Quality assurance, inspection and testing

In this section

Inspection planning

Inspection requirements differ widely: a general engineering bracket may need a material certificate and a sample dimensional check, while a pressure-retaining valve body may require radiography, penetrant testing, pressure testing and witnessed final inspection. The scope is defined before production in an inspection and test plan that states, for each characteristic, the method, the standard, the acceptance criterion, the frequency, who performs the inspection and which record is produced.

Visual inspection

Every casting is examined visually. The examination covers surface condition and surface discontinuities, completeness of shape, workmanship of gate removal and grinding, marking and traceability, and freedom from handling damage. Acceptance is based on an agreed standard such as ISO 19959 or ASTM A997, or on approved limit samples; see surface finish.

In-house, subcontracted and third-party inspection

It is useful to distinguish three situations, and LOSTWAX states for each order which applies:

• Inspection by the manufacturer: process controls, visual and dimensional inspection, spectrometric analysis and routine mechanical tests carried out by the producing organisation.
• Subcontracted testing: tests placed with external laboratories, for example certain non-destructive tests, corrosion tests or specialised mechanical tests. Where accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 is required for a test, this is specified in the order and the laboratory is selected accordingly.
• Third-party inspection: inspection or witnessing by an independent body or by the purchaser's representative, as required for EN 10204 type 3.2 certificates or by contract.

Quality management

Quality management system requirements are defined by ISO 9001, whose current edition was published in 2026 and replaces the 2015 edition during a transition period. Sector schemes add their own requirements. Certificates and approvals are held by legal entities and specific sites; evidence relevant to a project, for the producing foundry, the machining source and the laboratories, is provided on request during supplier qualification. LOSTWAX does not claim approvals on this website that it cannot show for the specific supply chain of an order.

First samples and series release

New parts normally pass through an initial sample stage: full dimensional report, material certificate, agreed non-destructive tests and, where specified, sectioning or radiography to prove soundness of the gating design. Process parameters are then frozen and series parts are inspected according to the control plan. Changes to tooling, gating, alloy source or heat treatment are communicated and re-validated.