Second-source qualification removed a single-supplier dependency

Quantifying the exposure

Single-source risk is often accepted because the alternative has never been costed. Setting the qualification cost against the cost of an eighteen-week outage made the decision straightforward.

Auditing capability, not brochures

Two candidates were assessed on site against equipment, process control and quality system, which eliminated one that looked entirely credible on paper.

First article before commitment

A first-article part was manufactured and independently verified against the drawing before any ongoing commitment was made.