Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for spring manufacturers.
A checklist built from how spring manufacturers work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Spring drawing and specification register
- Wire coil lots
- Coiling machine settings
- Stress relief and setting log
- Load and length testing
- Outside finishing
- Count, pack and despatch
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For the owner
- For planners
- For setters and operators
- For the heat treatment operator
- For quality staff
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Batches by stage and machine
- Coiler settings used per part
- Oven batches with temperature and time
- Load test readings by batch
- Outside finishing loads sent and returned
- Wire coil usage and balance
- Scrap and rework count by part
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- Spring tester data import
- Accounting export
- Barcode labels
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- What is saved from a first-off spring?
- Can a failed spring be traced to its wire coil?
- Does it keep a record of the oven batch?
- How are springs sent for plating managed?
- Can the system handle very small spring orders?
- Can we see how much wire is left?
- What goes into the price?
- Can our old settings book be brought in?
- Who changes the test limits?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- The wire coil is not linked to the spring
- Coiling settings are not saved
- Oven batches are loosely noted
- Load tests live on the tester
- Counts are estimated
Prefer to talk it through? See the spring manufacturers page.