Selecting a Metal-Cutting Partner (Tier-1 Engine Vendors): Buy Outcomes, Not Catalogs

When scrap spikes with “no reason,” it’s usually because reasons aren’t linked. Traceability connects tool identity → offsets → process events → quality so you can see patterns humans miss.

What to capture (and why)

• Tool ID/preset values: holder, adapter, insert batch, edge prep; establishes lineage.
• Offsets & change logs: who adjusted what, when, and by how much.
• Process events: coolant pressure dips, vibration/chatter alarms, probe fails.
• Quality signals: roundness, size, Ra, air-gauge results by part/time.

What you unlock

• Faster RCAs: correlate defects with insert batch or edge hone in minutes.
• Predictable life: act before failure; reduce scatter and midnight calls.
• Audit-ready PPAP: the trail exists—no forensic scramble before a visit.

Practical rollout (start small)

• One line, one family; tag tools and create a simple offset log (digital).
• Hook gauge results (or probe deltas) to tool IDs.
• Review weekly: “Top 3 patterns” → adjust windows/edges accordingly.

Sigma’s edge: smart-factory connectors that stitch together preset data, RFID/QR, SPC, and gauge results—turning “mystery scrap” into a dashboard of solvable causes.