This step may include:
die design based on the part print
customer review or approval, if required
die manufacturing
preparation of die and tooling for production
The goal of this stage is to make sure the die and tooling is ready before production begins.
4. Forging the Parts
Once the process and tooling are ready, the parts move into forging production.
The material is prepared and heated to forging temperature, then shaped using the selected forging method. Depending on the part and process, this may involve hammer forging or press forging.
During forging, the material is plastically deformed into the required shape. This step is where the forged component gains the structural advantages associated with forging, including improved grain flow and strong mechanical performance.
At this stage, the focus is on producing parts that match the intended geometry and support the required performance characteristics.
5. Secondary Operations and Final Specifications
After forging, components may require additional manufacturing processes before they are ready for production use. Depending on the application, this may include heat treatment, machining, finishing, coating, plating, or other secondary operations needed to achieve final requirements.
Heat treating and machining may be applied while preserving the benefits of the forged structure in the rest of the part.
This step may include work such as:
dimensional finishing
strengthening the part
machining of functional surfaces
adding required features
preparing the part for final inspection or assembly
The goal is to bring the forged component to final part requirements.
6. Inspection and Verification
Once the part has been forged and machined as required, it moves through inspection.
Inspection verifies that the finished component meets dimensional and quality requirements before shipment. This step is especially important for customer-specified parts that must fit correctly into assemblies and perform reliably in service.
Inspection may include:
dimensional checks
in-house Nondestructive Testing (NDT)
external Destructive Physical Analysis (DPA)
verification against part specifications
review of critical features
quality checks for conformance and accuracy
This stage helps ensure the parts are accurate, consistent, and ready for delivery.
7. Shipping the Parts
After inspection is complete, the parts are prepared for shipment.
At this stage, the finished components move out of production and into delivery, where they are sent to the customer according to the approved order and shipping requirements.
The goal is straightforward: deliver parts that match the approved requirements and are ready for the next step in the customer’s production or assembly process.
Why This Process Matters
A forged component does not move directly from quote to shipment. Each stage in the process plays a role in making sure the final part is manufacturable, accurate, and suited to the application.
This workflow helps support:
correct process selection
reliable production planning
consistent part quality
clear movement from design to delivery
For customers, understanding this process makes it easier to submit useful RFQ information, anticipate next steps, and work more efficiently with the forging team.
What to Include When Requesting a Quote
To help the process move efficiently, customers should include as much relevant information as possible at the RFQ stage.
Helpful information includes:
drawings or CAD files
material requirements
estimated order volume and EAU
dimensional tolerances
machining requirements
heat treatment requirements
application details
customer specifications
special requirements
Providing complete information early helps the team review the part more accurately and recommend the right forging approach.
Request a Quote
If you are ready to request a quote for a forged component, Milwaukee ForgeTech can help.
Send us your drawing, specifications, and project details, and our team will review your requirements and guide the job through the appropriate process from RFQ to finished part.