SAMPLE APPROVAL / BUYING GUIDE
Make the approved sample a working reference
Agree what will be checked, record the sample identity and keep approval connected to future orders.
Define acceptance before the sample arrives
A sample is most useful when both sides know what it is intended to prove. Define the component identity, drawing revision, dimensions, finish and visual requirements before dispatch. State whether the review is dimensional, process-related or a test of a specified strapping combination. Receipt of a sample does not by itself mean that the part is approved for production.
Identify who will perform the review and who has authority to approve the result. Agree the measurements, equipment and relevant acceptance criteria. If a formal test is required, specify its method and reporting requirements rather than relying on a general request for a stronger or better component.
Record the actual assessment conditions
Give the sample a traceable reference and keep it separate from unapproved alternatives. For assembly or system trials, record the strap construction and dimensions, tensioning tool, closing method and relevant settings. Note the packaging application and any other conditions that affect the assessment. Photographs can support the record, but the written result should explain what was checked and what remains unverified.
Do not transfer a result automatically to another wire diameter, finish, strap or tool. If a proposed change affects the agreed reference, review whether new samples or tests are required. Keep the change visible to both purchasing and the team responsible for the application.
Turn approval into an order reference
Document acceptance, rejection or conditional approval clearly. List any conditions and who must close them. Preserve an identified reference sample where appropriate, alongside the agreed drawing and review record. The purchase order should point to these references rather than relying on an informal message alone. On repeat orders, compare the received product and identification with the agreed record. Where something differs, retain the evidence and request review before treating the delivery as equivalent. A clear approval trail helps suppliers, buyers and receiving teams discuss the same component.
Approval should identify the scope that has been accepted and any limits on that decision. A dimensional review is not automatically a system performance approval. Keep the responsible reviewer and the date of the decision with the reference so future purchasing teams can understand what the approval actually covered.
WORKED DECISION / CATALOGUE REFERENCES
Agree what the sample approval will cover.
A blank record to complete with the reviewing parties. It is not a completed test report, product certificate or approval.
- Part, drawing and revision
- Not entered
- Strap, tool and intended application
- Not entered
- Checks and acceptance criteria
- Not entered
- Sample or batch and evidence reference
- Not entered
- Reviewer and review date
- Not entered
- Accepted scope, deviations and open points
- Not entered
Keep the eventual decision with its evidence and revision. Blank fields mean that no approval decision has been recorded here.