| Quality management | Confirm that the foundry’s quality system covers production, inspection, corrective actions, and traceability. | ISO 9001 certification; verify certificate scope, issuing body, and validity. | Ask for the certificate and confirm that the certified site is the facility producing the castings. |
| Automotive quality | For automotive supply chains, check whether the supplier can meet the customer’s industry-specific quality requirements. | IATF 16949 applies to automotive quality management systems; it is not a universal requirement for all steel castings. | Confirm customer-specific requirements, approved-site status, and any required production-part approval process. |
| Environmental management | Review controls for environmental aspects of foundry operations and evidence of continual improvement. | ISO 14001 certification; verify scope and current status. | Check whether the buyer’s sourcing policy or destination-market requirements call for environmental documentation. |
| Occupational health and safety | Ask how workplace hazards, training, and incident controls are managed at the production site. | ISO 45001 is a management-system standard for occupational health and safety. | Request current site-level evidence where supplier audits or responsible-sourcing rules require it. |
| Material grade and chemistry | Specify the required steel grade, applicable product standard, heat treatment, and acceptance limits. | Use the contractually agreed material specification; request heat or ladle analysis and material test certificates. | Confirm that grade designations and test documentation are understood by both supplier and importing customer. |
| Mechanical properties | Define tensile, yield, elongation, impact, or hardness requirements where applicable to the component. | Require test results against the drawing or purchase specification and identify the sampling basis. | Agree on test temperature, specimen location, retesting rules, and the format of the inspection report before shipment. |
| Non-destructive testing | Specify the inspection method, coverage, acceptance criteria, and qualified personnel required for each casting. | Common methods include visual testing, magnetic-particle testing, liquid-penetrant testing, radiographic testing, and ultrasonic testing. | Request traceable reports and clarify whether tests are performed in-house or by an external inspection provider. |
| Pressure-equipment applications | For castings used in regulated pressure equipment, establish the applicable conformity route before placing an order. | The EU Pressure Equipment Directive, 2014/68/EU, applies to specified pressure equipment; applicability depends on the product and its classification. | Do not treat a foundry quality certificate alone as proof of product conformity; confirm required approvals and documentation for the finished equipment. |
| Traceability and inspection records | Check that castings can be linked to heats, production batches, inspections, and material records. | Agree on identification marking, inspection and test plans, nonconformance handling, and record-retention expectations. | Confirm that markings and documents remain legible and match the packing list and shipment records. |
| Export readiness and logistics | Assess experience with the destination market, packaging needs, shipment size, and agreed delivery terms. | Review sample export documents as applicable, such as commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, and certificate of origin when required. | Agree on Incoterms® rules and named place, packaging and corrosion protection, lead time, customs responsibilities, and document ownership. |