For over three decades, Harvan Manufacturing has been crafting precision components designed to meet critical demands. We believe manufacturing is an art form that requires passion, innovation, and integrity, particularly in applications where a small error or lapse in quality can have drastic consequences. Everyone on our experienced team, from administrators to machinists, is dedicated to working closely with our clients to create high-quality machined parts they can trust.
What to Expect in Our Manufacturing Process for Machining & Fabrication Services
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Step 1: The Quoting Process
Harvan Manufacturing has a wide range of processes and capabilities that we take into consideration when quoting. Since the majority of our customers require very specific parts and materials, we take time to ensure we can procure those unique materials as well as perform the operations necessary to hold tolerances and create perfect parts.
Our quoting team begins by reviewing any drawings/blueprints and technical data sent over by existing or potential customers. The team then determines which processes are required to create that item. This may involve an array of operations such as saw cutting or turning, subcontract operations such as passivation or painting, and installing bushings or fasteners on finished assemblies.
We use our ERP system to tell us how much those operations cost based on how much time we think we need. Our quoters reference tooling programs if available and use their vast industry knowledge to determine what needs to happen and how long it should take. We often consult our skilled machinists, as the operator will always know the best way to machine something and how long it will take them to complete it.
The second part of the quoting process is gathering information on costs outside our control. These include raw material costs and subcontract operations such as painting, heat treating, and testing. At Harvan, we use a variety of raw materials such as plate, bar, tubing, forgings, and castings. Some customers even send us their own materials to machine. All of these factors, cost and timing included, are reflected in the quote.
Step 2: The Order Process
Once we receive a purchase order from a customer, it gets entered into our ERP system. The first thing we do is ensure that the pricing and revisions match what was quoted to avoid any issues further down the line.
We then do a contract review. This process checks quality clauses, whether it’s a new part, and any required quality paperwork.
Step 3: Creating the Job
Planning is always a unique step at Harvan since the work we do is so diverse. The planner looks to see if we have any leftover stock from the previous run to determine if they need to make a new job. Typically, we run extra parts on an order in case there is any scrap. Sometimes there is no abnormal scrap, and we can stock the leftover parts. Most of the time we only have a piece or two left over, but when a customer orders just one piece, sometimes we do not have to make a new job and can ship from stock.
If we need to manufacture parts to fulfill a purchase order, we use our ERP system to put together a job. This job package includes inspection reports, drawings, process flow, material requirements, bills of materials for larger assemblies, and any other information we may require. The job of the planner is to determine the job quantity and timeline.
If a customer places a rush order the planner must decide if we are capable of improving on the quoted lead time or not. The planner also decides the job quantity based on the customer’s requirements and the processes involved. Generally, Harvan makes 10% extra to account for scrap. Scrap can come from a tool breaking during machining, parts being damaged in transport to and from subcontract, or tight tolerances being slightly off due to shifting fixtures and tooling. We always like to plan ahead to prevent potential errors.
Step 4: Engineering Review
One of the most important steps to our process is the engineering review. Once a job is created, it goes through engineering for approval. They check that the drawings and revisions all match the job and the purchase order from the customer. They verify that the material quoted meets all drawing and purchase order comments.
Sometimes when quoting we only have time for a rough estimate of the materials and processes required. This is when engineering comes in to confirm actual requirements for manufacture. They add sequences or change how we make an item to improve upon the quoting department’s initial plan.
Engineering is also responsible for the inspection reports. As part of our ISO certification, we must verify dimensions throughout the manufacturing process. Engineering takes the drawing and creates inspection reports of critical dimensions for the machinists to fill out as they measure parts. The engineering department can also act as manufacturing engineers and assist with fixturing for welding and machining.
Step 5: Purchasing Raw Materials & Releasing the Job
Over the past few years, there has been a lot of market volatility when it comes to raw materials such as steel. Typically, from the time we get a quote on raw material to when we get the actual purchase order, the material pricing is no longer valid or the material is sold to someone else. This is why we have to go back out to quote material pricing at this stage.
At this time, we also have a better idea of how much material we need to fulfill the job quantity. Often, we will have raw material in stock and not have to go out to quote for new material. Or, we use oversize material and machine it down to help with rush purchase orders, since purchasing raw materials sometimes takes up the bulk of our lead time.
Once we receive quotes back from our material suppliers, we read them over to ensure they are quoting the correct sizes, grades, and price range that we quoted to our customers. We decide on the best option by weighing price as well as lead time. For example, sometimes the cheapest material per pound may take the longest to arrive.
We always wait to release the job until after the material has arrived and gone through incoming inspection. During incoming inspection, we check the physical qualities of the material, such as diameter, length, and thickness. Once the paperwork makes its way up to the office, it is thoroughly reviewed. All items we receive must be traceable, meaning that lot numbers, heat numbers, and other specifications must match on all paperwork.
We also inspect certificates to ensure materials meet all standards on the drawings for those specific jobs. Often, we find material that is missing information or varies from the job requirements we ordered. We must catch these inconsistencies during incoming inspection so that parts are not manufactured with material that doesn’t meet standards dictated by the customer. This accuracy is especially important when we serve our defense customers.
Step 6: Manufacturing
This is the fun part. Once all of the paperwork is out of the way, we can begin manufacturing. Since Harvan performs so many different processes, each part takes a unique path through the shop.
The first stop is one of our gateway operations. These include saw cutting, waterjet cutting, laser cutting, or inventory picking for welding. The gateway is chosen by material type and customer requirements. Our waterjet is our busiest gateway, as most jobs that go through the shop begin with a plate being cut on our waterjet. From the gateways, the material flows onto its next process as outlined by the quoting and engineering departments.
The next process could be turning, milling (either horizontal or vertical), welding, assembly, or a combination of them all. Once our experienced machinists receive the cut raw material, they begin setup on the machine. This includes programming tool paths (if not already done by our programmer), adjusting the programming, gathering tooling, clamping down the workpiece, and proving out the method. Setting up can take a lot of back and forth with the quality department to ensure that it meets all drawing requirements and that our programming and tooling work well. Setup on a simple part can take hours. On a more complex part, it can take days.
Once the part is up and running, we do quality checks and deburring between loading and unloading parts into the fixtures. On tight tolerance parts, we often have QA scan parts right at the machine, especially if they have to be measured in a fixed state. If the parts can be moved, they go into QA for checking on our CMM.
With welding and assembly, there is a lot more human involvement than machines. Our welders follow all standards—whether AWS or CWB—as detailed in the job package. We perform certain qualification procedures before the actual production run to ensure proper joint fusion. Welders frequently use fixtures when tacking up a part to ensure it doesn’t shift or move during work. Depending on the material, they may have to straighten or pre-heat parts to achieve the desired results.
Our QA checks all welds before they move on to the next process. Occasionally our customer also requires an outside inspector for visual inspection of the welds, so Harvan has developed close relationships with them to review parts in a timely manner. Weldments move on to machining, painting, or assembly when finished.
Harvan provides value-added finishing services to make sure that the parts leave our facility polished and labeled. We also offer operations such as rust proofing, stamping, laser identification, polishing, deburring, and assembly. Assembly workers do everything from installing bushings and screws to wiring up electrical components such as solenoids and wiring harnesses.
Step 7: Final Inspection and Shipping
The last stop is final inspection. Here at Harvan, we pride ourselves on quality. Everything is checked over by quality assurance before it leaves the building. We are capable of providing inspection reports and quality packages upon request. We have some customers who are comfortable with just a green quality tag. Other customers require binders full of information to support the processes we complete for them.
We follow all ISO 9001 requirements to provide quality parts to our valued customers. Once our quality team gives that final stamp of approval, parts are taken over to shipping for paperwork and packaging. We always take the utmost care with parts to ensure they have a low risk of being damaged during transport.
Machine Shop Services
Our machine shop optimizes workflow so that we can efficiently meet the needs of customers in some of the most demanding industries. Depending on the needs of the project, we offer a range of in-house machining options.
CNC Machining
As all of our equipment is located in a single facility, we provide a one-stop shopping experience for our customers. We also provide rush services for projects with rapid turnaround times. Our CNC services include:
Milling
Turning
Lapping
Centerless Grinding
Surface Grinding
Cylindrical Grinding
Broaching
Burnishing
Hobbing
Welding & Fabrication
In accordance with AWS codes, our team provides high quality welding services and thorough quality assurance inspections. In addition to our welding capabilities, we also offer a range of fabrication services to shape raw metals for later use. We also partner with several experienced testing facilities, which include:
Ultrasonic testing
Magnetic particle inspection
Radiographic testing
Liquid penetrant inspection
Mechanical testing
Laser & Waterjet Cutting
Precision cutting services play a vital role in manufacturing critical components with extremely tight tolerance requirements. Laser cutting utilizes a laser to burn or vaporize the workpiece, creating high levels of detail even on small parts. Materials we work with include:
Plastic
Wood
Stainless steel
Mild steel
Copper
Foam
Aluminum
Value-Added Services
Our in-house value-added service include:
Engineering CAD/CAM files and prototyping
Finishing services
Staging
Subcontractor availability
Machine Shop Services
Our machine shop optimizes workflow so that we can efficiently meet the needs of customers in some of the most demanding industries. Depending on the needs of the project, we offer a range of in-house machining options.
As all of our equipment is located in a single facility, we provide a one-stop shopping experience for our customers. We also provide rush services for projects with rapid turnaround times. Our CNC services include:
In accordance with AWS codes, our team provides high quality welding services and thorough quality assurance inspections. In addition to our welding capabilities, we also offer a range of fabrication services to shape raw metals for later use. We also partner with several experienced testing facilities, which include:
Precision cutting services play a vital role in manufacturing critical components with extremely tight tolerance requirements. Laser cutting utilizes a laser to burn or vaporize the workpiece, creating high levels of detail even on small parts. Materials we work with include:
At Harvan, we have decades of experience creating critical components for a variety of industries. We frequently work with the military and defense sector, creating parts such as stabilizer bars, control arms, and height management sensors for vehicles and other equipment. This experience also enables us to create high-quality precision components for civilian trucks and off-road vehicles that require high levels of reliability and stability.
In addition to our work with the military, we provide specialized industrial valves for applications in chemical processing, marine, and petrochemical. We also work with the agriculture and forestry industries, creating dependable components for vital machinery.
Certifications
We strive not only to meet but exceed the expectations of our clients. The vital nature of the components we create requires that we follow strict guidelines to ensure quality, efficacy, and safety. As a result, we possess a number of certifications.
Controlled Goods Program
Because we work so frequently with the military, we are registered with the Controlled Goods Program (CGP). Controlled goods refer to items with national security or military significance. This registration program regulates controlled goods in Canada with the goal of strengthening Canada’s defense trade controls. Working with the CGP means that we must have clear security plans, provide visitor logs, and maintain a detailed inventory for all areas where controlled goods are present.
ISO 9001:2015
ISO 9001 is an international standard that creates strict requirements for quality management systems. Working in compliance with this standard indicates that an organization is consistently able to provide high-quality products that meet the needs of both customers and regulatory bodies. The most current version of this standard was released in 2015 and is referred to as ISO 9001:2015.
Following ISO 9001 helps organizations improve efficiency, manage resources, and organize processes. This standard is not industry-specific. In fact, over a million organizations from over 160 countries implement ISO 9001 to demonstrate their commitment to quality.
CWB Division 3, CSA W47.1
While ISO 9001:2015 is a broad certification that tracks quality assurance, CSA Standard W47.1 is specific to manufacturers providing fusion welding services. There are several intensive steps required to gain this certification.
First, the manufacturer will receive an in-depth binder containing application forms, study guides, and CSA guidelines related to welding standards. Each welding supervisor must complete a series of verbal and written examinations. The manufacturer must also submit detailed welding procedures and qualify all welders. A Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) representative will periodically audit the company to ensure continued quality.
Dependable Precision Components from Harvan Manufacturing
