News and Information

Fastener quality and safety are receiving heightened attention, and the updating of industry standards is compelling companies to enhance their quality‑control systems.

Release date:

2026-08-14

Author:

Litian Hardware

Recent post‑accident reviews in the equipment manufacturing sector reveal that, in some cases, equipment failures stem from the failure of screw, nut, and bolt connections. Although fasteners are small in size, they directly impact the operational safety of the entire machine. National authorities have been continuously updating national standards for fasteners, while downstream industries—such as automotive, construction machinery, and rail transit—are concurrently tightening supplier qualification requirements. These measures impose stricter mandatory specifications on dimensional tolerances, mechanical properties, hydrogen embrittlement risks, batch traceability, and testing protocols, thereby driving the standardized development of quality‑control practices across the industry.

Recent post‑accident reviews of equipment‑manufacturing incidents reveal that, in some cases, equipment failures stem from the failure of screw, nut, and bolt connections. Although fasteners are small in size, they directly affect the operational safety of the entire machine. National authorities have been continuously updating national standards for fasteners, while downstream industries—such as automotive, construction machinery, and rail transit—are concurrently tightening supplier‑qualification requirements. These measures impose stricter mandates on dimensional tolerances, mechanical properties, hydrogen‑embrittlement risks, batch traceability, and testing protocols, thereby driving the standardized evolution of quality‑control practices across the sector.
The new version of the standard further refines the mechanical properties of high‑strength fasteners, thread‑tolerance requirements, and criteria for assessing surface defects, while introducing new testing mandates such as hydrogen‑embrittlement risk assessment and fatigue testing. In the past, many small and medium‑sized enterprises simply used go/no‑go gauges to verify thread dimensions, neglecting hardness testing, metallographic analysis, salt‑spray corrosion tests, and delayed fracture verification—making it difficult to meet the updated standards and the stringent audit requirements of high‑end customers. Changes on the procurement side are particularly pronounced: an increasing number of buyers are explicitly specifying the applicable standard number in contracts, requiring that each batch of products be accompanied by a complete test report, and rejecting vague “produced in accordance with national standards” clauses.
Quality management system certifications such as ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 are increasingly becoming the baseline requirements for accessing mid- to high-end supply chains. System certification is more than just a piece of paper; it mandates that companies establish comprehensive processes, including incoming material inspection, first‑article verification, in‑process inspections, full‑inspection of finished products, nonconforming‑product handling, sample retention, and document archiving—creating a closed-loop workflow. Many companies have lost business orders during customer audits due to missing test records, the absence of documented process specifications, or inadequate procedures for managing defective products.
The overarching trend in industry development is clear: the business model of achieving price competitiveness by simplifying testing and cutting quality‑control expenditures can no longer be sustained. Manufacturers must align with the latest national standards and customer specifications, upgrade their testing equipment and expand their test portfolios, standardize end‑to‑end quality documentation, and adopt a “zero defects” quality objective. As fundamental industrial components, fasteners rely on consistent quality as their core competitive advantage; continuously refining the quality‑control system is not only essential for meeting evolving regulatory requirements but also the cornerstone for entering high‑end supply chains and ensuring long‑term, stable growth.

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The expansion of the offshore wind power and shipbuilding industries continues to drive sustained demand for corrosion-resistant fasteners.