Parts Arrived Out of Tolerance – Supplier or Design Problem?

Parts arrive, inspection fails, production stops — but your supplier insists everything was “within tolerance.” Now the clock is ticking and you must decide who’s actually at fault. Tolerance failure is usually a supplier process issue — not a design mistake. If the drawing clearly defines GD&T, material, and finish, failures typically come from poor […]

Why Your China Supplier Keeps Asking to ‘Relax Tolerances’ (And What to Do)

You send a drawing. The quote looks fine. But as manufacturing begins, the supplier emails: “Can we loosen this tolerance?” Suddenly the project feels uncertain. China suppliers usually ask to relax tolerances because they quoted results they can’t reliably achieve during production — due to limited machining capability, inadequate fixturing, or insufficient inspection controls. Below, […]

Tolerance Failure After Heat Treatment – Why It Happens and How to Prevent

Heat-treated parts often come back warped or undersized — suddenly your build is stuck. Tolerance fails after heat treatment because residual stresses and phase changes cause distortion when machining sequence, fixturing, and finishing stock are not properly planned. Below are the 12 supplier-check questions that prevent tolerance surprises after hardening. Table of Contents Why do […]