At Cerro, we have a new product development team that consists of engineers, die designers and production control employees that collectively manage all new parts from purchase order to sampling.
We have a dedicated engineer who manages this process from start to finish. He oversees the communication between internal departments so our salesforce can communication to our customers with timely project updates.
On the front end of new product development, Cerro implements APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) so we understand upfront our customer’s part expectations. Discussion with our customers early on in the development and design process is important to ensure part forge-ability, part die life and the ability to hold tolerances on a repeatable basis.
Once a part design is determined from our customer’s models and prints, the next step is simulation to ensure proper metal flow through the die cavities.
After the part design process is complete and the part simulation is successful, we send our own CAD created models and prints to our customer for approval. Once the part design is approved, we will begin to design the forge tooling and machining fixtures, if required. After the tooling design is complete, we will begin to manufacture the tooling at our own in house tool and die shop.
Cerro has the capabilities to manage numerous new projects at the same time. Lead time for sampling will vary on the complexities of the part and with the shop work load at any given time.