# Moving a machined part to a new supplier — without betting the line on it.

> Start as a second source. We make the part to your existing drawings and prove it matches, while your current supplier keeps running production. Qualification batches from 10 pieces; series production from 50 to 1,000,000+ a year.

- HTML page: https://fabvector.com/production-transfer (Portuguese: https://fabvector.com/pt/production-transfer)
- Scale: 20,000 m² in-house plant in Dongguan, Guangdong with 213 staff, plus 200 audited partner plants.
- Volume range: qualification batches from 10 pieces to series production of 1,000,000+ a year.

Use this before you send a machined part package to any new supplier.
Most production transfers do not fail because the new supplier cannot machine the part. They fail because the original supply chain contained knowledge that was never written down: a fixturing method, a deburring practice, a tolerance everyone knew was really tighter than the print.

**The drawing transfers. The knowledge does not.**

Sections A to C cover what any supplier needs in order to quote. Sections D to G cover what determines whether the first batch is actually right. Work through both before you commit to a changeover.

## File readiness checklist

### A. Project background

- Part name, part number, and current revision are identified.
- The equipment or end product this part is used in is documented.
- The reason for the sourcing change is clear: price, lead time, quality, capacity, supplier exit, or adding a second source.
- First order quantity and expected annual volume are known.
- Target delivery region and required date are defined.
- You know whether you need parallel supply with your incumbent or a direct changeover.

### B. Production files

- A 3D model exists in a neutral format such as STEP, Parasolid, or IGES.
- A 2D drawing exists showing dimensions, tolerances, and GD&T where applicable.
- Revision number and date appear on the drawing itself.
- Part numbers and revisions agree across the CAD, the drawing, the BOM, and any inspection records.
- Superseded revisions are marked obsolete and cannot be picked up by mistake.
- If the 3D model and the 2D drawing disagree, it is documented which one governs.
- Assembly drawings or mating-part information exist for any critical interface.

### C. Material and process

- Material is specified to grade and condition, not just family — 6061-T6, not "aluminium".
- Heat treatment and hardness requirements are stated.
- Surface finish is specified with process, standard, and thickness.
- Colour, gloss, and cosmetic acceptance are defined for visible surfaces.
- Masked or excluded areas are identified.
- Any specified brand, source, or non-substitutable process is identified.
- It is stated whether equivalents are permitted, and who has authority to approve them.

### D. Quality and acceptance

> These are not required to quote. They are what determines whether the first batch is right.

- Critical-to-quality characteristics are identified.
- Written acceptance criteria exist beyond "to print".
- Inspection scope is defined: full dimensional, key characteristics, or sampling.
- Historical first-article or dimensional reports are available.
- Known defect modes and how they were resolved are documented.
- Parts previously accepted on deviation are identified.
- It is clear who approves the first article, and whether volume may start before approval.

### E. Samples, tooling, and customer property

- A known-good sample is available to send.
- A worn or failed sample is available, where relevant.
- Fixtures, gauges, moulds, cutting tools, or CAM programs held by the incumbent are identified.
- Ownership of that tooling is documented — if the incumbent owns it, transferring means paying to build it again.
- It is agreed whether samples may be destructively tested for material verification.
- Return requirements for any sample sent are defined.

### F. Packaging and logistics

- Corrosion protection, individual separation, and handling requirements are specified.
- Labelling, serialisation, or lot marking requirements are specified.
- Sensitivity to humidity, impact, cosmetic damage, or cleanliness is noted.
- Incoterms, delivery address, importer of record, and shipping mode are agreed.

### G. Rights, end use, and export control

> This section is not optional. Controlled technical data becomes an export at the moment it crosses a border — including when it is sent only to obtain a quotation.

- You own, or are authorised to share, the drawings, samples, and technical data.
- End use, end product, and end user are identified.
- You have confirmed whether the part is used in military, defence, weapons, aerospace flight-critical, spacecraft, satellite, or nuclear applications.
- You have confirmed whether any file is subject to ITAR, the EAR, or another export authorisation requirement.
- If the data is controlled, written authorisation exists permitting disclosure to the relevant country, personnel, and suppliers.

**If you are unsure whether your data is controlled, tell us before you upload anything. We do not receive or forward controlled technical data without confirmed authorisation. Saying "not sure" costs you nothing and takes one email to resolve.**

## The four questions most packages cannot answer

**1. If the 3D model and the 2D drawing disagree, which one wins?**

Most packages have a conflict somewhere. Most do not say who governs. This is the single most common cause of a wrong first article.

**2. What is the actual acceptance criterion?**

"To print" is not an acceptance criterion if the print carries tolerances nobody has ever measured to.

**3. What does your incumbent do that is not written down?**

Ask your quality or engineering contact, not purchasing. Purchasing usually does not know, because it never appeared on a drawing or a PO.

**4. Who owns the fixtures and the programs?**

If your incumbent owns them, transferring means paying to build them again. Budget for it, or negotiate for them before you give notice.

## What your answers mean

| Result | When it applies | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| READY | Sections A to C complete, and D has an acceptance criterion. | Any competent supplier can give you a real number. Proceed to quotation and revision confirmation. |
| REVIEW REQUIRED | Items are missing or conflicting, but you can supply them. | You get a written list of what is missing. No redesign advice — just the gaps. |
| ENGINEERING REQUIRED | CAD reconstruction, tolerance definition, material identification, or process design is needed. | Scoped and quoted as engineering work before anything begins, and credited against your first production order. |
| HOLD | End use, rights, or export control status is unclear. | Files are not circulated until this is resolved. Usually one email. |

Almost nobody has every item in sections D to G. What matters is knowing which ones you are missing, so the risk becomes a decision instead of a surprise.

## Want us to run this for you?

Send the files you already have. An engineer reviews the package against this checklist and returns a written report within 24 business hours — free, no obligation, yours either way.

| Included, free of charge | Quoted separately as engineering work |
|---|---|
| File presence and format check | Tolerance review and cost-driver analysis |
| Revision conflict flags | Material or process substitution engineering |
| Missing-information list | Full DFM or cost-reduction study |
| Quotation-readiness decision and recommended next step | Inspection plan development, CAD reconstruction, or drawing repair |

Engineering work is always scoped and quoted before it starts, then credited against your first production order.

## You do not have to replace anyone to begin.

Most transfer customers start as a second source: we make the part to your existing drawings and prove it matches, while your current supplier keeps running production. If you move volume later, the qualification work is already done.

FabVector — CNC machining from qualification batch to series production. Typical transfer starts at 10–500 pieces and scales to 1,000,000+ a year.

Send your package: https://fabvector.com/quote · Production machining: https://fabvector.com/services/production-machining