A base plate chain blank, which is used in the manufacture of a suspension for a hard disk drive, comprises a plurality of base plates arranged in a line at given pitches and a scrap portion connecting the base plates. The base plate chain blank is put in a predetermined position on a load beam chain blank. The base plates are welded individually to load beams that are formed on the load beam chain blank. Thereafter, the base plates and the scrap portion are cut off by means of a die, whereby the scrap portion is separated. The base plate chain blank has notches arranged along cuttable portions at which the scrap portion is to be cut.