FORD W-HTX

Description / Abstract: This Standard defines the requirements for the type and frequency of process monitors, laboratory controls, and in-process inspections and tests to be performed as part of the ongoing operation of production heat treating equipment and the maintenance of related records.

This Standard is applicable to the following Heat treat Processes:

. Carburizing/Carbonitriding/Carbon Correction

. Vacuum Carburizing/Carbonitriding Gears and Shafts

. Neutral Hardening - Atmosphere

. Tempering and Stress Relieving

. Nitriding/NitroCarburizing

. Annealing/Normalizing

. Aluminum Solution Heat treating/Age Hardening

. Brazing/Sintering

. Salt Bath Heat treating

. Induction Hardening, Flame Hardening, Tempering and Annealing of Gears, Shafts and Crankshafts

This Standard applies to all production and service parts.

For parts whose heat treat characteristics are not identified by any of the above criteria, the minimum requirements for a specific type and frequency of process monitor, laboratory control, or in-process inspection or test will be specified.

CAUTION: APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS MUST BE TAKEN RELATIVE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS. FORD FACILITIES SHALL CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING SUCH PRECAUTIONS.

These monitoring and control tests are required to keep heat treating processes and processing equipment under control to produce parts that will meet Product Engineering requirements and functional tests. Regularly scheduled maintenance as well as equipment operating responsibilities of the production operator are not included.

The emphasis on process control is to provide indications that the process is stable or is drifting out of control or actually is out of control before part quality is adversely affected. It is expected that such process monitoring will be of value in maintaining process stability and in bringing a process back into control.

The responsible outside supplier or Company plant or division shall consider requirements for each individual part and decide whether the minimum requirements of this general Standard is adequate or whether they should prepare a more specific or detailed local process control standard for the individual part.

Exceptions to this Standard and alternative plans for control of heat treating processes may be used provided they afford adequate protection of a process currently proven to be stable and capable, and have the concurrence of the affected Ford Supplier Technical Assistant (STA) and/or Quality Planning Team and are documented in a control plan.

Reduced sampling strategies for control of heat treating processes may be used provided they afford adequate protection of a process currently proven to be stable and capable, and have the concurrence of the affected Ford Supplier Technical Assistant (STA), Ford Heat Treat Assessor(s) and/or Quality Planning Team and are documented in a control plan.

The objective of this Standard is to define the requirements and to encourage Best Practices which will assure a quality part as well as promoting continuous improvement relative to quality and productivity.

The principal concerns which are addressed by this Standard include:

. The heat treater must know the specification(s) to which the parts are to be heat treated.

. The processes used to heat treat the parts must be clearly defined.

. All parts must be heat treated to the defined process and specification.

. Monitoring of the process through the use of an approved control plan must be such to assure that the process is in control and is being improved in order to minimize variability as well as minimize the risk of out of specification parts.

. Incoming materials shall be specified and controlled in such a manner to assure a product which can be heat treated with minimum part variability.