Case Study: Brake Caliper Supply for a police fleet in East Africa
Source:Case /
Time:2026-09-18
Brake Caliper for A police fleet in East Africa
A police fleet came to us with a brake caliper programme for East Africa. 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 | Brake Caliper |
|---|---|
| Client | A police fleet |
| Market | East Africa |
| Volume | 10,000 pieces across 6 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
- 10,000 pieces delivered inside the 4-week window.
- Unit cost held within 4.5% 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
Lock the material standard before sampling. Once the base changes, every downstream approval has to be redone and the calendar slips.
Planning something similar?
Tell us the model, the fitment and the quantity and we will hold a production slot for you.
