MTR's please!

Funny thing is, we have tried that - it is clearly stated on the PO.

I don't have a lot of choices when it comes to buying the bulk steel that I do.

It's almost like they know that I need them - not the other way around.

I would like to be able to use a competitor, but the problem is, there is no competitor.

Maybe I'll just start rejecting loads and have the load returned on their dime.

Yeah, that would work - except another problem is presented... I need the steel to run production! And can't legitimately use the steel with out the certs.

Ooops - just realized where this is posted - my apologies to the admin.

Should have been in manufacturing...

Can this be moved Chris?

I have to run will discuss in the AM. You are talking mills and not service centers, right?

milo

I agree with this guy.

Another supplier might be further away but if the local supplier is holding you up, then what difference does it make?

Just taking your business away from the offending suppliers will usually be enough for them to start meeting your requirements to get your business back.

I also support the statement made to write the General Manager.

The behavior being presented by the people you are personally dealing with, might not be the type of behavior the general manager wants representing his company. If they are doing it to you then they are doing it to others and getting away with it because no one has gone up the chain of command and complained.

Hello Camilliontwo1,

Randyl post #5 suggestion is good and include and example of MTR from a competitor.

In ASME Code manuals this issue is resolved by first insuring your supplier has a quality program that is accepted by the governing authority, in your case, I assume, ASTM. Next it is required that the material be identified on the material, whether by writing or printing, prior to delivery and that that information is on the material when you receive it. If that is not the case, neither the material or the paper is useful for identification. Traceability is the requirement of any quality program. If you receive a load of material and it is in no way identified, how do you know it is what it is supposed to be?

It is your responsibility to insure that your supplier has a quality program that insures the material tracebility has been maintained. If they cannot provide this assurance, I'd change suppliers no matter how inconvenient. In my Quality Mannual, I either have to find a supplier that has an ASME certification or I must audit the supplier and assure myself that the supplier can and does maintain material traceability. Perhaps a monthly or more frequent audit of the supplier and/or a visit each time a shipment is ready to ship to you would encourage the supplier to accomodate your certification requirements.

Find the person responsible for Quality at the vendor and make a personal contct with him or her.

First, however, I would make sure this supplier even has a quality program and that the material received and paperwork are valid.

Good Luck!

As said before, make it part of your PO. I have done this in the past.

Secondly, refuse to accept material without the MTR. (Make sure this too is stated in the PO.) After you send a few shipments back, they quickly take the hint. You usually have to build a 'relationship' with your suppliers so they understand your needs. Once they understand that they will be paying extra shipping for refused deliveries and not getting paid for this material, then the MTR's start rolling in on the fax machine as the shipment leaves the factory.

Many service centers find it too much bother to file and track test reports for their open stock. (Open stock involves a pan with an SKU (Stock Keeping Unit or Item)) So they provide a certificate of compliance.They may have material from multiple suppliers in the pan, and so cannot warrant that the particular bar or bars taken from that pan are indded the product of a single supplier.

My experience is in North America and Bar Mills, each and every mill that I worked for , and purchased from, provided signed mill test reports at time of shipping.

My signature was on the bottom of many test reports from 1997- 2003.

I'm convinced your issue is with steel service centers, rather than reputable mills.

As others have stated, not mill test report, no order.

But on small quantities for a few pieces as opposed to tonnage quantities, I am thinking that they will tell you to pound salt.

milo

Make the certs a condition of acceptance and therefore a condition of payment ... money talks.

Thank you all - I concur with all that's been said - and I have employed all as well.

It actually goes deeper than what has been mentioned - I cannot get a weight limit established either. All of my bar stock is at 9175 to 9460 (avg) and I have indicated a weight limit of 8500 - I have a max capacity of 5 ton with my overhead and using a spreader bar that weighs 1250, that's my limit.

I have a buyer that indicates to me that we are at their mercy and they don't really need us - I find that hard to believe when I see PO's in excess of $2M per month of steel purchase.

I have no choice but to exercise my right to a mill / distributor visit to inquire (and demand) compliance to my request.

Y'all just convinced me of that - thanx!

You are buying Hot roll bars?

I never ran cold drawn in 10,000 pound bundles.

Good luck getting the mill to visit Nebraska by the way.

My bet is they decline.

milo

I'll visit them and insist upon what I need - we'll see just how much clout a QC Manager has...

I sent you a private email.

milo

Simple, Hire a 3rd party Representative, such as myself, to do an audit. There are many of us out here.

Our added cost will easily be recouped in waiting, pleading, bargaining, and lost hours at your site.

Upon completion of the Audit, an Inspection Release Certificate must be issued before acceptance, shipment, and payment.

Make it a point that you will be using 3rd party and that all MTRs, Inspector Quals, etc be presented to said 3rd party.

Nice shameless plug!

Excellent point QAQCPIPEMAN.

It would be another way to approach the problem.

But it is shame that the supply base is unable to comply with the most basic of requirements.

milo

We all tend to be a little shameless in the pride we carry in our professions, but I felt that was the strongest way to toss that comment out.

There are a lot of consultants out there and I am sure one could be found near Omaha or the Vendor.

At least I explained the option of availability and didn't blatantly pitch myself.

Work is more plentiful than I have ever seen it, picking and choosing assignments is such a reality in today's economy

Thanks for the comment, sometimes I feel it is a disgrace to American Manufacturers when I have to be used, be it Audit, Expedite, or just plain Inspect.

Well, they've just shifted the cost from their payroll to the customers, when a third party validation is requiredon non Nuclear stuff...

I'll keep you in mind should anything come up.

Are you NDT qualified too?

milo

ASNT and EPRI, but I am not sure what you are asking me.

Nuke, Non-Nuke, API, Pressure Vessels, Wind Turbines, & Rotating Equipment.

Where and what?

occasionally i have clients who need technical assistance.

ASNT mostly

I'll keep you in mind.

milo