When buyers request a quotation for a custom silicone rubber component, one question appears repeatedly:

“Why does this silicone part cost $0.30 from one supplier and $1.20 from another?”

At first glance, a molded silicone component may look simple.

It may weigh only a few grams and contain no expensive electronics or metal parts.

However, silicone part pricing is not determined by material weight alone.

The final unit price may include:

silicone raw material;
molding machine time;
cycle time;
mold cavity count;
labor;
trimming and deflashing;
post-curing;
inspection;
secondary operations;
packaging;
scrap allowance;
production quantity;
overhead.

For this reason, two silicone components of similar size can have very different manufacturing costs.

This guide explains what actually determines the price of a custom silicone molded part and what buyers should evaluate when comparing quotations.

The Basic Silicone Part Cost Formula

A simplified way to understand custom silicone pricing is:

Part Cost = Material + Molding + Labor + Secondary Processing + Quality Control + Packaging + Scrap + Overhead

Tooling may be quoted separately.

For long-term programs, buyers should also consider tooling amortization.

A more complete sourcing calculation is:

Total Program Cost = Mold Cost + Unit Part Cost × Production Quantity

This distinction is important.

A supplier offering the cheapest mold may not offer the lowest production price.

Likewise, a supplier with a higher tooling quotation may use a multi-cavity mold that significantly reduces the cost of each finished component.

1. Silicone Material Cost

Raw material is one of the most obvious contributors to part price.

But silicone materials are not all the same.

Depending on the application, a product may use:

standard industrial silicone rubber;
Liquid Silicone Rubber, LSR;
High Consistency Rubber, HCR;
platinum-cured silicone;
peroxide-cured silicone;
food-contact silicone;
medical-grade silicone;
high-temperature silicone;
flame-retardant silicone;
electrically conductive silicone;
fluorosilicone.

Specialized formulations generally cost more than ordinary industrial grades.

Therefore, a silicone component specified only as:

“Silicone, 50 Shore A”

may receive very different quotations depending on what material standard each supplier assumes.

Material Grade Can Matter More Than Part Weight

Consider two visually identical silicone seals.

Seal A

Standard industrial silicone

50 Shore A

Schwarz

General-purpose application

Seal B

Medical-grade platinum-cured LSR

50 Shore A

Controlled formulation

Lot traceability required

Although the geometry and weight may be identical, Seal B can cost significantly more because the material, handling, documentation and production controls are different.

When comparing prices, buyers should therefore confirm that every supplier is quoting the same material requirement.

2. Part Weight

Material usage generally increases with part weight.

A 5 g silicone gasket naturally requires less raw material than a 250 g silicone protective cover.

A simple material-cost calculation might begin with:

Part Material Cost = Silicone Price per kg × Part Weight

However, actual production consumption is higher than the finished net weight.

Manufacturers must also consider:

runner waste;
flash;
trimming waste;
startup material;
rejected parts.

Therefore:

Net part weight is not the same as actual silicone consumption.

3. Material Waste

Waste can be an important cost factor, particularly in certain molding processes.

Silicone may be lost through:

runners;
sprues;
flash;
trimming;
startup purging;
defective parts.

A process with a 20 g finished part may actually consume more than 20 g of silicone for each acceptable component.

Reducing material waste becomes particularly important when using expensive specialty silicone.

For high-volume LSR production, appropriate runner and mold systems can therefore have a significant effect on long-term cost.

4. Molding Cycle Time

Cycle time is one of the most important factors in piece price.

A molding machine has an hourly operating cost.

If one molding cycle takes:

30 seconds

the mold can produce many more cycles per hour than if each cycle takes:

180 seconds.

The basic relationship is simple:

Longer Cycle Time = Higher Manufacturing Cost per Part

Cycle time may include:

mold closing;
material feeding or injection;
curing;
mold opening;
demolding;
part handling.

The curing phase can represent a significant portion of the cycle for silicone molding.

Published molding cost guidance similarly identifies production time as an important contributor to per-piece manufacturing cost.

What Makes Silicone Cycle Time Longer?

Several factors can increase cycle time.

These include:

thick silicone sections;
large components;
slow-curing material;
difficult demolding;
complicated inserts;
manual loading;
manual part removal;
long cure requirements.

For example, a simple small LSR seal with automated demolding may be produced quickly.

A large compression-molded silicone component requiring manual loading and manual removal may occupy the machine much longer.

Even if both parts use inexpensive material, their unit prices may be very different.

5. Mold Cavity Count

Cavity count can dramatically change unit price.

Suppose the molding cycle is 60 seconds.

1-Cavity Mold

1 cycle = 1 part

60 cycles/hour = approximately 60 parts/hour

4-Cavity Mold

1 cycle = 4 parts

60 cycles/hour = approximately 240 parts/hour

8-Cavity Mold

1 cycle = 8 parts

60 cycles/hour = approximately 480 parts/hour

The actual production calculation is more complex, but the principle remains:

More cavities can spread machine time across more parts.

This is why high-volume silicone programs often use multi-cavity tooling.

More Cavities Do Not Automatically Mean Lower Total Cost

Multi-cavity molds cost more to manufacture.

They may also require:

larger machines;
more precise cavity balancing;
more complex runners;
more difficult maintenance.

Therefore, cavity count should match production demand.

For an annual requirement of only:

2,000 pieces

an eight-cavity production mold may be unnecessary.

For:

2,000,000 pieces

a single-cavity mold may create unnecessarily high piece prices.

The best solution depends on lifetime production volume.

6. Order Quantity

Quantity is one of the biggest reasons that two RFQs for the same part receive different prices.

Consider orders for:

100 pcs;
1,000 pcs;
10,000 pcs;
100,000 pcs.

Each production run requires fixed activities such as:

production scheduling;
mold installation;
machine setup;
material preparation;
process adjustment;
first-piece inspection;
cleaning;
documentation.

If the order contains only 100 parts, these costs must be spread over 100 components.

If the order contains 100,000 parts, the setup cost per part becomes very small.

This is why higher production quantities normally result in lower piece prices.

Commercial injection molding guidance similarly notes that increasing quantity can reduce the price per piece because fixed costs are spread over a larger production volume.

7. Annual Volume Matters, Not Only First Order Quantity

When requesting a quotation, buyers should provide both:

Initial Order Quantity

und

Estimated Annual Quantity

Zum Beispiel:

Initial order: 5,000 pcs

Annual demand: 300,000 pcs

This information allows the supplier to determine whether investment in:

additional cavities;
production tooling;
automation;
improved fixtures

will reduce long-term manufacturing cost.

Without annual-volume information, a supplier may quote a tooling strategy optimized only for the first order.

8. Part Geometry

Geometry influences both tooling cost and piece price.

A simple silicone O-ring-shaped component may require very little manual handling.

A complex part may contain:

thin membranes;
multiple sealing lips;
deep cavities;
ribs;
side holes;
internal features;
undercuts.

Complex geometry can cause:

longer molding cycles;
difficult demolding;
increased flash;
higher scrap;
additional trimming.

All of these increase unit price.

9. Undercuts and Difficult Demolding

Silicone is flexible, which allows some geometries to be demolded without complicated mechanical sliders.

However, flexibility does not mean every undercut is free.

Deep or aggressive undercuts may require:

manual stretching;
removable cores;
special inserts;
additional operator handling.

If an operator spends significant time removing every component from the mold, that labor becomes part of the piece price.

A small design change that simplifies demolding can therefore produce significant savings over hundreds of thousands of parts.

10. Silicone Hardness

Hardness can influence processing behavior.

Common silicone hardness ranges may include:

20 Shore A;
30 Shore A;
40 Shore A;
50 Shore A;
60 Shore A;
70 Shore A.

Extremely soft parts can be:

more difficult to handle;
easier to deform;
harder to inspect;
harder to trim.

Extremely firm formulations may have different processing characteristics.

Hardness itself does not provide a universal price formula, but it should be included in the RFQ because it influences both material selection and manufacturing process.

11. LSR Injection Molding vs Compression Molding

The selected process also affects unit price.

Formpressen

Compression molding is commonly used for:

industrial seals;
gaskets;
larger silicone components;
simple rubber parts;
moderate production quantities.

The mold may be less expensive, but the process can involve more manual:

material preparation;
loading;
trimming;
demolding.

Therefore, lower tooling cost does not always mean lower unit cost at very high volumes.

Liquid Silicone Rubber Injection Molding

LSR injection molding is often selected for:

precision seals;
medical components;
electronics;
small complex components;
high-volume products.

Advantages can include:

automated material feeding;
repeatable dosing;
multi-cavity production;
automated demolding;
consistent production cycles.

Xometry’s current LSR manufacturing guidance notes that material properties, mold design and processing conditions influence both molding performance and cost efficiency, while well-designed tooling can reduce waste and shorten production cycles.

For sufficient production volume, the higher initial LSR tooling investment can therefore be offset by lower long-term piece cost.

12. Manual Labor

Labor can represent a surprisingly large portion of silicone part cost.

Manual operations may include:

loading preforms;
inserting metal components;
demolding;
trimming;
inspection;
assembly;
packing.

Consider two parts that each use 10 g of silicone.

Part A drops automatically from the mold.

Part B requires an operator to:

remove it manually;
cut flash;
inspect four sealing edges;
assemble a plastic insert;
pack each unit individually.

The silicone material cost may be almost identical.

The final piece price will not be.

13. Flash and Deflashing

Silicone products frequently require flash removal.

Depending on the product, deflashing may involve:

manual trimming;
tear trimming;
mechanical processing;
cryogenic deflashing;
automated finishing.

A standard industrial component with a reasonable flash allowance is generally easier to manufacture than a cosmetic component requiring nearly invisible parting lines.

Extremely strict requirements such as:

“No visible flash anywhere”

can dramatically increase:

labor;
inspection;
rejection rate.

Instead, buyers should define tighter flash limits only on:

sealing surfaces;
valve edges;
assembly interfaces;
cosmetic areas.

14. Gate Marks

Gate marks can also influence finishing cost.

If a gate is located on a hidden surface, a small vestige may be acceptable.

If it is located on a Class A cosmetic surface, additional processing may be necessary.

During DFM review, allowing the manufacturer flexibility to locate the gate on a non-critical surface can reduce both:

tooling complexity;
unit finishing cost.

15. Post-Curing

Some silicone products require post-curing after molding.

Parts may be placed in a controlled oven for additional thermal treatment.

Post-curing can be required depending on:

material formulation;
application;
performance requirements;
volatile reduction requirements.

Post-curing adds:

oven time;
energy consumption;
handling;
production lead time.

Therefore, two quotations using different post-curing assumptions may not be directly comparable.

Buyers should clearly specify whether post-curing is required by the material or application.

16. Dimensional Tolerance

Tighter tolerance increases manufacturing control.

Bedenken Sie Folgendes:

±0.30 mm

versus:

±0.05 mm.

The tighter requirement may require:

better tooling;
more process optimization;
more frequent measurement;
tighter cavity control;
lower acceptable process variation.

If several dimensions are close to the production capability limit, the rejection rate may also increase.

That rejection cost eventually becomes part of the unit price.

Don’t Apply Precision Tolerances Everywhere

One of the easiest ways to unnecessarily increase silicone part cost is to apply:

±0.10 mm

to every dimension.

Instead, classify dimensions as:

Critical

Affects sealing, assembly or function.

Functional

Needs reasonable control but does not require extreme precision.

Non-Critical

General molded tolerance is acceptable.

This concentrates manufacturing control on features that actually matter.

17. Cosmetic Requirements

Cosmetic silicone products generally cost more to control than hidden industrial components.

Possible requirements include:

no visible gate marks;
very small parting lines;
uniform matte texture;
no flow marks;
exact color match;
zero visible contamination.

Every additional cosmetic requirement may increase:

inspection time;
handling requirements;
scrap rate.

If a component is completely hidden inside a machine, premium cosmetic criteria may provide little practical value.

18. Surface Texture

Silicone can reproduce mold surface texture very accurately.

Possible finishes include:

polished;
matte;
textured;
custom patterns.

The mold usually creates this finish directly.

However, premium surface requirements can increase:

tooling cost;
mold maintenance;
cosmetic inspection.

If appearance is not important, a standard industrial mold finish is often more economical.

19. Color

Standard colors may be relatively straightforward.

Custom colors can add costs related to:

pigment matching;
color masterbatch;
minimum material quantities;
cleaning between color changes;
sample approval.

Very strict color requirements may require comparison against:

Pantone targets;
approved master samples;
spectrophotometer readings.

For small production runs, custom color preparation can have a noticeable effect on piece price.

20. Silicone Overmolding

Overmolding means molding silicone directly onto another component.

Beispiele hierfür sind:

silicone over metal;
silicone over plastic;
silicone around electronic components;
silicone around cables.

These products may require manual insert loading.

For example, an operator may need to place four metal inserts into every mold cycle.

Production cost then includes:

Silicone Molding + Insert Cost + Loading Labor + Additional Inspection

If the insert must be precisely oriented, production may also require dedicated fixtures or automation.

21. Insert Cost

Some buyers look only at the silicone molding quotation and forget that embedded components can represent a large percentage of product cost.

Possible inserts include:

stainless steel;
aluminum;
brass;
plastic;
magnets;
cables;
electronic assemblies.

The unit price therefore becomes:

Silicone Cost + Insert Cost + Overmolding Cost

A silicone-overmolded metal component may contain only $0.10 worth of silicone but several dollars worth of machined metal.

22. Adhesion or Surface Treatment

Some overmolding applications require silicone to bond strongly to another substrate.

Depending on the materials involved, manufacturing may require:

surface cleaning;
plasma treatment;
primer;
adhesive promoter;
controlled drying.

These additional operations increase:

labor;
consumables;
equipment use;
cycle time.

Therefore, bonded silicone overmolding generally costs more than simple mechanical encapsulation.

23. Quality Inspection

Inspection is another important price component.

A basic industrial silicone product might use:

visual inspection;
periodic dimensional sampling.

A precision product may require:

100% inspection;
optical measurement;
automated vision inspection;
leak testing;
functional testing;
dimensional reports.

Inspection cost increases with both the number of characteristics and the inspection frequency.

Example: Sampling Inspection vs 100% Inspection

Suppose an order contains:

100,000 parts

If five samples per batch are measured, inspection labor may be relatively low.

If every finished component must be checked for:

diameter;
flash;
appearance;
seal integrity,

the inspection workload becomes dramatically larger.

Therefore, drawings should distinguish between:

critical characteristics requiring 100% control

und

dimensions suitable for sampling inspection.

24. Documentation Requirements

Some B2B projects require significant quality documentation.

Beispiele hierfür sind:

Certificate of Conformance;
Certificate of Analysis;
dimensional inspection report;
FAI;
PPAP;
material traceability;
lot records;
CPK studies.

These services require engineering and quality-control time.

They may be included in the unit price or quoted separately.

Buyers should specify documentation requirements during RFQ rather than after production.

25. Cleanroom or Controlled Production

Certain medical, healthcare or electronic silicone products may require controlled manufacturing environments.

Requirements can include:

cleanroom molding;
controlled packaging;
particulate control;
special handling.

These manufacturing conditions cost more than ordinary industrial production.

Suppliers offering general industrial molding and suppliers operating controlled manufacturing programs should therefore not necessarily be expected to quote the same price.

26. Scrap Rate and Production Yield

Manufacturers ultimately sell acceptable parts, not molded shots.

Suppose 1,000 parts are produced.

Process A

980 acceptable

20 rejected

Yield = 98%

Process B

850 acceptable

150 rejected

Yield = 85%

Process B consumes considerably more:

silicone;
machine time;
labor

to deliver the same number of acceptable components.

Therefore:

Lower Yield = Higher Effective Part Cost

Complex tolerance and cosmetic requirements can directly reduce yield.

What Causes Silicone Scrap?

Zu den häufigsten Ursachen zählen:

short shots;
air trapping;
contamination;
excessive flash;
dimensional variation;
tearing during demolding;
cosmetic defects;
insert displacement;
incomplete curing.

Good DFM and stable molding processes help reduce these losses.

27. Packaging

Packaging is often overlooked during price comparisons.

Silicone components may be supplied:

bulk packed;
individually bagged;
tray packed;
double bagged;
cleanroom packed;
labeled by lot;
vacuum packed.

Bulk packaging is usually inexpensive.

Individual packaging requires significantly more:

packaging materials;
operator time;
floor space.

If the customer requires every component to be individually packed and labeled, packaging may represent a meaningful portion of the final unit cost.

28. Order Frequency

Consider two customers who both buy:

120,000 parts per year

Customer A orders:

10,000 parts every month

Customer B orders:

120,000 parts once per year

Depending on inventory strategy, production planning and material handling, their manufacturing economics may differ.

Frequent small production runs require repeated:

mold setup;
cleaning;
material preparation;
first-piece approval.

Buyers should discuss delivery schedules with the supplier when negotiating long-term pricing.

29. Tooling Amortization

Sometimes tooling is paid separately.

Other projects include part or all of the mold cost inside the unit price.

Zum Beispiel:

Model A

Tooling: $5,000

Part: $0.40

Model B

Tooling: $0

Part: $0.60

Model B may appear attractive initially.

But after purchasing large quantities, it may become substantially more expensive.

Always confirm whether tooling has been:

charged separately;
amortized into the unit price;
provided under supplier ownership.

Why Does Unit Price Drop With Volume?

A molded product contains both:

Fixed Costs

Beispiele:

tooling;
setup;
programming;
qualification.

Variable Costs

Beispiele:

silicone;
machine time;
labor;
packaging.

As volume increases, the fixed cost is divided across more units.

This is why injection molding becomes particularly attractive as production scales; current commercial molding services also differentiate prototype tooling from production tooling, with production-oriented tooling carrying higher upfront cost but lower piece-part pricing.

Example Silicone Part Cost Breakdown

Consider a custom industrial silicone seal.

Material: LSR
Härte: 50 Shore A
Weight: 12 g
Annual Quantity: 200,000 pcs
Tool: 4 cavities

Its price may conceptually contain:

Cost Element	What It Covers
Silicone material	LSR consumption and waste
Machine cost	Injection and curing cycle
Arbeit	Setup, handling and packing
Deflashing	Removal of residual flash
Prüfung	Dimensional and visual QC
Scrap allowance	Normal production losses
Verpackung	Bags, labels and cartons
Overhead	Factory and production support

This is why simply calculating:

12 g × silicone price/kg

does not provide the true component price.

Why One Supplier May Be Much Cheaper

A lower quotation may result from:

lower material grade;
more cavities;
faster molding process;
more automated production;
wider tolerance assumptions;
lower inspection requirements;
simpler packaging;
higher planned production volume.

It can also result from differences in quality assumptions.

Therefore, buyers should avoid comparing only the final number.

First confirm that suppliers are quoting the same:

silicone grade;
hardness;
tolerance;
flash requirement;
inspection standard;
packaging;
quantity.

A Useful Quote Comparison Table

When comparing suppliers, create a table like this:

Requirement	Supplier A	Supplier B	Supplier C
Werkstoffgüte
Silikonhärte
Formverfahren
Formnester
Werkzeugkosten
Stückpreis
Mindestbestellmenge
Flash standard
Prüfung
Nachhärtung
Verpackung
Lead time

This makes quotation differences much easier to understand.

How Buyers Can Reduce Silicone Part Cost

Optimize Part Weight

Remove unnecessary silicone volume without compromising strength or function.

Maintain Reasonable Wall Thickness

Very thick areas may increase both material consumption and curing time.

Simplify Geometry

Reduce unnecessary:

undercuts;
deep grooves;
complicated ribs.

Use Practical Tolerances

Reserve tight tolerances for critical dimensions.

Relax Cosmetic Standards on Hidden Areas

Do not pay for premium appearance where the customer will never see the component.

Optimize Cavity Count

Match tooling productivity to annual demand.

Allow Efficient Gate Placement

Avoid unnecessary restrictions on hidden surfaces.

Minimize Secondary Operations

Every:

cut;
trim;
bond;
print;
assemble

adds cost.

Provide Accurate Annual Volume

This allows the manufacturer to recommend the correct production process.

What Information Should Buyers Provide for an Accurate Quote?

A good silicone part RFQ should include:

3D CAD File

STEP or another common solid-model format.

2D Drawing

Include critical dimensions and tolerances.

Material

Zum Beispiel:

Mit Platin gehärtetes LSR

Härte

Zum Beispiel:

50 ±5 Shore A

Farbe

Specify standard or custom color.

Anwendung

Tell the supplier whether the component is used for:

sealing;
medical equipment;
electronics;
automotive;
food contact;
industrial equipment.

Initial Quantity

Example:

5,000 pcs

Estimated Annual Quantity

Example:

250,000 pcs/year

Cosmetic Requirements

Mark critical visible surfaces.

Flash Requirements

Mark sealing or functional edges.

Post-Curing Requirement

Specify if applicable.

Packaging Requirement

Bulk, individual or special packaging.

Inspection Requirement

Specify sampling, FAI, dimensional report or 100% inspection where required.

Example RFQ

Product: Custom Silicone Housing Seal

Material: Mit Platin gehärtetes LSR

Härte: 50 ±5 Shore A

Farbe: Schwarz

Part Weight: Approximately 15 g

Critical Dimension: Sealing OD ±0.10 mm

General Dimensions: Standard molded tolerance

Flash: No loose flash on sealing surface

Cosmetic Requirement: Standard industrial

Initial Quantity: 10,000 pcs

Annual Demand: 300,000 pcs

Post-Cure: According to approved material processing requirement

Inspection: First Article dimensional report plus production sampling

Verpackung: Bulk packed in PE bags

Providing this information gives the supplier enough data to calculate a realistic production price.

Should You Choose the Lowest Silicone Part Price?

Not automatically.

A low quotation is valuable only if the supplier can consistently deliver components that meet the required specifications.

Buyers should consider:

production consistency;
material traceability;
dimensional capability;
flash control;
mold maintenance;
delivery reliability;
inspection capability.

A component costing $0.05 less is not economical if frequent quality problems interrupt the customer’s production line.

Focus on Total Cost of Ownership

Professional sourcing should evaluate more than piece price.

Bedenken Sie Folgendes:

Total Cost of Ownership = Tooling + Parts + Quality + Logistics + Failure Risk

A slightly more expensive component may provide lower total cost if it offers:

better process capability;
fewer rejects;
more reliable delivery;
longer mold life;
less incoming inspection.

This is especially important for silicone parts used in critical sealing and assembly applications.

Silicone Part Pricing Checklist

Before comparing custom silicone quotations, confirm:

Is the same silicone material being quoted?
Is the same Shore hardness specified?
Are suppliers using the same molding process?
What is the part weight?
How many mold cavities are planned?
What is the cycle time?
What is the annual production quantity?
Does the part require manual demolding?
Is trimming required?
Ist eine Nachhärtung erforderlich?
Are there inserts?
Is secondary bonding required?
What dimensional tolerances are required?
What flash limits apply?
What cosmetic standards apply?
Is 100% inspection required?
What documentation is required?
What packaging is required?
Is tooling charged separately?
What is the expected production yield?

Only after these items are aligned can two unit-price quotations be compared fairly.

Fazit

The price of a custom silicone molded component is not determined simply by how many grams of silicone it contains.

The major cost drivers are usually:

material + cycle time + cavity count + labor + secondary processing + inspection + scrap + packaging + production volume.

For low-volume projects, tooling and setup costs can represent a large percentage of total spending.

For high-volume projects, small improvements in:

cycle time;
cavity count;
material utilization;
automation;
production yield

can significantly reduce the cost per part.

The best way to obtain competitive silicone pricing is therefore not simply to ask:

“What is your price per piece?”

Instead, provide complete drawings, realistic tolerances, the correct material specification and estimated annual volume.

This allows the manufacturer to select a molding process and tooling strategy optimized for the lowest reliable total manufacturing cost rather than simply the lowest initial quotation.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

How is the price of a custom silicone part calculated?

The unit price normally includes silicone material, molding machine time, labor, trimming, secondary processing, quality inspection, scrap allowance, packaging and factory overhead. Tooling may be charged separately or amortized into the unit price.

Why does silicone part price decrease with higher quantities?

Setup, mold installation and other fixed production costs are spread across more components. Higher volumes may also justify multi-cavity tooling and automation, reducing manufacturing cost per part.

Does part weight determine most of the silicone molding cost?

Not always. Material weight matters, but cycle time, labor, cavity count, inspection and secondary processing can be equally or more important. A lightweight complex component can cost more than a heavier simple gasket.

Is LSR injection molding cheaper than compression molding?

It depends on volume and product requirements. Compression molding may have lower initial tooling costs, while automated multi-cavity LSR molding can provide lower piece prices for suitable high-volume production.

Why does tight tolerance increase silicone part price?

Tighter tolerances require better process control, additional inspection and potentially lower allowable production variation. This can reduce manufacturing yield and increase inspection cost.

How can I get a lower price for a custom silicone component?

Provide realistic annual quantities, simplify unnecessary geometry, use tight tolerances only on critical features, reduce unnecessary cosmetic requirements, minimize secondary operations and allow the manufacturer to optimize cavity count and gate location.