Case Study: Timing Chain Supply for an agricultural cooperative in Eastern Europe
Timing Chain for An agricultural cooperative in Eastern Europe
An agricultural cooperative came to us with a timing chain programme for Eastern 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
- Lead time that slipped twice before bulk started
- Inconsistent hardness between lots
- A fitment that looked right on paper and failed on the bench

What was specified
| Part | Timing Chain |
|---|---|
| Client | An agricultural cooperative |
| Market | Eastern Europe |
| Volume | 2,000 pieces across 3 specifications |
| Base material | Brass |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 6 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | IATF 16949 |
How it was resolved
- The specification was rebuilt around Brass 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
- 2,000 pieces delivered inside the 6-week window.
- Unit cost held within 4.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 1.5%.
- 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?
Send the specification you are working to and we will confirm what we can match, what we would change and why.



