Customer Profile
Industry: Industrial equipment manufacturer | Location: Stuttgart, Germany | Order: 12-part assembly, aluminum 7075-T6 + stainless 316L
The Challenge
“We sent the same drawing to 4 factories. 3 quoted within 24 hours without asking a single question. Only one came back with 6 technical questions and a suggestion to change the radius on part #7.”
The product team had a 12-part assembly designed in SolidWorks. Tight fit tolerances between mating components. Previous supplier produced parts that “looked right” but failed assembly — root cause was an incorrect fillet radius creating interference.
How QDJ Helped
- DFM Review: 6 technical questions before quoting — identified radius issue on part #7, thread engagement concern on part #3, and anodizing thickness tolerance on part #9
- Assembly Simulation: Reviewed CAD assembly constraints to verify all 12 parts would mate correctly
- Material Certification: Provided mill certificates for 7075-T6 and 316L with traceable heat numbers
- First Article Inspection: Full dimensional report with CMM data for all critical features
Results
| Metric | Before QDJ | With QDJ |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly failure rate | 40% | 0% |
| Design issues caught before machining | 0 | 3 issues saved |
| Rework cost avoided | — | $12,000 |
| Lead time (first order) | 18 days | 8 days |
Client Verdict
“The DFM review changed how we evaluate suppliers. We no longer ask ‘how much?’ first — we ask ‘what questions do you have about our design?’ QDJ set the standard.”