Have SC in a circle next to feature box. Is this "Statistical Control" ? Most of the drawings we get call SPC or SC as a different line.

There may be better responses, but it could mean that specific callout is a special characteristic.

Also, Welcome to the Cove!

I did not say that it is marked on a few round holes that are not anything special.

Have SC in a circle next to feature box. Is this "Statistical Control" ? Most of the drawings we get call SPC or SC as a different line.

South Carolina.

Really, can you post the actual drawing so we can see the call-out?

This fourm will not let me post images until I have been a menber for a bit.

This fourm will not let me post images until I have been a menber for a bit.

Looks like Special Characteristic to me. When in doubt, ask the customer.

Looks like Special Characteristic to me. When in doubt, ask the customer.

I agree. While you are asking, you can inquire what Special Characteristic (if it is one) means to that customer, because that can change by customer, too.

It worked, just click on attached thumbnail in above post. Shows SC at end of box. Can't send entire drawing, still in design and build

Looks like Special Characteristic to me. When in doubt, ask the customer.

I would lean with Jim's definition, based upon the feature block.

It is Special Characteristic.

If you customer used the appropriate FMEA methods:

Your customer assessed the risk of this characteristic as very important because of its severity rating.

In general an SC is carried over from the DFMEA to the PFMEA to the control plan and might require statistical control or other special controls.

It is Special Characteristic.

If you customer used the appropriate FMEA methods:

Your customer assessed the risk of this characteristic as very important because of its severity rating.

In general an SC is carried over from the DFMEA to the PFMEA to the control plan and might require statistical control or other special controls.

I think you're probably right, but it's a little bit dangerous to give a definite answer if you're not the owner of the drawing. BTW, there's nothing in evidence in this thread so far that the OP is doing automotive work.

I think you're probably right, but it's a little bit dangerous to give a definite answer if you're not the owner of the drawing. BTW, there's nothing in evidence in this thread so far that the OP is doing automotive work.

Jim, they do automotive work. See their site (http://www.paragonwixom.com/). SC means Special Characteristic, because ASME Y14.5M-1994 has a specific symbol for Statistical Control.

Stijloor.

I think you're probably right, but it's a little bit dangerous to give a definite answer if you're not the owner of the drawing. BTW, there's nothing in evidence in this thread so far that the OP is doing automotive work.

Jim,

Even if they do not automotive work, explaining what an SC means would be helpful for understanding. Other industries use FMEA and control plans as well.

Kees.

Thank you for the input. Yes we design & build checking fixtures and gages for the automotive industry (what little there is left). I called the customer (a tier 2 supplier) as a last resort yesterday based upon your inputs and asked what they want. He told me he did not have his customer’s standards in front of him but to figure on SPC ports or some type of point collection for every area marked with "SC".

Again thanks for the help! We would rather ask other experts then our customers. They look at us for solutions to check parts not questions

Jim, they do automotive work. See their site (http://www.paragonwixom.com/). SC means Special Characteristic, because ASME Y14.5M-1994 has a specific symbol for Statistical Control.

Stijloor.

Jim,

Even if they do not automotive work, explaining what an SC means would be helpful for understanding. Other industries use FMEA and control plans as well.

Kees.

I've seen too many times when logical assumptions were made that turned out to be wrong. The customer should always be consulted when the requirements are ambiguous or when they're not self-evident. The OP has returned now and informs us that even his customer wasn't sure what the "SC" meant.

I've seen too many times when logical assumptions were made that turned out to be wrong. The customer should always be consulted when the requirements are ambiguous or when they're not self-evident. The OP has returned now and informs us that even his customer wasn't sure what the "SC" meant.

I really wanted to say that: yes, we do want to be a service provider, and yes, we want to have the answers. I understand that 100% But, sometimes asking the questions is being the expert. Some of the things I have seen on a print were vastly different than what the customer meant. Once I saw a leader line that went to a number. No other callouts, no specifications. It made me a little nervous, so we had the salesman contact the customer. We find out it meant FIT - about 25% of the block tolerance. It was a question worth asking. Oh, I am sure there are so many more examples we could share...

I really wanted to say that: yes, we do want to be a service provider, and yes, we want to have the answers. I understand that 100% But, sometimes asking the questions is being the expert. Some of the things I have seen on a print were vastly different than what the customer meant. Once I saw a leader line that went to a number. No other callouts, no specifications. It made me a little nervous, so we had the salesman contact the customer. We find out it meant FIT - about 25% of the block tolerance. It was a question worth asking. Oh, I am sure there are so many more examples we could share...

Early on in my career I worked in a machining job shop. There was a process engineer there who took customer prints and "translated" them for the shop floor--a common practice. When one of his shop prints didn't make sense to me, I went to him and asked for clarification. His answer led me to believe that he was unsure himself, and I suggested that we contact the customer. He looked at me like I was crazy. "We never bother customers with those questions," he said. "It would make us look like we don't know what we're doing." "But," I said, "what if we actually don't know what we're doing?" He said "Don't worry about it." There was more than one occasion when not worrying about it led to rejection.

The OP said,
I called the customer (a tier 2 supplier) as a last resort yesterday... (emphasis in the original)

It should never be seen as a last resort--it should be done as a matter of course when you're not sure.

Excellent point Jim. Back when I was a Supplier Quality Manager, I got cold feet when dealing with any supplier who didn't pour over our specifications before going into production! Of 5 PCB suppliers, only 1 actually ever told us that our design specifications couldn't be manufactured! Needless to say, once we'd looked at their feedback, we gradually weened off the other 4......

I also remember one simple product design - a threaded collar - which had been made in our own, much publicized, 'high tech' machine shop - was subcontracted out, due to capacity problems. The owner of the small machine shop in Ireland who won the job, took one look at the drawing and said it can't be made as drawn! When he revealed why, you should have seen the red faces of our own manufacturing/inspection folks who claimed to have been making them correctly for years!

Yup, there's no substitute for a supplier who asks questions and doesn't assume the customer knows everything!