The Importance of Testing and Quality Control for Rivets
The importance of working with rivet manufacturers whose testing and quality assurance programs meet regulatory requirements to produce certified rivets cannot be overstated. A structure or equipment's performance will be only as reliable and safe as the rivets that hold it together. Rivet manufacturers must adhere to rigorous testing protocols and quality standards to guarantee that their rivets will perform as expected.
ASME, ISO, and ASTM are just a few of the regulatory industry standards established for rivet quality and testing. They mandate thorough testing to ensure specific performance criteria are met. Testing and quality control measures are a requirement to obtain validating certifications.
But how can a rivet user know if the parts they’re buying meet testing requirements? A few steps can allow you to determine whether or not a rivet manufacturer meets testing and quality standards.
While this is not an all-inclusive list, these steps are an excellent start to confirming that the rivets you’re receiving are going to satisfy your needs:
Below is some additional information about each of these steps.
Verify the manufacturer adheres to industry standards and assess their certifications.
Look for certifications like ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems), and others that indicate a commitment to quality and continuous improvement. You’ll also want to find out if the manufacturer complies with standards relevant to your industry. Examples include ISO (International Organization for Standardization), ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials).
Review the manufacturer’s quality control processes.
Reputable rivet manufacturers will have QMS (quality management system) documentation available for review. Look for procedures detailing production, inspection, testing, and handling of non-conforming products. You should also be able to review their testing protocols and inspection procedures. Testing should be done for tensile, shear, fatigue, corrosion, and destruction (NDT, non-destructive testing). Additionally, there should be multiple checkpoints for inspections. They would include the raw materials stage, production in process, and, of course, a final inspection prior to being distributed into the market.
Conduct your own factory audit.
If rivets play a significant enough role in the products you build, you might consider asking your rivet manufacturer to allow you to conduct your own factory audit. A simple walkthrough to observe the process and verify the manufacturer is adhering to their documented processes for quality assurance, calibration of testing equipment, and more.
Review the manufacturer’s performance history and engage in third-party testing.
Finally, you should consider soliciting feedback from other customers to find out how their rivets have performed and if there’s any history of failed products or other issues of quality or reliability. This may include sending the rivets you use to a third-party laboratory to confirm that they are meeting the manufacturer’s claims.
Austin Hardware can provide many different types of fasteners, including rivets, for any application. To learn more, we invite you to review our complete Fasteners blog series.
Our on-staff experts can also help you decide which fastener is right for any application. Contact your Austin Hardware sales representative or your nearest Austin Hardware location for more information on how we can assist you.