First Index:  Indispensable partner to the manufacturing industry - matching buyers and suppliers of custom-manufactured parts since 1992. 

First Index was founded more than a decade ago in response to the manufacturing industry’s growing need to meet the unique challenges associated with buying and supplying complex, custom-made components.

Buyers of custom-made parts needed a way to go beyond mere pricing discovery to identify suppliers with the quality and reliability to deliver ongoing value and sustainable savings, and overcome the risks associated with switching sources.  Suppliers needed a way to expand their customer base by accessing a steady stream of RFQs matched closely to their capabilities and therefore providing a real opportunity to win new business.

First Index quickly recognized that in order to help meet those needs, it would have to provide buyers and suppliers alike with more than just an online bidding platform.   Consequently, First Index developed a complete solution that has consistently delivered lasting ROI to thousands of customers through a simple but effective formula – supporting its easy-to-use platform with rich content and liquidity, as well as hands-on support from a team of knowledgeable professionals, dedicated to ensuring that buyers and suppliers both get the best possible results from the system.

After more than 16 years and almost 150,000 sourcing events, that basic value proposition remains unchanged:  First Index continues to provide an unbeatable combination of technology, content, and live support that enables manufacturing buyers and suppliers around the world to establish profitable ongoing relationships.

For buyers, that combination means using the First Index solution to lower their costs for custom-made components by identifying suppliers with the best combination of equipment, location and experience to manufacture those parts efficiently and provide sustainable ongoing savings.  Specific services and benefits for buyers include:

• Access to the world’s most comprehensive global database of suppliers, including detailed supplier profiles that allow supplier-searches based on an unparalleled range of criteria, including process, location, size, industry experience, certifications, materials, quantity range, and even specific equipment or specialty areas -- ensuring that buyers can quickly identify a selection of world-class suppliers with a combination of experience and capabilities precisely suited to their requirements.
• Easy-to-use, practice-proven RFQ platform, developed with years of input from buyers and suppliers and built specifically for sourcing custom-made parts – saving time and effort in the sourcing and negotiating process, and facilitating effective communication and feedback with suppliers.
• Expert sourcing support, with on-the-ground local support – enabling buyers to make informed decisions and to conduct effective follow-up with promising suppliers around the USA and Canada.

For suppliers, it means using the contact generated through the system to grow and diversify their customer base.   Specific services and benefits for suppliers include:

• Ability to tap into the unrivalled liquidity of the First Index marketplace -- suppliers can rely on the First Index system to generate a steady stream of quality opportunities from thousands of manufacturing buyers, including dozens of the world’s largest OEM’s from automotive, industrial equipment, aerospace, pumps & valves, off-highway equipment, oil & gas equipment, and a range of other industry verticals.   Suppliers benefit from the years that First Index has invested building relationships within the buyer community that enable it to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new opportunities every month.
• Consistent live support from First Index’s knowledgeable staff -- suppliers can rest assured that First Index’s experienced team of professionals will be there to help them make the most of the service by answering questions, facilitating direct communication with buyers, and providing feedback on any aspect of the service.
• Value-added services – First Index is not simply an online bidding platform, but instead supports its goal of bringing suppliers into direct contact with buyers through face-to-face events such as Purchasing Fairs.

Leveraging our experience to create a “win-win” for buyers and suppliers

First Index knows that for buyers, identifying and developing new suppliers for complex, custom-made components involves much more that simply finding the lowest price.  Likewise, for suppliers the objective is not simply to win one job, but to uncover opportunities to develop lasting relationships with new customers.  Helping buyers and suppliers achieve those objectives is is where our experienced staff makes the biggest impact – adding crucial expertise, support, and communication to the equation to increase the odds of success for both sides.   In this “win-win” scenario, both buyer and supplier are able to achieve long-term ROI from the system.

First Index covers the full spectrum of manufacturing processes, including: machining, casting, forging, metal stamping and forming, sheet metal fabrication, heavy fabrication, plastic molding, electronics, and a host of other processes.   We invite you to find out more about the specific solutions First Index offers buyers and suppliers.