Case Study: Timing Belt Supply for a marine equipment dealer in North America
Source:Case /
Time:2026-09-18
Timing Belt for A marine equipment dealer in North America
A marine equipment dealer came to us with a timing belt 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
- A fitment that looked right on paper and failed on the bench
- Packing that arrived crushed at the port
What was specified
| Part | Timing Belt |
|---|---|
| Client | A marine equipment dealer |
| Market | North America |
| Volume | 50,000 pieces across 6 specifications |
| Base material | Brass |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 4 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | E-mark |
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
- 50,000 pieces delivered inside the 4-week window.
- Unit cost held within 3.0% 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
Approve a pre-production sample made from the actual bulk material. Substitute material behaves differently in service.
Planning something similar?
Send the part number, the annual volume and the target market, and we will come back with a specification and a sampling plan.
