{"id":78240,"date":"2025-02-14T09:55:26","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T08:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metals.weggagency.com\/?p=78240"},"modified":"2026-02-12T15:03:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T14:03:13","slug":"metals-steel-assembly-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/metals-assemblaggio-acciaio-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Metal\u2019s for complex stainless steel assemblies: the supply of systems in an advanced state of assembly"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"translation-block\">When our sales department receives an order for the <strong>production of a complex assembly<\/strong>, the Metal\u2019s machine is set in motion to meet the demands and timelines agreed with our customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How does this process work? What parts are actively involved, and what benefits do our clients gain by working with us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the procurement of raw materials\u2014primarily stainless steel\u2014to order management, inventory control, logistics, and shipping, the <strong>coordination of each phase<\/strong> is crucial. Partnering with Metal's means <strong>working with a single provider<\/strong> that streamlines complex and specialized supply chains.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we will detail how we handle<strong>raw material sourcing<\/strong>, categorize materials before production, and utilize cutting-edge technologies throughout the process. This approach allows us to deliver the complex assemblies co-designed with our clients on schedule. Additionally, we\u2019ll explore <strong>the role of the supply chain <\/strong>and explain why it has become increasingly important for our company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Material procurement: stainless steel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a previous article, we explained <a href=\"https:\/\/metals.weggagency.com\/come-lavora-metals\/\">how we work at Metal's<\/a> and how our production process unfolds. In this follow-up, we will focus on the material sourcing phase, which, in our case, primarily involves <strong>the procurement of stainless steel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">The <strong>main types of stainless steel<\/strong> we use are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>AISI 304<\/strong>: With chromium content (between 18% and 20%) and nickel content (between 8% and 11%), this is a high-quality material, highly resistant to corrosion yet easy to work with. It is recommended for products used in the <a href=\"https:\/\/metals.weggagency.com\/acciaio-inox-alimentare\/\">food industry<\/a> and for chemical applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AISI 430<\/strong>: A ferritic stainless steel that is resistant to high temperatures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AISI 316<\/strong>: A standard stainless steel with varying percentages of chromium (between 16% and 18%), nickel (between 11% and 14%), and molybdenum (between 2% and 3%). Known for its high resistance to corrosion, it is used in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The material is sourced from the <strong>most reputable European steel mills<\/strong> , which can supply flat-rolled sheets that are already cut to a specific format, whether standard or customized. Of course, we can also obtain <strong>other types of stainless steel<\/strong> to best meet our clients' needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Precise orders and careful inspections upon receipt of goods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the most suitable type of stainless steel has been determined with the client for the development of a complex assembly project in an advanced stage of assembly, <strong>we enter the order into our management system and send it to the supplier<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">The order is complete with drawings, all specifications and accompanied by a <strong>technical supply specification<\/strong>, i.e. a detailed document in which we specify to our supplier the requirements of the material, both technical (such as dimensions and thickness) and aesthetic (such as finish, roughness). In this document we also indicate <strong>the choice of packaging<\/strong>. This is a crucial detail because all our <strong>plants are equipped with automatic loading systems<\/strong> and an incorrect assessment can slow down production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon receipt of the materials, warehouse team must <strong>verify their suitability and check the<\/strong> <strong>accompanying documentation<\/strong>, ensuring that the information matches the ordered product and is consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that each delivery is always accompanied by a <strong>3.1 certificate<\/strong> (as required by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.promozioneacciaio.it\/UserFiles\/File\/pdf\/pubblicazioni\/La%20tracciabilit%C3%A0%20dei%20prodotti%20in%20acciaio.pdf\">EN 10204 regulations<\/a>), which identifies the casting origin of the individual material. This certificate includes <strong>all the chemical characteristics of the stainless steel<\/strong> and is vital for the verification and processing stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">If everything complies, the <strong>material is labelled<\/strong> and placed in the warehouse, ready to be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The importance of labelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">The labelling of the raw material is crucial because the <strong>unique code<\/strong> identifies both the supplier\u2019s lot and our finished product. This makes it possible <strong>to trace the material at all times<\/strong>, even after the complex assembly has been delivered to our customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an added value for those who rely on Metal\u2019s because, in the event of <strong>non-compliance reports<\/strong> or requests for specific information such as <strong>product traceability <\/strong>(for example, for medical sector products), we can always trace back to the material used in the production of each item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/12\/metals-montage-stahl-1.jpeg.webp\" alt=\"metals-montage-stahl-1\" class=\"wp-image-44414\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/12\/metals-montage-stahl-1.jpeg.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/12\/metals-montage-stahl-1-300x200.jpeg.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/12\/metals-montage-stahl-1-768x512.jpeg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2023\/12\/metals-montage-stahl-1-18x12.jpeg.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-smush-webp-fallback=\"{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.metals.it\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/metals-montage-stahl-1.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.metals.it\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/metals-montage-stahl-1.jpeg 900w, https:\\\/\\\/www.metals.it\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/metals-montage-stahl-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.metals.it\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/metals-montage-stahl-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.metals.it\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/12\\\/metals-montage-stahl-1-18x12.jpeg 18w&quot;}\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">With an advanced management system, every flow is always under control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Metal\u2019s, we leverage the best technologies for order and production flow management. As previously mentioned, the order is sent to suppliers via our management system. This method allows us <strong>to streamline the automatic procurement of materials<\/strong> and <strong>share important documents<\/strong> such as drawings, checklists, and specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our <strong>ERP system<\/strong>is connected to all areas of Metal\u2019s, from administration to the warehouse, and in real-time, it provides an accurate snapshot of inventory and material usage for each specific project. Thanks to an<strong> advanced feature<\/strong> (the MRP algorithm), the system analyzes the needs related to sales orders and generates purchase or production requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the type of item and the agreements with the customer, <strong>items are automatically ordered by the system<\/strong> to prevent production delays and address potential shortages of raw materials. Naturally, all items are managed with <strong>different procurement policies,<\/strong> and stock levels, production batches, and <em>lead times<\/em> are manually entered to ensure agreed-upon delivery dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">Moreover, <strong>to ensure quick responses<\/strong> to market demands, Metal\u2019s uses an inventory management system known as consignment stock. This means that, in agreement with our suppliers, <strong>we keep a specific quantity of stainless steel<\/strong> in our warehouses that will only be used if necessary. The advantage? Always having a supply of raw materials, ensuring a smooth workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An integrated and shared system<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At Metal\u2019s, we have chosen an <strong>ERP<\/strong> (Enterprise Resource Planning) software that aligns with the Industry 4.0 production paradigm and is always interconnected with our <a href=\"https:\/\/metals.weggagency.com\/processo-produttivo\/#parco-macchine\">state-of-the-art machinery<\/a> .\n\nThe ERP is natively integrated with all systems for MES (Manufacturing Execution System), WMS (Warehouse Management System), and TQM (Total Quality Management). This ensures <strong>information is accessible and easily monitored<\/strong> in real-time at all company levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In detail:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>MES<\/strong> (Manufacturing Execution System) tracks the progress of production orders, records real-time timings, and shares all necessary documentation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>WMS<\/strong> (Warehouse Management System) ensures accurate material management, determining the location of items within the company and managing inventory levels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>TQM<\/strong> (Total Quality Management) analyzes potential process deviations in real-time and ensures the achievement of pre-established PPM (Parts Per Million) standards set by the market or internal production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens when the order includes materials other than stainless steel?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">For some customers we produce <a href=\"https:\/\/metals.weggagency.com\/en\/mercati-di-riferimento\/assiemi-complessi-e-parti-di-macchine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">complex assemblies<\/a> involving the <strong>assembly of steel with other materials<\/strong>. For the procurement of the materials, we can follow two solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Relying on our trusted Italian and international suppliers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contacting trusted partners recommended by our clients.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In the first case, we can request a quote and acquire the necessary components at <strong>favorable prices and\/or with better delivery conditions<\/strong>. If the terms meet our clients\u2019 expectations, we proceed with the order.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, upon the client\u2019s request,<strong> we can intervene at any stage<\/strong>. For example, during production, we can seek a more cost-effective supplier <a href=\"https:\/\/metals.weggagency.com\/metals-caso-studio-ottimizzazione-costi-armadi-panificazione\/\">to optimize costs without compromising product quality<\/a> , or in case of an emergency, when a component needs to be replaced or is no longer available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">In a fast-paced and constantly evolving market, <strong>having a single, technically prepared point of contact for procurement<\/strong>\u2014someone capable of adapting to ever-changing requirements\u2014represents a crucial <strong>competitive advantage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A solution for large-scale complex assemblies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We have expanded our facility with a <strong>new mechanical division <\/strong>specialized in the production of large-scale complex assemblies. This automated system, enhanced with specific machinery such as milling machines, allows us to work with maximum precision even on small batches.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This enables us to <strong>take on new challenges<\/strong>, both within the Italian market and internationally, from Europe to America. We can offer<strong> an increasingly complete product to our clients<\/strong> \u2014also in terms of aesthetic finishes\u2014while meeting the requirements set out in the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DSC5666.jpg-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"DSC5666\" class=\"wp-image-76887\" style=\"width:795px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DSC5666.jpg-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DSC5666.jpg-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DSC5666.jpg-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DSC5666.jpg-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DSC5666.jpg-18x12.webp 18w, https:\/\/www.metals.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DSC5666.jpg.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outsourcing activity management is also digital<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We have implemented an <strong>SCC portal<\/strong> to manage the <em>outsourcing supply chain<\/em> in an integrated way for activities that require <strong>external suppliers' support,<\/strong> such as painting or electropolishing. In this way, orders generated by the management system are directed to the portal, which is always accessible to the supplier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">This tool is <strong>easy to manage and consult<\/strong>, where:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Orders are recorded (including drawings and all relevant information);&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Production progress can be tracked;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Labels necessary for delivery and identification of goods can be generated.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block\">By using this system, <strong>we minimize communication<\/strong> and avoid information loss, optimizing production timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The role of the supply chain in supplying advanced pre-assembled systems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A calculated management of the company\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/metals.weggagency.com\/supply-chain-per-la-diversificazione-dei-mercati\/\">supply chain<\/a> enables us <strong>to coordinate and optimize all stages of the production process<\/strong>, from sourcing to distribution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To stand out in an increasingly competitive market, <strong>high-quality products must be delivered within the agreed deadlines<\/strong>, while reducing wait times, waste, costs, and preventing production interruptions due to unforeseen events. Therefore, it becomes crucial to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coordinate relationships with multiple partners and raw material suppliers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offer diversified processing and comprehensive logistics plans, ensuring that shipping\u2014from packaging to delivery\u2014meets <strong>all requirements<\/strong> and regulations of the destination.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>At Metal\u2019s we <strong>we manage the entire supply chain<\/strong> , positioning ourselves as the single point of contact for companies seeking a <strong>complete service<\/strong>, from sourcing raw materials to dispatching orders, with tailor-made solutions for various industrial sectors. By doing so, clients can focus on their core activities, leaving the entire production and logistics coordination to our specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to learn more?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The production of complex stainless steel assemblies involves not only the purchase of raw materials but also their processing and shipment. Discover how we manage the entire process without delays and the benefits you can gain by choosing Metal\u2019s as your sole point of contact.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Quando il nostro ufficio commerciale riceve una commessa per la realizzazione di un assieme complesso, la macchina di Metal&#8217;s si mette in moto per rispettare le richieste e le tempistiche concordate con i nostri clienti.&nbsp; Come funziona questo processo, quali parti coinvolge attivamente e quali sono i vantaggi per chi si rivolge a noi? L\u2019acquisto [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_category":136,"footnotes":""},"categories":[136,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-approfondimenti","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.metals.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}