Quality Control & Assurance Done Right
TDBTec delivers stringent quality control and assurance, expert boots on the ground, and a digital platform built to keep your production moving.
- Understanding customer requirements
- Meeting these requirements through continual QMS improvement
- Providing parts at the highest quality and the most competitive lead time
Robust Quality
Management System:
- ISO 9001:2015 QMS
- AS9100 Rev D, ISO 13485:2016, and IATF 16949:2016 manufacturing suppliers
- In-depth monitoring of internal and external performance with robust continuous improvement processes where needed
- In-depth monitoring of internal and external performance with robust continuous improvement processes where needed
Industry Standards and Certifications per 2D Drawings and PO Requirements:
- Material Certificates (robust supply network of tested and traceable raw materials)
- Certificates of Conformity
- Certificates of Analysis
- Robust GD&T per ISO 2768 (unless 2D drawing provided)
- Finishing, testing, inspection, and compliance industry standards met
- REACH and RoHS
The TDBTec Platform currently supports EAR 99 and EAR 9E991 export classifications. If your part(s) and/or drawings are governed by another EAR/ECCN classification, please submit a request by clicking on the box below. Fictiv does not support ITAR-classified parts or projects.
Advanced Quality Processes
For all 3D printed parts, TDB provides a Visual Inspection Report to verify cosmetic standards. Photos provided for all parts.
- View Cosmetic Standards ›
- View Sample Report ›
TDB provides a Dimensional Inspection Report to verify dimensional accuracy for critical features, For all CNC parts.
- View Sample Report ›
TDB can provide custom First Article Inspection Reports to ensure quality-first production.
TDB offers optional PPAP plans and inspections to ensure manufacturing process consistency per customer requirements and specifications.
TDB offers optional APQP to ensure robust product quality and reliability throughout the product development process. Our internal process meets the requirements of IATF 16949:2016.
Production-Grade Quality Inspection Capabilities
TDB offers a wide range of quality inspection services per industry standards with state-of-the-art equipment.
XRF material and finish verification
A wide range of gauges (telescoping, bore, height, surface roughness, feeler, thread, pin)
A wide range of gauges (telescoping, bore, height, surface roughness, feeler, thread, pin)
Coordinate measuring machines (CMM)
Testing devices for stress, impact, hardness, mold flow index
Gauge blocks and pins
3D Scanners, Ultrasound, FPI
Profile projectors
Array of micrometers and calipers
Our People
TDB employees trained and assessed to ensure the highest quality inspection.
Responsible for confirming the parts in an order meet all customer requirements prior to releasing the orders for shipment to the customer. Perform physical part inspection and/or remote inspection.
Our supplier quality team audits and vets manufacturing centers within our network to our internal quality standards. work directly with suppliers to ensure supplier performance and resolve quality issues promptly.
- Initial audit with our quality, sourcing, and manufacturing experts
- Internal review and approval process, including physical testing of quality and manufacturing capabilities. TDBtec’s quality assessment includes
- Use of SPC and other statistical controls
- Mitigation of unplanned changes and quality issues
- Control their externally provided processes, including flowing down the requirements from Fictiv as necessary
- Manufacturing center training to Fictiv’s Quality Standards, inspection protocols, and CAR/CAPA management
- Continual evaluation of manufacturing center performance, continuous improvement, and ensuring manufacturing centers are meeting customer requirements
- Periodic on-site quality audits and weekly ratings to ensure incoming projects are paired with the highest-quality manufacturing centers
Our People
Certified team oversees development of components from the factory to delivery
Quality Assurance
Manufacturing
Processes for performing inspections, recording inspection data, and calibrating inspection equipment.
Logistics
Processes for order verification, packaging, and ensuring on time delivery.
Post-Shipment QA
Post-shipment, QA all of the components are in line with the quality standards and expectations before delivery
Quality Control
Inspections
Rigorous inspections performed on every custom mechanical manufactured by highly skilled quality technicians.
Traceability
Generation of inspection reports and photos documented for platform distribution.
Don’t Just Take Our Word for It
"With the hundreds and hundreds of parts that we’ve ordered, they come in with an inspection report with actual dimensions marked on the print. Fictiv is the only group that does that for us.”
Ed Bryner
Director of Engineering, Gecko Robotics
"With the hundreds and hundreds of parts that we’ve ordered, they come in with an inspection report with actual dimensions marked on the print. Fictiv is the only group that does that for us.”
Ed Bryner
Director of Engineering, Gecko Robotics
"With the hundreds and hundreds of parts that we’ve ordered, they come in with an inspection report with actual dimensions marked on the print. Fictiv is the only group that does that for us.”
Ed Bryner
Director of Engineering, Gecko Robotics
Jan Burian
Head of IDC Manufacturing Insights, IDC EMEA
Frequently Asked Questions
How does TDB ensure quality with a distributed network of manufacturing partners?
- TDB ensures parts meet our high quality standards through the following actions:
- 1. Initial evaluation of manufacturing partners’ capabilities during the onboarding process
- 2. Manufacturing partner training according to TDB’s quality management system and inspection protocols, and clearly specified control requirements that all partners must implement
- 3. Clear communication of customer requirements to TDB manufacturing partners
- 4. Continual evaluation of the performance of manufacturing partners, including regular feedback to drive continual improvement
- 5. Periodic on-site verification of manufacturing partner controls
How does TDB select manufacturing partners for its global network?
TDB has a documented manufacturing partner (MP) selection process that is a core competency and differentiates Fictiv from its competitors.
Potential MPs can either apply to TDBtec for selection or Fictiv can approach potential MPs to determine if they are interested in becoming part of the network. The onboarding process starts with a basic questionnaire and then increasing rigor is applied through commercial and quality audits and the production of a complex, tight tolerance test piece. On successful completion of the test piece, the MP is conditionally qualified, although their output is scrutinized as they are ramped-up. All MP performance is tracked and reported on a weekly scorecard. The scorecard positions the MP at a ‘level’ which determines how much work they get offered as an incentive. Other controls ensure that work is offered to the most suitable MPs.
TDBtec’s quality assessment includes a review of how MPs utilize control plans, including the appropriate use of SPC and other statistical controls. Additionally, Fictiv assesses how MPs deal with planned and unplanned changes and special cause events. Fictiv also has a requirement for its MPs to control their externally provided processes, including flowing down the requirements from Fictiv as necessary.
How does TDB ensure the clear transfer of customer requirements to manufacturing partners?
TDBtec provides manufacturing partners with a clear, standardized data package that includes customer-provided 3D models and 2D drawings and TDBtec inspection sheets.
How does TDB verify that parts meet the established specifications?
TDBtec has four main methods to verify that parts meet customer requirements:
- 1. Remote inspection of part photographs and analysis of inspection measurements
- 2. Parts are shipped by the manufacturing partner to Fictiv’s QC lab for inspection, which includes dimensional measurement, XRF material analysis, and cosmetic inspection
- 3. TDBtec supplier quality engineers complete a source inspection at the manufacturing partner’s facility
- 4. 3rd party measurement service providers can be used to provide independent dimensional measurements or other non-destructive testing
What actions does TDB take if a manufacturing error occurs?
TDBtec takes full responsibility for the quality of parts manufactured in our ecosystem. When a nonconformance is reported by TDBtec’s Quality Control team, or by a TDBtec customer, email alerts are sent to manufacturing partners in order to resolve the issue and also identify the root cause of the issue to inform the required improvement action reports.
When errors occur and the manufacturing partner submits root causes and improvement actions, we specifically look for the role the control plan plays in both the root cause of the issue and also in the solution to prevent this from recurring.
How does TDB inspect parts for quality control?
All parts manufactured with TDBtec undergo inspections by our manufacturing partners, which are then verified by TDBtec either in-person or remotely. Our standard inspections verify critical dimensions using hand tools and cosmetic requirements and we can also perform advanced inspections using CMM or laser scanner technologies as well as first article inspections or other customer inspection plans such as PPAP upon request.
How will I be able to see the quality inspections performed on my parts?
After inspections are completed, all quality documentation is uploaded to the TDBtec platform for customers to easily access at any time through the “Orders” tab of their account. Customers can also view photos of their parts taken at inspection in real-time.