Frequently Asked Questions
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Manufacturing
Perfection Spring & Stamping Corp. has three primary manufacturing departments, all of which have different manufacturing capabilities, and as such different gages we can accommodate:
Punch Press: .0035" to .187"
Fourslide: .004" to .093"
Coiling: 003" dia. to .280"
It is difficult to provide a "Standard lead-time" without specific details regarding the particular part, the raw material type, material gage, part finish, and or the number of secondary assembly operations that may be required. While the manufacturing lead-time is within our control, some raw materials have extended lead times. The lead-times for raw materials are beyond our control, and dependent upon the steel and wire mills' capacity and backlog, we may request extended raw material authorization from our customers to cover larger raw material buys.
Our on-time delivery record is tracked, monitored, and communicated as we work to meet a 100% on-time delivery goal. Delivery is affected by our customer's dynamic schedules and the ability to provide adequate lead-time. Currently, our on-time delivery record for the last year averages between 98% and 100% based upon an average of 1,100 shipments per month. In many cases, with customer authorization, a safety stock level is maintained to accommodate schedule fluctuations to meet a 100% on-time delivery goal.
Every part we manufacture starts with a complete team feasibility meeting, a review of the print, tolerances, and customer specifications. Our team, consisting of sales, manufacturing, engineering, quality, materials, and traffic, work together to review the specific part requirements and customer expectations to ensure full compliance. Our control documentation is created, including setup sheets, bills of materials, testing requirements, and packaging specifications. Customers are encouraged to attend our kickoff meetings to add any insight, experience, or knowledge that might be useful.
We work with a variety of ferrous and non-ferrous materials in both flat stock and wire. We can order, certify, and work with most ASTM, JIN, and DIN specs. as required by our customers' custom requirements. These include, to name a few: Cold and hot rolled and stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized, tin plate, brass, phosphorous bronze, beryllium copper, nickel, music wire, hard drawn, chrome vanadium, basic, and oil tempered. These come in a variety of flat stock or wire, with various edge conditions, tempers, or hardness as required.
Yes. In some cases, customers provide us with specialized material or material supplied due to the benefits of their high volume discount. We are happy to provide a quote "Less material." Final piece part yield can be slightly less than expected due to standard setup scrap, and coil change loss, and development as part of the standard manufacturing process, so we request an allowance of 5% overage when calculating material requirements.
Leadtime varies based upon economic conditions, backlog at the steel and wire mills, and tolerances of the required materials (i.e., commercial or non-standard size or type). When possible, we will work with our customers to change prints to the most common raw material gages so that general availability is more common and lead-times become less of a factor. For special order items, we will request extended raw material authorization as some material lead-times can exceed 14-16 weeks, which are not covered with standard blanket release schedules or authorizations.
Yes, in some cases. For non-standard gages, finishes, or small order sizes, minimum charges or weight can apply. This usually will affect smaller order sizes for prototypes or short runs and will be quoted accordingly. When this occurs, we will notify the customer and offer the minimum economic order quantity to fully consume the minimum buy. Minimum buys also come into effect for "Service Parts" after regular production has ceased. In these cases, lead-time and costs will be communicated to the customer to adjust the service quantity to the best economic order quantity.
Unplated parts are subject to oxidation. Light oil will be added after heat-treat to reduce the effect of oxidation but may not eliminate it. To guarantee "Rust Free" parts, a finishing operation such as painting or plating is required. Special packaging considerations can be quoted separately upon request for products that must be bare to reduce the effects of oxidation. For example, parts can be oiled and packed in plastic bags, vacuum-sealed, or packing, including desiccant or VPI paper. These methods will add to the parts' protection, but again, may not eliminate all surface oxidation.
Assembly and Finishing Services
A variety of secondary assembly services, including welding, tapping, fastener installation, plastics assembly, grommets, deburring, labeling, time-saving, mechanical fastening, special packing, tape & reel, etc.
Perfection offers an extensive amount of finishing services to the parts it manufactures. Generally, the most common are plating and heat treating. We do provide a wide range of secondary finishing services.
Engineering, Design, and Project Management
Yes. Our preferred files are DXF, IGES, and STP files; however, we can convert most CAD files for use. 3D models are always requested and recommended to accompany quotes to allow us to provide an accurate quote.
We have a fully integrated custom project management system and use "MS Project." We can track and monitor projects from the initial quote, through tooling development, quality submission, and on to final part shipment and approval. We update our Advanced Planning Quality Progress (APQP) report weekly for each project. Those customers who request a copy can monitor our progress for any open action items and status.
Please watch for flyers detailing our "Free Technical Seminar Series" or contact sales to offer a schedule of upcoming seminars.
We will customize packaging to fit any specific design or engineering standard to ensure the product is presented at the point of use in a manner acceptable for assembly. This includes tape & Reel packaging, cell packing, vacuum pack, "Candy tray" packing, or any other packaging specified. We also work with "Returnable packaging" programs we required for many of our customers.
Tooling
Yes. We can handle standard transfers, or for more urgent requirements, we have an "Accelerated Tool Transfer" program to assist when the timing is critical. Tooling can be pre-examined at a 3rd party location to ensure our ability to absorb and provide an accurate quote before the transfer. For more information, contact our sales department for a copy of our "ATTP" program (Accelerated Tool Transfer Process).
Perfection Spring & Stamping Corp. has five departments that use tooling; punch press, four-slide, coiling, assembly, and prototype. Depending on the particular type of tooling and lead-time provided, we will determine whether we manufacture it internally or outsource it to one of our certified partners.
There are no additional tooling charges for normal production once the tooling is completed. The exception would be for any unanticipated engineering changes requested from the customer. Tooling, however, does have an engineered "Die Life." If anticipated volumes are greater than originally communicated, or if the program's life exceeds the expected life provided at the time of quote, tooling may have to be refurbished or replaced. In these cases, the customer will be notified and adequate time to budget properly. During the normal business course, all normal and scheduled maintenance of the tool, such as perishable tool punches, sharpening, etc., are covered within the negotiated piece price and will not be billed separately.
Tooling lead time varies based upon the particular part design, complexity, and tooling type. Generally, progressive die lead-times for progressive dies run 10-18 weeks. Four-slide tooling runs from 8-14 weeks. Coiling tooling lead time generally runs less than 4 weeks. Of course, holiday periods, the economy, and backlogs can also affect the lead-time based upon the date an order is received.
Quality Assurance
We have total management quality systems in place, certified by independent third-party auditors. Our system encompasses not only the production areas but also that of the support departments, including documented procedures for administration, maintenance, sales, human resources, scheduling, etc. We are certified to IATF 16949:2016 requirements.
Our goal is always zero defects with a "Zero" PPM Level. Depending upon your particular part, design, tolerances, and processing limitations (i.e., batch plating, heat treating, etc.), the actual PPM may be higher than zero. In many cases, secondary sorts, manual and automated, can be included in the standard routing to meet targeted PPM requirements for a particular application.
Our Quality Department will be happy to assist you with any quality concerns you may have after receiving the product. A formal "8D Quality Process" will be initiated to document your concern. After an initial investigation is completed, we will work with you to resolve the issue and ensure the problem does not reoccur through formal corrective actions and adjustments to our quality control plans. If required, a "Return Material Authorization" will be provided should the product be returned to us.
We offer a limited warranty for 12-months that the parts ship and warrant that such parts will conform to the print specifications. For a complete review, our quote will include a web address for our "Terms and Conditions of Sale," which include the detailed limited warranty. If you would like to review this in advance of receiving a quote, please contact our sales department.
Scheduling, Orders, Customer Service
Based upon current market conditions as a result of the Covid Pandemic, quoted prices are valid for only 24-hours from the time of quote. Due to market conditions of raw material and other outside services, the quoted prices are subject to change based upon conditions beyond our control. When a purchase order is pending or issued, a formal "Contract Review" process will begin to confirm material, outside processing, packaging & freight costs as of that day, subject to change with each spot buy purchase or blanket order agreements.
Tooling quotes are valid for 14-days and will be reviewed and adjusted at the time of sourcing and is subject to change.
Explore Other Industries
From automotive to construction, Medical to HVAC, and more
Perfection Spring & Stamping Corp. is a manufacturer of custom metal components, serving a wide variety of industries. Ranging from "Global Fortune 1000" companies to the individual with a patent on a single-part, we serve a diverse portfolio of customers, markets & industries around the globe.
We do not have the minimum order size by "Quantity of parts"; however, we have a $400 minimum invoice charge per shipment. Price options will be provided for various order sizes and release quantities for our customers to determine the most attractive economic order quantity. Generally, we do not quote programs with less than 50,000 pieces per run, unless the volume in the first year is "Ramp-up" and is less than subsequent years with higher volumes.
In most cases, the selling price does not include freight cost. Unless otherwise specified, the quoted price is based upon freight "EXWorks, Our Dock." We will ship via our customer's specified carriers or recommend the most economical method. We ship by land, air, rail, and sea and are happy to discuss the various options available.
At the time of the quote, price options will be provided based upon "Minimum run & ship quantities" and not based upon the EAU or estimated annual usage as provided by the customer. Price may be adjusted in the event that the customer's actual releases & orders do not meet the quoted "Minimum Run Quantity." The price quoted is not valid for future "Service Orders" or requests for less than the "Minimum Run Quantity." In these cases, the part will be requoted at the time of the request, based upon actual quantity and associated outside costs at the time of request (i.e., raw material, outside processing, freight, etc.). The price quoted does not include additional applicable surcharges note on the quote. Additional documentation such as raw material certifications, SPC quality data, or other such custom report requests is not included in the quoted price. Any quote that includes "Freight costs" is subject to a quarterly review and adjustment based upon actual freight costs and Buyer acknowledges prices will be adjusted accordingly or included and accepted as a "Surcharge."
As actual volumes may vary once production starts, pricing may change if the volume delta is great enough to affect the purchased costs of raw material, freight, or outside process costs and services. Long term price agreements or blanket contracts are available and will be reviewed on an individual basis for long term price agreements.
The quoted piece price is based upon market costs of purchased materials/services (i.e., raw material, components, plating, freight, etc...) as of the quote date. We reserve the right to reset the base price upon actual market costs at the time of production start. A monthly surcharge will be billed separately if market costs exceed the quoted base costs of purchased materials. In some cases, when mutually agreed upon, quarterly pricing or spot buy pricing may be available in lieu of monthly surcharges.
Our offer of sale is based upon our "Terms & Conditions of Sale." Our quotes will include a web address to direct you to the current version located on the internet for your review. Should you require a copy before receiving your quote, please contact a representative in the Sales Department.
Yes. If adequate authorization is provided to cover larger production runs, we will run larger batches and inventory a portion of the production run for up to 45-days. Firm ship dates must be provided to cover the additional inventory being held for future ship dates. Please contact our sales department for further information.
Shipping, Receiving, & Packaging
Receiving Hours: 7:00 am - 2:00 pm (M-F).
Shipping Hours 9:00 am - 6 pm (M-F) or by special appointment.
Approximately 30% of our shipments are exported outside the United States. As such, we can process all paperwork, documentation, declarations, manufacturing origins, etc., to ensure smooth international shipments. We also work with specified freight forwarding companies or brokers as directed by our customers.
We can provide electronic advance shipping notices upon request via e-mail or Internet-based portal systems. Automated tracking for shipments can also be set up if offered by the carrier, such as UPS, Fed X, and L-T-L freight companies, if the services are available. For specific shipments, we can also forward you the "Tracking number" or "PRO number" upon request.
Depending on the part size and type, we can mark parts with an i.d., date code, or part number. This is usually completed with a "Stamp" placed in the primary die or tool. Some parts are also marked with a secondary label applied at the appropriate sequence in the manufacturing operation (i.e., after plating). "Laser marking" parts are also possible with logos, barcodes, or any number of specific i.d. requirements. Please contact our sales department for more information on this additional operation and associated fees.
Yes. We can conform to most AIG standards and can create custom barcodes for most requirements. Bar-coding can include part number, lot date, serialization, raw material tracking, manufacturing dates, etc. Please contact our sales department should you have a unique requirement.