Saved by tight tolerances

摘要

Tank Components Industries thought it had the job well in hand. The manufacturer of stainless steel tank components had anticipated that European authorities would require European companies, including Tank Components customers, to meet new specifications for their tanks' pharmaceutical fittings. Tank Components had chosen Sandvik Materials Technology NAFTA, Scranton, Pa., as its hollow-bar supplier because it could meet the new specifications. It had then ordered the hollow bars in March 2007 and received them in September. Thus, in November, the parts manufacturer was ready to machine the 20'-long hollow bars, each with two specified diameters: a 4.713" OD and a 3.651" ID.