What does it mean to manufacture? Specifically, what do companies mean when they say that they manufacture their products. You should know that some companies feel comfortable saying such things to mislead you to think that they are completely in control (quality) of producing their component parts that go in to making up their shutters from scratch, when the truth is that they buy component parts. Then they start their process by cutting up outsourced materials they usually buy at a discount, and then say that they manufacture.
In reality very few shutter companies start from raw lumber and produce, or should we say manufacture their product completely. We all buy our paint, hinges, dowels, glue staples and such from suppliers, but did you know that most companies buy their wood component parts from distributers? Such products are most often produced overseas with substandard methods in order to meet a cheep price point. The very wood components that make up a shutter such as stiles (the vertical frames) the rails (horizontal frame) louvers (slats that are moveable) tilt rod (tilts the louvers) are all now being imported into utah to most shutter companies. These are made of fingerjointed material. A process to salvage smaller scrap lumber to reclaim profits. These components are always prepainted with a white primer. You might not be able to see these joints until they are in your windows for sometime. At some point these joints will start to separate and you will be left with an unsatisfactory product. No company, no matter how large, will be able to stand behind replacing, free of charge, the onslaught of failed product they knowingly sold as solid wood.
Take it from me, you should be asking the question, "Do you manufacture from scratch (raw lumber) your component parts"? If the answer to this question is no. You should be careful to not overpay for something that is truly a second grade product.
