Case Study: Cooling Fan Supply for a supermarket chain in Europe
Source:Case /
Time:2026-09-18
Cooling Fan for A supermarket chain in Europe
A supermarket chain came to us with a cooling fan programme for Europe. The brief was ordinary and unforgiving at the same time: a fixed launch window, a landed cost that had to survive freight and duty, and a part that had to match an existing sample. This case records what was specified, what went wrong in sampling and how the bulk order landed.
The starting point
- A fitment that looked right on paper and failed on the bench
- Warranty claims traced back to a single lot
- Reorders that did not match the approved sample

What was specified
| Part | Cooling Fan |
|---|---|
| Client | A supermarket chain |
| Market | Europe |
| Volume | 20,000 pieces across 2 specifications |
| Base material | Sintered Metal |
| Sampling rounds | 4 |
| Delivery window | 8 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | IATF 16949 |
How it was resolved
- The specification was rebuilt around Sintered Metal and the tolerance locked before bulk.
- A pre-production sample was approved and kept as the golden reference.
- Production ran with in-line inspection and a mid-run photo report.
- Cartons were packed to the client's own barcode and ratio specification.
- Documentation shipped with the goods instead of after them.

Result
- 20,000 pieces delivered inside the 8-week window.
- Unit cost held within 1.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 0.5%.
- The specification is on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Fix the specification count early. Adding variants after production starts is the most expensive change a client can request.
Planning something similar?
Tell us the model, the fitment and the quantity and we will hold a production slot for you.



