Working with an injection molder who holds quality certifications can provide you with many benefits, including cost savings, faster production, and a better final product. When choosing an injection molder, it is important to look for a few certifications that can show just how much they care about the quality of the products they produce. In this blog, we will outline these certifications and how they can help improve the quality of your product.
Benefits of Working With a Partner That Holds Manufacturing Quality Certifications
Save Time and Money
Reliable manufacturers who carry certifications will usually start off by completing a Design for manufacturability review of the product design. This allows them to address any issues before the production of tooling, saving their customers time and money. Additionally, this process ensures that your production will yield the desired product, meet all of the tolerances outlined by the customer, and occur without costly interruptions.
Meets Industry Requirements
Manufacturers understand that your product cannot enter the market if it doesn’t meet the regulations and requirements of your specific industry. When you work with a partner who holds manufacturing quality certifications, they will make sure that your product design meets these requirements before production even starts. This allows you to get your product to market faster since you will bypass any issues up-front.
They Meet Quality Standards and Criteria
These manufacturing quality certifications show that your production partner can meet all of your quality standards and criteria. To start, your manufacturing partner will perform a Design for Manufacturability review to ensure your product meets all requirements. Your manufacturer should also provide you with dimensional accuracy and quality surface finish and cosmetic appearance. Mechanical properties and material composition will also be addressed during production and you will be provided with a material certification.
Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): Crucial Manufacturing Quality Standards for Injection Molding
PPAP (Product Part Approval Process) is the approval process for new or revised parts, and parts that are produced from new or revised production methods. Different levels of PPAP submission or classes can be passed based on what category your product falls under. These include:
- Level 1: The Part Submission Warrant (PSW) is submitted to the customers with no data or documentation required
- Level 2: The PSW is submitted with product samples and limited or minimal supporting data
- Level 3: The PSW is submitted with product samples and complete supporting data
- Level 4: The PSW is submitted with other requirements as defined by the customer
- Level 5: The PSW is submitted with product samples and complete supporting data and a review at the manufacturing location is available
The PPAP is an extensive process of approval, requiring numerous steps to complete. These steps include:
- 1. Design Records: These documents include product drawings from the consumer and the supplier to confirm that the proper part is being ordered and that the drawings have been revised.
- 2. Engineering Change Documents: When the PPAP is needed due to a change to a part or product, the engineer’s change documents must be provided. This includes documentation to show that the customer approved the new design.
- 3. Process Flow Diagrams: This detailed document outlines the process for assembling the component in a graphical manner, including the material, assembly, test, rework, and shipping.
- 4. Control Plan: The Control Plan is a list of all of the product’s special characteristics and inspection methods that are needed to deliver products that meet the quality standards of customers.
- 5. Measurement System Analysis (MSA): This documentation will provide information on the equipment used during the assembly process or quality control checks. It details the amount of variation that exists within the measurement process of your production.
- 6. Dimensional Results: The dimensional layout of a sample part is required to confirm that the product meets the print specifications.
- 7. Material Test Reports: This includes copies of the certification documents for all the materials listed on the prints of your product, from steel to plastics. These documents also show compliance to the call on the print.
- 8. Functional Test Reports: Your product will be tested for functionality in a qualified laboratory and you will receive the documentation outlining the tests and the results, as well as any necessary certifications.
- 9. Appearance Approval Report (AAR): The AAR is only applicable to components that impact appearance only. It simply verifies that the customer has inspected the final product and it meets all of the aesthetic requirements for the design. This includes color and textures for example.
Additional Manufacturing Quality Certifications to Look For
ISO 9001:2015
This quality certification is the globally recognized standard for quality management. Its requirements define how to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve quality management systems. The ISO 9001:2015 certification helps organizations improve performance, meet customer expectations, and demonstrate the manufacturer’s commitment to quality.
ISO 27001:2022
The ISO 27001:2022 is the international standard outlining the framework for Information Security Management System (ISMS). This systematic approach provides many solutions to security management system issues, including:
- Implementing information security controls to manage the applicable risks to an organization
- Provides guidance on the implementation of security controls and best practices for protecting information assets, such as people, processes, and technology
AS9100
The AS9100 is a widely adopted standardized quality management system for the aerospace industry. This certification sets requirements for creating and maintaining a comprehensive quality system for producing safe and reliable products to the aerospace industry.
ITAR
Being ITAR certified means your manufacturer is in compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which controls the export and import of defense-related products. If your manufacturer is involved in the production of defense products, then they must be ITAR certified.
How Quickparts Ensures Quality From the Start With Manufacturing Quality Certifications
When you partner with Quickparts, we will make sure that your product is set up for success from the start. Our team will assess your product first and provide you with a Design for Manufacturability review before production ever starts. You will also be able to tell us exactly what requirements your part needs to meet so we can improve the design during the Design for Manufacturability review, saving you time and money.
We make sure to understand the application of your product so we can ensure our production processes and tooling are meeting the quality standards your products require. At Quickparts, we guarantee the quality of the tooling in prototyping and guarantee the quality of the part or product in production. You and our team will agree on standards and tolerances up-front, and if they are not met in production, our team will absorb that cost.
Quickparts is Here to Provide You with Top Quality Injection Molded Parts and Products
At Quickparts, our team is dedicated to quality. We hold various quality certifications, including ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2022, AS9100, ITAR, and we take part in the PPAP. We make sure to apply all of our quality standards to each injection molded part, product, or tooling we create so you always receive the best. From prototyping to production, we have you covered. Contact our team today to get started.