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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Tolerance on aluminum finish, scratches and gouges

2004

My name is Enrique and recently took up a quality Technician position with this company. I have little to no experience on Quality other than the On the Job Training that I got from the previous Quality Tech.

My concern has to do with aluminum finishes, we purchase aluminum from a particular company, and recently we received a shipment with scratches and gouges. The buyer that works for our company is telling me that they (the company who we purchase the aluminum) are allowed to have some scratches up to 1/32 deep. My gut feeling tells me this information is incorrect. The problem is that the scratches are on the exposed surface, which results in poor appearance on the final product.

Can anyone give me some direction on what questions need to be answered for me to go back to the Vendor and request credit and/or better quality on the finished product.

Enrique Alvarez
Manufacturing - Grand Island, Nebraska, USA

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What does your purchase order and any attachments to it say about surface finish? If it says nothing, there's nothing for you to inspect, and whatever your supplier does will have to be acceptable.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2004

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There should be something documented somewhere that tells what the inspection criteria is. If you can't find it, find out if the buyer pulled the 1/32" deep answer out of the air or if there is something in the contract defining the appearance of this material (in other words cover your back!)

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2005