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🏭 IATF 16949 in Electroless Nickel Plating: Practical Lessons
Four practical lessons on applying IATF 16949 core tools to electroless nickel plating, shared at the Electroless Nickel Conference 2025: feasibility, family FMEA, PPAP evidence, SPC and MSA.
At the Electroless Nickel Conference 2025 in Cleveland I shared some practical lessons on how to deal with IATF 16949 in electroless nickel plating, from the point of view of a European job-shop group.
The main ideas:
- Start with feasibility. Align requirements with the real function of the part. Push for "as good as needed", not for "as good as possible".
- Use Family FMEA and Control Plans as a base. Adapt them only when the part or the process really requires it.
- PPAP: share evidence, not internal documents. Show customers what proves conformity and keep your know-how for yourself.
- SPC and MSA: capability and data matter only if tolerances are realistic and measurements are reliable.
The real value of the event was the open discussion about what actually works in practice, and the chance to meet friends and colleagues who face the same problems every day.