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Outsourcing Production Manufacturing
Get fast quoting, expert support, and one streamlined service from digital factories to global fulfillment
Certification & Compliance
ISO 9001:2015 | ISO 13485:2016 | AS9100D | JOSCAR
A Smarter Way To Outsource Production
Outsourcing production manufacturing is a smart way to cut costs, increase flexibility, and get to market faster without expanding internal operations. Protolabs makes it easy with a hybrid model that pairs our automated digital factories with a global network of vetted suppliers. You get production-grade capabilities, fast turnaround, and a single trusted partner that supports you from prototype through full production.
- One partner for everything: quotes, production, and delivery
- Our network scales with you, from 100 to 100,000 parts
- In-house factories plus vetted partners ensure scale, consistency, and responsiveness
- Localized teams provide transparent communication and production guidance
- Our quality-first approach includes built-in traceability and certified workflows
What Is Outsourced Manufacturing?
Outsourced manufacturing is the process of working with external suppliers to produce parts, components, or products, especially when scaling in-house production is too slow or costly. It’s commonly used to access specialized capabilities, reduce operational overhead, or add capacity without investing in new equipment.
At Protolabs, we take the complexity out of outsourcing by offering a unified production service. Whether you need a hundred parts or a million, we manage the entire process and ensure consistent quality every step of the way.
Production Manufacturing Processes Available
Injection Moulding
High-speed plastic part production with tight tolerances and long-term tooling stability. Ideal for end-use parts that demand consistency and volume.
- Fast tooling for short-run plastic parts
- 100+ plastic, elastomeric, and silicone rubber materials
- Automated CMM for fast, in-house quality documentation
CNC Machining
Precise, repeatable machining for metals and plastics. It is a great solution for production-grade geometries with demanding tolerances.
- Parts in as fast as 1 day, coatings in as fast as 4
- Tolerances as tight as ±0.001 in through our digital network, with tighter tolerances available upon request
- Milling, turning, and post-processing available
3D Printing
Agile and scalable for bridge production, custom runs, or complex geometries without upfront tooling costs.
- Great for complex, customized designs
- Additive technologies include metal 3D printing, SLA, SLS, FDM, and more
- 30 plastic and metal materials in a range of finishes
Production Materials
| Protolabs supports a wide range of materials across metals, plastics, elastomers, and more. Our in-house inventory and global network help you source the right material fast, whether you're building functional prototypes or scaling to production. |
Metal
Choose from aluminum, stainless steel, copper, titanium and many more custom options. These are recommended for precision components, structural applications, and thermal or electrical requirements.
Rubber-like
A range of flexible options such as silicone rubber and thermoplastic elastomers for applications such as seals, gaskets, overmolding, and soft-touch applications.
Plastics
We offer a large selection of high-performance plastics, such as ABS, polycarbonate (PC), Nylon (Polyamide, PA), POM and PEEK. These are suitable for cosmetic housings, wear-resistant parts, and parts requiring regulatory compliance.
Specialty
Available through our network for high-performance, temperature, or chemical resistance use cases.
Quality at Any Quantity
You get reliable parts without traditional outsourcing risks. Protolabs maintains strict quality standards across our factories and network partners.
| CMM inspection report | First Article Inspection (FAI) |
| Dimensional Inspection Report (DIR) | Prop65 |
| Material Certificates + Certificate of Analysis | Conflict Minerals Reporting |
| REACH + RoHS Certificates | AS 9100 via Protolabs Network |
| Certificate of Conformance (CoC) | Manufacturing partners in our network certified with PPAP, ISO 13485 |
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Benefits of Outsourcing Manufacturing with Protolabs
| Outsourcing manufacturing with Protolabs provides a streamlined and efficient way to produce high-quality parts at any scale. On-demand manufacturing provides access to fast, flexible production capabilities while maintaining quality, speeding up the transition from prototyping to full-scale production. |
Seamless from Start to Scale
We help you bridge the gap between prototyping and production, with a consistent experience at every stage.
- One supplier for low- to high-volume manufacturing
- Keep production moving without switching vendors or repeating approvals
- Predictable quality, consistent communication
Built-In Agility
Adjust fast to market changes, volume swings, and design updates without losing momentum.
- Industry’s fastest lead times
- High-mix, low-volume readiness
- Global reach and localized support
Lower Risk, Higher Control
From supply chain disruption to quality slips, traditional outsourcing can be risky. We mitigate that risk through clear standards, production visibility, and expert oversight.
- Certified systems and production-grade documentation
- Transparent pricing and digital workflows
- Trusted, audited manufacturing partners
How the Production Process Works
| We want to make partnering with us on a production project as smooth and streamlined as possible. |
Step 1
Talk with a manufacturing expert who will help customize your production quote around your full bill of materials.
Step 2
Work with our team to optimize your project for production, including design for manufacturability and cost-down options.
Step 3
An initial sample run of parts is manufactured and sent to you to ensure parts meet your standards before the full production begins.
Step 4
Get process transparency and quality control as full production begins.
Step 5
Post-processing and final quality measures are applied before parts are shipped.
Step 6
Place subsequent batch production orders for the project at any time with our virtual warehouse.
Production Applications
| Many industries decide to outsource their production manufacturing when flexibility, fast turnaround, or specialist capabilities are essential. Here's how Protolabs supports different sectors: |
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MedicalTight regulations and rapid innovation make outsourcing ideal for small-batch devices, enclosures, or diagnostic parts. Protolabs' certified quality and documentation helps medical teams scale production reliably. |
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AerospaceThis industry often needs high-mix, low-volume production with extreme quality and traceability. Outsourcing with Protolabs ensures precision and compliance for spares, certification units, and new programs without tying up internal resources. |
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AutomotiveCar makers and suppliers outsource production of service parts, low-volume components for model variants, and bridge tooling between design and mass production. It helps reduce tooling investment and move faster when volumes don't justify in-house setups. |
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Industrial EquipmentThis sector benefits from outsourced production when developing new products or supporting custom installations. It enables short-run builds, specialty materials, and fast delivery without setting up dedicated lines. |
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Consumer ElectronicsBrands outsource production for different model variants or accessory parts that need to change frequently. Outsourcing avoids overproduction and allows fast pivots when specifications shift. |
