Jack...

       I don't totally agree with your statement " What choice is there? 
  Unless I go to purchasing and demand to know production vendors in 
  advance! Yeah, everyone jumps when designers request things, right?" 
  That is JUST what you do, if you can prove your point with facts to 
  higher management or the Quality Dept. We have experienced some of the 
  problems that you mentions because a certain %  of orders MUST go to 
  certain shops, but we have been able to give the simpler designs to them
  and the tougher builds to those that are capable. In fact, when we go out
  to qualify a fab house, the survey group consists of Purchasing, Quality
  AND MECHANICAL DESIGN. Don't give in to the Bean Counters..fight back
  with facts and if that doesn't work, kill them ( obviiously that last part
  is a joke, so save you flames)....
                                                   Bob Vanech                           

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