This process map serves as a good guide for receiving transfer tooling in your facility or it can aid OEMs in selecting a proactive vendor.

1) Establish internal mold numbers or tracking and log the tool into your system.

2) Validate contact list with team leaders identified.

3) Schedule regular conference calls to review status, progress, condition, next steps.

4) Staging the tooling for production readiness is the focal point. Inventories, leadtimes and demand schedules drive the timeline needed to complete the transfer process.

5) Digital pictures are taken and tooling evaluation completed to include overall condition of cavities, slides, water lines and anything that will raise concern or capture performance conditions including broken steel. Risks include blind areas of tooling that may not be visible when initially received and don’t forget change over derails for multiple part number tools.

6) Volume projections are identified. In many cases, molds may have zero or very low initial volume projected. PPAP communication is coordinated and it becomes a joint decision to store the tooling or run a PPAP to ensure that the tool is ready should an order become hot.

7) Sample parts are reviewed in conjunction with the steel to determine if there are damaged cores or cavities.

8) Open work orders to process the mold.

9) Perform part attribute inspection (visual), document and dimensional integrity is verified. Sign-offs are performed from each team leader including mold condition and spare parts inventory.

10) Receive, enter into system and control part prints and tool designs.

11) Identify tooling work required, establish sampling plan, quote costs and manage the schedule.

12) Process orders if parts were needed yesterday.

13) If sample parts were not available, perform a sampling, calculate accurate piece price, and confirm tooling function.

14) Complete tooling work and prepare for sampling.

15) Identify and procure resin, schedule mold sampling.

16) Mold setup and sampling, establish molding process, perform initial part inspection and visual attributes.

17) Perform inspection layout and capability study, prepare and submit approval and PPAP documents.

18) Review actual cost breakdown and confirm piece pricing.

19) Establish production work instructions and packaging requirements.

20) Secure proper P.O. and documentation needed to meet delivery schedules.

21) Perform operator and inspector training and schedule for production.

22) Schedule for preventative maintenance and confirm customer satisfaction.