The ins and outs of fastener quality assurance

摘要

Fasteners play a crucial role in an assembly - yet quality standards are often overlooked by many businesses. If a fastener is not made to specification, manufacturers may be unable to assemble their products, facing long lead times before the right parts arrive.In a worst-case scenario, manufacturers risk sending poor-quality products out to the market, risking loosening or component failure. This would result in a product recall, an expensive, extensive and embarrassing process, which can significantly damage a company's reputation. Here, Brian Vince, Group Quality Manager at TFC, shares insight into common fastener problems, and how to avoid them. There are numerous reasons a fastener may not meet the required specifications. Perhaps there was a mix up during picking or labelling, and the fasteners have been delivered in an unmarked or incorrectly labelled bag. Maybe the wrong ISO standard of part has been delivered, or the material is not tempered when it should have been. Many common errors are almost impossible to detect with the human eye, so what can we do to be sure our fasteners are the right ones for the job?