mike miller wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:43 am
Here is a real-life example. I started out working on a conceptual model that requires a gas spring:
https://www.mcmaster.com/4138T54-4138T544/
I followed our normal procedure; in this case (because it's a McMaster part) I downloaded the model, doctored it up, added our custom properties, etc. However, by Rev 5 of the design phase we decided we need a spring with a cushion. The problem is, the cushioned spring comes from a different vendor and the ball joints are not included and must be purchased separately.
![cant..believe... o[](./images/smilies/brickhead.gif)
How should we handle this? Do I need to create a new model (or revise the current one), change the custom properties, break out the assembly into lower levels for the ball joints, and go through our jerry-rigged ERP to update it all?
How would you handle a situation like this? Is Engineering responsible for updating CAD files and file properties just because Purchasing decided to switch vendors? Should Engineering simply give them a Part Spec sheet and bury their collective heads in the sand?
I would say yes. You need to go through your ERP system.
Real world example as to why:
We ordered natural plastic clips to clip two rods together for a hood latch project that we were doing.
After testing passed and we were working on getting production under way, the vendor had a temporary supply problem and couldn't keep up with our need for the natural plastic clips. They did, however have black clips that were the same in every way, except they were black in color.
There was an argument for just swapping out the clips because it was a temporary change and not going through the change process. Even when we contacted our customer, they were in favor of just swapping out the clips and doing nothing else. One of our engineers, however put his foot down and said that we had to go through our change process for swapping out the clips. Even though the process would take a long time for something so insignificant.
And we are glad that we did. Because, for the clips that had the black dye added to the injected molded material, the dye actually made the material slightly more brittle. And once these clips got into vehicles, they started failing (cracking). There was a recall. It wasn't a safety issue, but it still sucked.
If we hadn't gone through our change process (and our customer's change process) (even though we were pressured NOT to go through it by our customer AND our upper management because of the insignificance of the change), then it would have been VERY hard to track which hood latches had the black clips and which ones didn't.
Moral of the story: Things that aren't the same........are different. No matter how much alike they are....