Because of the introduction of substandard fastener from offshore into the stresam of Consumers and distributors initiated serious efforts to restore responsibility, accountablity.Coupled with these efforts was the Fastener Quality Act significant and lasting changes which have greatly enhanced product quality.
However, voluntary efforts in the fastener manufacturing industry have brought about important changes in manufacturing control concepts may be clearly understood by exmining each of the nonconformances per million pieces produced from 10,000 PPM in the early 60`s to a PPM level approaching 100 or even less in the 90`s .Continuous improvement will surely continue this endless progression toward the ultimate goal of zero PPM.
The quanlity of a fastener is its conformance to its specification for dimensions,mechanical properties,and performance requirements.Quality is not a measure of precision. Any fastenermanufactured completely within its specified limits,regardless of how narrow or broad,is a "quality" fastener.Tightening specification limits,reduces variation and increases precision;it does not increase quality.