Vietnam Manufacturing & Quality Glossary

Dewin's proprietary factory evaluation system covering 50 criteria across 5 pillars: (1) Business Legitimacy & Registration, (2) Facility & Equipment Condition, (3) Quality Management System, (4) Process Controls & Traceability, (5) HSE & Labor Compliance. Each factory receives a QCLDM composite score.

Dewin's composite factory quality score derived from the 50-point Dolphin Audit. Covers Quality systems, Capability, Legality, Documentation, and Management. Scores of 80+ indicate a supplier ready for international export orders. Scores are updated after each factory visit.

A physical on-site inspection of a manufacturing facility to assess its production capabilities, quality systems, equipment condition, workforce skills, and compliance status. Dewin conducts audits using the 50-point Dolphin framework — with a team of on-ground auditors visiting Vietnam factories directly.

The process of evaluating and approving a new supplier before awarding production orders. Includes capability assessment, quality system review, sample production, and legal/compliance verification. Dewin's qualification process covers all 50 Dolphin criteria plus sample production and FAI.

The international Quality Management System standard. Requires documented procedures, process controls, internal audits, management review, and continuous improvement. ISO 9001:2015 is the current version. A baseline requirement for factories supplying to international industrial buyers.

The Automotive Quality Management System standard, published by the International Automotive Task Force. Builds on ISO 9001 with additional requirements for defect prevention, process capability, and supply chain controls. Required by most Tier 1 automotive OEMs globally.

Quality Management System standard for the aerospace, space, and defense supply chain. Based on ISO 9001 with additional requirements for configuration management, airworthiness, and risk management. Aerospace-capable Vietnam factories are increasingly sought after for structural and mechanical components.

Quality Management System standard specific to medical device manufacturers. Covers design controls, traceability, sterility, and post-market surveillance requirements. Required for factories producing Class II and Class III medical devices for sale in the US (FDA), EU (CE), and other regulated markets.

Computer Numerical Control machining — a subtractive manufacturing process where cutting tools remove material from a solid workpiece under computer control. Types: milling (3/4/5-axis), turning, grinding, EDM, and drilling. Vietnam has 60+ audited CNC machining factories in Dewin's network.

A high-pressure metal casting process where molten metal (aluminum, zinc, or magnesium) is forced into a steel die under pressures of 1,500–25,000 psi. Produces complex, near-net-shape parts with tight dimensional accuracy. Cold-chamber die casting is standard for aluminum alloys (A380, ADC12).

Manufacturing operations applied to flat metal sheets: laser cutting, CNC punching, press brake bending, welding, spot welding, and assembly. Material range: carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless, aluminum. Vietnam has a strong sheet metal cluster around HCMC and Binh Duong.

High-pressure injection of molten thermoplastic material into a steel or aluminum mold cavity. Produces precise, repeatable plastic parts at high volume. Typical mold life: 300,000–1,000,000 shots for hardened steel tooling. Vietnam has a growing injection molding sector with P20 and H13 tooling capability.

A precision casting method using a wax pattern coated in ceramic shell. After burnout, molten metal is poured in. Capable of complex geometries, thin walls, and excellent surface finish (Ra 1.6–6.3 μm). Common materials: stainless steel, carbon steel, brass, titanium.

A cold-forming process using a press and hardened die to cut, form, or draw flat metal sheet into parts. Types: blanking, punching, bending, deep drawing, progressive die. Very cost-efficient at high volumes (10,000+ parts). Vietnam has strong stamping capability for automotive Tier 2/3 parts.

Manufacturing of metal parts by compacting metal powder in a die and sintering (heating below melting point) to bond particles. Produces complex shapes with controlled porosity. Sub-processes: conventional press-and-sinter, Metal Injection Molding (MIM), Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP).

A high-precision 3D measurement device using a touch probe or scanning head to measure part geometry. CMM data supports First Article Inspection (FAI) reports, PPAP submissions, and ongoing SPC. The presence of in-house CMM at a Vietnam factory is a strong quality maturity indicator.

A non-contact optical measurement device using a CCD camera and image analysis software to measure 2D features: hole diameters, edge profiles, thread forms, and small features. Faster than CMM for flat parts and stampings. Useful for high-volume inspection without contact wear.

A complete dimensional and functional check of the first production part or batch before mass production begins. The FAI report documents every measured characteristic on the drawing. Required by aerospace (AS9100D), automotive (PPAP), and most industrial buyers.

An automotive standard (AIAG) requiring suppliers to demonstrate they can consistently manufacture to customer requirements before production release. PPAP includes dimensional reports, material certs, FMEA, Control Plan, MSA data, and capability studies. Five submission levels.

A standardized language (ASME Y14.5 / ISO 1101) for communicating precise tolerance requirements on engineering drawings using symbols. Covers form (flatness, roundness), orientation (parallelism, perpendicularity), location (position, concentricity), and runout tolerances.

The allowable variation in a measured dimension. Expressed as a bilateral range (±X) or as a unilateral limit. Typical ranges by process: CNC machining ±0.005–0.05mm; die casting ±0.1–0.5mm; sheet metal ±0.1–0.5mm. Tighter tolerances increase cost and inspection requirements.

Reviewing a part design against manufacturing constraints to reduce cost, cycle time, and defect risk. Common DFM issues include insufficient draft angles, sharp internal corners, undercuts requiring side-pulls, unnecessary tight tolerances, and wall thickness variation.

A taper added to vertical walls of molded or cast parts to facilitate ejection from the mold or die. Standard recommendation: 1–3° per side for injection molded parts; 0.5–1° for die castings. Insufficient draft causes sticking, scoring, and shortened tool life.

Free On Board — the supplier covers all costs and risk up to the point goods are loaded at the Vietnam export port (typically Ho Chi Minh City / Cát Lái Port or Haiphong). The buyer arranges and pays for ocean or air freight, insurance, US customs, and final delivery from that point.

A bilateral or multilateral treaty reducing or eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers between signatory countries. Vietnam has 16+ active FTAs — including CPTPP, EVFTA, RCEP, and the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement — giving Vietnam-origin goods preferential access to major export markets.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership — a free trade agreement among 12 countries including Vietnam, Canada, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand. Provides near-zero tariff rates for qualifying goods and a framework for IP protection, e-commerce, and labor standards.

A trade document issued by an authorized body (chamber of commerce or government agency) certifying the country of origin of exported goods. Required by customs in the importing country to apply the correct tariff rate and verify FTA preferences.

The minimum quantity a supplier will produce per order run. Driven by setup costs, tooling amortization, and material minimums. CNC machining: often no MOQ. Injection molding: 500–5,000 pieces typical. Stamping: 1,000–50,000+.

Total elapsed time from purchase order issuance to delivery at buyer's dock. Includes: production (varies by process), quality inspection, packing, inland freight to port, ocean transit (~18–25 days Vietnam → US West Coast), US customs clearance (2–5 days), and drayage.

An electrochemical oxidation treatment for aluminum that grows a hard, porous aluminum oxide layer on the surface. Improves corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and adhesion. Type II (decorative): 5–25μm thick. Type III (hard anodize): 25–75μm. Can be dyed in various colors.

A dry coating process where electrostatically charged polymer powder is applied to metal and cured at 180–200°C. Results in a thick, durable, uniform finish with excellent impact and weather resistance. More durable than wet paint; no VOC emissions. Standard for OPE, agricultural, and industrial equipment.

Depositing a thin metallic layer on a substrate via electrochemical reaction. Common platings: zinc (corrosion protection), nickel (wear/corrosion), chrome (decorative/hard), copper (electrical conductivity), tin (solderability). Thickness: typically 5–25μm.

A supplier-issued document confirming that a batch of parts conforms to all specified requirements. Includes part number, revision level, purchase order, quantity shipped, and a signed conformance statement. Required with every shipment by most industrial buyers.

A test report from the material producer or an accredited test lab confirming that a raw material batch meets specified chemical composition and mechanical properties. Also called a Mill Certificate or Material Test Report (MTR). Required for aerospace, pressure vessels, and regulated applications.

The ability to track a part or material back through every stage of the supply chain — from raw material heat/lot number through production, inspection, and delivery. Critical for aerospace, medical, and automotive recalls. Requires lot coding, records retention, and documented handoffs.