Case Study: Oil Filter Supply for a marine equipment dealer in North America
Source:Case /
Time:2026-09-18
Oil Filter for A marine equipment dealer in North America
A marine equipment dealer came to us with a oil filter programme for North America. 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 supplier who changed material without saying so
- Lead time that slipped twice before bulk started
- Inconsistent hardness between lots

What was specified
| Part | Oil Filter |
|---|---|
| Client | A marine equipment dealer |
| Market | North America |
| Volume | 10,000 pieces across 4 specifications |
| Base material | Polypropylene |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 4 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | ECE R90 |
How it was resolved
- The specification was rebuilt around Polypropylene 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
- 10,000 pieces delivered inside the 4-week window.
- Unit cost held within 1.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 1.0%.
- 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.



