Door hardware components come in different sizes, shapes and functions. From hinges to door knobs, door hardware brings the “Door” out of the slab of wood. Most consumers who venture on DIY projects or small-scale carpentry tend to forget the importance of door hardware components. Door hinges are one of the most common hardware to give out due to wrong specifications.
INSPECTION PROTOCOLS
In order to obtain the certification for each product, all of the materials to be used for door hardware components will be thoroughly inspected and tested in accordance to the different quality control standards listed above to ensure that all of the pieces are of high quality and are very durable.
To fully understand the different door hardware inspection process, this article will cover all the basic door hardware components currently being manufactured in China:
- Door Hinges
- Door Hinge
- Cabinet Door Hinge
- Closet Door Hinge
- Door Handles
- Doorknob
- Door Lever
- Crash Bar
- Locks
- Cylinder
- Key
- Fasteners
- Latch
- Bolt
- Strike Plate
- Door Accessories
- Door Closer
- Door Damper
- Door Stopper
- Fingerplate
- Peephole
- Letterbox/Mail Slot
The inspection processes done for the entire production are as follows:
PRE-PRODUCTION INSPECTION
Door hardware manufacturers heavily rely on crafting and assembling equipment and devices to mass-produce different types of door hardware components. The purpose of this inspection process is to verify that all of the devices to be used, whether man-operated or computer-operated, are free from any damage or defects to ensure that all of the raw materials to be assembled later on will not accumulate any damage during assembly.
Door hardware crafting devices that are proven to be defective must be reported right away and will not be used during the whole production process to avoid defective products.
RAW MATERIALS INSPECTION
All of the necessary materials to be used for different types of door hardware will be checked for parts and components and verify that no damages are visible or components are complete. The purpose of this inspection process is to ensure that all of the necessary components for each door hardware piece have been provided prior to initial assembly.
Raw materials that show any signs of damage or defects will automatically be considered as “DEFECTIVE” and will not be used for the entire production process to avoid defective components mixed with operational ones.
ASSEMBLY INSPECTION
Items that pass raw materials inspection will then be transferred for initial assembly. Each assembly line must properly be monitored to ensure that there are no door hardware components jamming the assembly line. The purpose of this inspection process is to ensure that all of the door hardware pieces being produced are being assembled accordingly.
Door hardware pieces that show defects or poor overall construction will be analyzed for potential salvage procedures or will be thrown away depending on the product’s condition.
VISUAL INSPECTION
Items that have undergone and passed the assembly inspection will be thoroughly inspected during the visual inspection queue. The purpose of this inspection process is to double check and as well as verifies that all of the door hardware components that have been assembled are visually free from any damage or defects to ensure product reliability prior to shipping and distribution.
Depending on the level of surface or structural damage found on particular door hardware components, proper analysis must be conducted to ensure if the product can still be reassembled or should be disposed to save overall production time.
SURFACE AND COATING INSPECTION
Most door hardware components have a certain type of finish to accentuate the beauty or design of doors. Items that pass the visual inspection will then be coated according to its product specifications and will be checked for any blemishes, bubbles or uneven coats prior to evaluating each door hardware component. The purpose of this inspection process is to ensure that all of the door hardware materials that need coating have been coated accordingly.
Door hardware components that have coating anomalies (bubbles, scrapes etc…) will be recoated on a different queue to save the overall production time.
WEIGHT AND MEASUREMENT INSPECTION
Each door hardware component will be weighed and measured according to its product specifications. Proper evaluation must be met to ensure that the dimensions are precise and accurate. The purpose of this inspection process is to ensure that all of the door hardware components and accessories are uniform in height, weight and dimensions.
Door hardware materials that lack or exceed in weight and/or length will be considered as “DEFECTIVE” and will not be transferred to the next inspection process to avoid defective products on the inspection and certification line.
MECHANICAL INSPECTION
The purpose of this inspection process is to ensure that all of the door hardware components like hinges or devices that will support weight are thoroughly inspected and tested. Each door hinge, closer, damper etc… will be tested for an extended period of time to ensure that all of the components are durable and of high quality.
Items that fail this inspection process will automatically be thrown out and will be marked appropriately. Due to the nature of different mechanisms of door hardware components, a zero-tolerance policy is conducted during this process.
FINAL INSPECTION
The final inspection process consists of different testing methods to verify product strength and durability. Depending on the door hardware’s product specifications and limit, all of the products will be tested for extended periods of time. The purpose of this inspection process is to ensure that all of the products have been thoroughly inspected and tested to ensure product performance and estimated lifespan.
Items that pass the inspection process will be able to obtain the necessary quality control standard and certification set for the particular door hardware. Products that fail on the other hand will be automatically be marked as “DEFECTIVE” and will be disposed accordingly.
