Alcon

An injection mold is like a piece of art in my eyes. I have always been fascinated by its precision, the complexity of its design and the craftsmanship required to transform an idea into a functional product. Behind every successful molded part is a mold maker whose expertise often goes unnoticed, despite playing a critical role in manufacturing.

One day, I asked Microsoft Copilot a simple question:

"How many injection mold shops are there in the world?"

The answer was approximately 15,000 worldwide.

That immediately led to a second question: If thousands of mold shops exist, how does a customer identify the best one for a project?

Traditionally, companies rely on internet searches, trade exhibitions, referrals, supplier audits and personal experience. While these methods are valuable, they are also time-consuming and often influenced by individual opinions. I wondered whether there was a simpler and more objective way to identify world-class mold makers.

That question became the foundation for what I later called the “World Best Mold Maker Ranking”.

My first step was to seek input from industry professionals. I contacted molding engineers and asked for their recommendations. Surprisingly, I received only one response. It became clear that gathering industry-wide consensus would be difficult, so I explored a different approach.

Instead of relying solely on opinions, I began evaluating mold shops based on their public information, including company websites, industry publications, technical capabilities, awards and overall market presence. By the end of 2024, I had identified and evaluated 49 mold-making companies around the world. Their scores ranged from the low twenties to approximately sixty points, creating a framework that allowed meaningful comparisons across organizations.

As I continued the project, several factors consistently influenced a company's ranking.

“The best partnerships occur when mold makers engage early in product development, provide feedback on manufacturability and collaborate closely with customers throughout the design process.”

First, many companies lost points simply because critical information was missing. Potential customers want to understand a supplier's capabilities, engineering expertise, precision levels, simulation tools, quality systems and manufacturing capacity. Even outstanding mold makers can be overlooked if they do not effectively communicate their strengths.

Second, excellence extends beyond machinery and technology. Some of the highest-scoring companies demonstrated strong commitments to apprenticeship programs, internships, workforce development and community engagement. These investments help build the next generation of skilled professionals and strengthen the long-term future of the industry.

Third, leadership matters. I was impressed by organizations with diverse leadership teams, including several outstanding companies led by women. Diversity brings different perspectives, encourages innovation and contributes to stronger organizational performance.

Another characteristic shared by top-performing companies was a clear vision. Statements such as "Growing with our customers," "Developing the next generation of talent," or "Continuously exploring new technologies" communicated a sense of purpose beyond day-to-day operations. Companies with a compelling vision often stood out from competitors.

I also discovered that documentation remains an overlooked area of excellence. Customers need detailed information throughout a mold's lifecycle, from design reviews to factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, maintenance procedures and spare parts management. Comprehensive documentation saves time, reduces risk and strengthens customer confidence.

Perhaps the most important insight from this ranking project is that there remains a disconnect between mold makers and mold users. Once a mold is delivered, customers are often left to solve production challenges on their own. Yet mold makers possess valuable expertise that can help avoid those problems from the beginning.

The best partnerships occur when mold makers engage early in product development, provide feedback on manufacturability and collaborate closely with customers throughout the design process. Small improvements during mold design can eliminate significant manufacturing issues later.

My vision for the future is to bring mold makers and customers closer together. Benchmarking can help mold shops learn from one another while giving customers greater confidence in supplier selection. Looking further ahead, I believe the industry could benefit from a more formal certification or recognition program that promotes transparency, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

The World Best Mold Maker Ranking began as a personal curiosity. Today, I see it as an opportunity to encourage collaboration, recognize excellence and raise industry standards. In the end, the goal is not simply to identify the best mold makers in the world, but to help the entire industry become better.