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SEMA Show 2026 Sourcing Checklist: 7 Questions to Ask a Custom Parts Manufacturer
October 14,2026
The SEMA Show is where many aftermarket brands and builders meet the manufacturers who will make their next custom part. This checklist explains what to prepare before the show and which questions to ask a manufacturer at the booth, so you can judge in a short conversation whether a supplier can build your part at low volume and to OEM quality. YI-JEONG Industrial (IJE), a driveshaft and universal joint manufacturer from Taichung, Taiwan, will be at SEMA Show 2026, booth #20165, and our answers to each question are included below.
#20165IJE booth number
Nov 3–6SEMA Show 2026
LVCCLas Vegas Convention Center
Tradeonly; register at semashow.com
SEMA Show 2026 at a glance
| Dates | November 3–6, 2026 |
| Venue | Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Admission | Trade-only; register on the official SEMA Show website |
| IJE booth | #20165 |
What should you prepare before the show?
- A drawing or 3D model (PDF and STEP) on your phone or a USB drive. If you have no drawing, bring a sample or clear photos with the main dimensions.
- Quantities: first order, yearly volume and whether you need prototypes first.
- Application data: vehicle, engine power, torque, maximum speed and, for driveshafts, length and operating angles. Our propeller shaft design tools can turn this into a one-page summary.
- Your target timeline for samples and production.
- A short list of suppliers to visit. The show floor is large; book meetings in advance where possible.
Seven questions to ask a custom parts manufacturer at SEMA
1Can you build my part in low volume, from my drawing?
Many factories are set up only for large runs. Ask directly whether they accept small orders and prototypes, and whether they can work from a sample if there is no drawing.
IJE: Yes. We build low-volume custom parts from customer drawings, 3D models or samples, and can prepare a drawing from a sample for your approval.
2Which processes are done in your own factory?
Every handover between subcontractors adds lead time and tolerance risk. Ask which steps are in house and which are outsourced.
IJE: CNC turning, CNC milling, turn-mill machining, grinding, gear hobbing, broaching, wire EDM, automatic welding, 3D printing and laser engraving are all in house. Heat treatment (quenching and tempering, normalizing, carburizing, high- and low-frequency induction hardening, and nitriding) is carried out by specialist heat-treatment partners to IJE specifications.
3Do you already have tooling for a part like mine?
Existing tooling can remove most of the start-up cost of a small order.
IJE: We own more than 1,000 sets of forging dies and have produced more than 5,000 different parts. When an existing die fits your design, you save the cost and lead time of developing a new forging die.
4How do you inspect custom parts?
Ask whether every part is measured or only samples, and which instruments are used.
IJE: Custom parts are 100% inspected with a CMM, 2D and 2.5D vision measuring systems, profile projectors, air gauges, a contour measuring instrument and surface roughness testers.
5Can you test the part, not only measure it?
A part can match the drawing and still be too weak for the application. Ask what performance tests the supplier can run in house.
IJE: We run static torque, torsional fatigue and durability tests on Taiwan’s largest torque testing system (capacity 30,000 N·m, about 22,100 lb·ft), and balance complete driveshafts on a Schenck dynamic balancing machine (up to 300 kg and 5.5 m).
6Have you supplied OEM programs?
OEM supply experience usually means proven quality systems, traceability and stable processes.
IJE: Yes. For many years we have supplied OEM parts to vehicle manufacturers in the United States, Japan, Europe and Taiwan, and our quality system is ISO 9001 certified.
7How long have you been making this type of part?
Experience in one product family is worth more than a long list of unrelated capabilities.
IJE: More than 40 years. IJE makes universal joints, driveshafts, steering shafts and related driveline parts.
What should happen after the show?
A good supplier follows up within days with a list of open questions or a quotation. Before you place a first order, agree in writing on:
Drawing revisionThe exact revision the quotation and production are based on.
Critical dimensionsWhich dimensions appear in the inspection report.
Performance testsTorque, fatigue or balance targets, if the part needs them.
First articlesWhether first parts need your approval before production.
Keeping these points in writing avoids most problems with a new overseas supplier.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SEMA Show open to the public?
No. SEMA Show is a trade-only event. Buyers and media must register on the official SEMA Show website.
Where is IJE at SEMA Show 2026?
Booth #20165 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, November 3–6, 2026.
Can I book a meeting with IJE in advance?
Yes. Contact us with your company name, the parts you want to discuss and your preferred day.
Planning a custom part?
Book a meeting at booth #20165 or send us your drawing before the show so we can prepare.
#20165SEMA Show 2026
Nov 3–6 · Las Vegas
Nov 3–6 · Las Vegas