If you’re supplying components to an OEM (original equipment manufacturer), you already understand how critical it is to meet their detailed part specifications. Your internal teams are trained to follow these specs closely, but what happens when part of your process is outsourced?
Whether it’s surface finishing, plating, or coating, if your suppliers don’t meet the same specs, you’re still held accountable. That means any deviation from the spec, intentional or not, can result in scrap, rework, rejected parts, or costly penalties.
Why Shared Specs Are Crucial in Outsourced Finishing
When you subcontract any process—like plating on plastic, decorative finishing, or electroplating—you need to make sure that your finishing supplier has a clear and accurate understanding of the OEM requirements.
Here’s why:
- If the supplier’s internal inspection spec is less rigorous than the OEM’s, they may pass defective parts back to you.
- If the supplier’s spec is more strict than necessary, you may lose acceptable parts to unnecessary scrapping or rework.
- Either way, it impacts your timeline, cost, and reputation.
You Hold the Spec—You Must Share It
As the company in possession of the official OEM specification, it’s your responsibility to:
- Provide the spec to all suppliers involved in the part’s production.
- Ensure everyone understands the tolerances, finishes, and testing criteria.
- Confirm that the supplier has the capability to meet the spec using their available finishing methods and inspection processes.
If you’re sending out a plastic injection molded part for decorative chrome plating, for example, your finishing supplier needs the exact callouts from the OEM, not just a general appearance requirement.
Prevent Misunderstandings Before They Happen
Specifications are rarely written in plain language. That’s why it’s important to take time at the start of a job to:
- Clarify the spec with both your customer (OEM) and your supplier
- Determine if the spec is fully achievable
- Decide whether an exception or revision is needed before production begins
Sometimes a spec is misunderstood—or simply not possible with the current processes. In those cases, clear communication helps prevent wasted time, money, and parts.
Your Responsibility as the Link Between OEM and Supplier
When outsourcing any surface finishing process, you are the connection point between the OEM and the finishing supplier. Ensuring proper communication of specs isn’t just helpful, it’s critical to avoiding rejections and penalties.
Make spec sharing a formal part of your production and supplier onboarding process.
Partner with a Qualified Finishing Supplier
At Electro Chemical Finishing (ECF), we offer a wide range of OEM-qualified surface finishes, including trivalent chrome, plating on plastic, and decorative metal coatings. Our team understands the importance of meeting strict part specifications, and we’re happy to review and discuss your finishing requirements with you upfront.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you meet your OEM spec with quality, consistency, and compliance.