Case Study: Radiator Cap Supply for a regional distributor in North America
Source:Case /
Time:2026-09-18
Radiator Cap for A regional distributor in North America
A regional distributor came to us with a radiator cap 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
- Warranty claims traced back to a single lot
- Documentation that arrived after the container shipped
- Reorders that did not match the approved sample
What was specified
| Part | Radiator Cap |
|---|---|
| Client | A regional distributor |
| Market | North America |
| Volume | 50,000 pieces across 4 specifications |
| Base material | EPDM Rubber |
| Sampling rounds | 4 |
| Delivery window | 4 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | SAE J431 |
How it was resolved
- The specification was rebuilt around EPDM Rubber 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 4.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 2.0%.
- 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?
Send the part number, the annual volume and the target market, and we will come back with a specification and a sampling plan.
