FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Who is your ideal customer?

A. You are... if you are looking for precision machining by a supplier who cares about your business. We serve a variety of large and small customers with various needs and expectations.

Q. What are the key factors to your success?

A. Our key success factor is our timely ability to deal with complex accounts. We strive to understand your needs and submit proposals on time. We are never afraid to ask you questions. Our sales people want to ensure the highest quality results for your projects. We ask pertinent questions around design and delivery details. We listen to understand your exceptions and your justifications up-front... not after the order has been released. We will work with you to communicate all phases of work throughout the manufacturing process - relating any situational issues or delivery delays. We want you to come back to us time and time again for your precision machining projects!

A. A good example of our cost reduction projects was M & D's input and manufacturing expertise with a forming cylinder for DCA Food Industries. DCA's customer, Dunkin Donuts, was implementing an advertising campaign immediately after the Christmas Holidays. They knew demand would rise considerably and time was of the essence. M & D took poorly engineered aluminum casting and produced the part out of solid material -- saving DCA 40%. The product was a success for both our companies and resulted in a Just in Time (JIT) delivery to support the holiday advertising campaign. DCA's marginal product reaped a 24% profit -- this was an increase of almost 19%!

Q. How is pricing established for new work?

A. We discuss with you your specific project in detail and outline a scope of work. During the estimation process, our knowledgeable sales representative will calculate estimated labor hours, current material costs, and ascertain costs through standards and quotations from a variety of suppliers. Our thorough estimation and sales process ensures that your scope of work is fully understood and that estimates are accurate at that point in the process.

Q. How is pricing established on repeat jobs?

A. Our documentation process allows us to detail your project in a systematic way with thorough record-keeping. Pricing on repeat parts begins with a review of previously-closed job folder. A daily work-in-process log is recorded by the employees with all the pertinent labor information needed to complete an estimate. After we have reviewed this information of actual labor figures, shipping records and a list of all materials, time, and/or outside processes to cost a complete selling price, we prepare an accurate quotation for your repeat order.

Q. How do you handle quick-turnarounds?

A. M & D is well positioned to take on your next proto-type project and real-time demands. The addition of TASC, Inc., our new Hunt Valley Division, enables us to add to our existing manual machine department. Engineering capabilities are also available at both locations.

Q. Can you work with existing engineering, proto-types and design concepts?

A. M & D's ability and willingness to work with outside engineering groups of some of our customers have proved to be a successful way to reduce costs. In many instances, our input and collaboration in the early design stages can add extra-value and superb performance results for you!

Q. What percentage of your work is proto-typing?

A. Approximately 20% of all the work performed at M & D is proto-type work.

Q. Are you willing to form partnership arrangements with your customers?

A. M & D is presently a "dock-to-stock" supplier for numerous customers. These stocking arrangements have been ongoing for several years. We are proud of the ability to serve our customers' real-time needs. Many of our relationships include shipping parts upon managed release schedules. We encourage long-term orders. This allows us to design mass production runs for you to keep selling prices low. Add-on services such as on-time manufacturing helps our customers with their storage and inventory issues.

Q. Who are your competitors?

A. There are numerous machine shops specializing in different areas. M & D compares favorably with medium-size facilities and machine capabilities. Our strength is in our team and our expertise. We are well positioned and experienced to provide quality service to both small and large volume requests.

Q. What geographic areas do you serve?

A. Presently we serve Maryland, Delaware, D.C., Virginia, and Pennsylvania.