New Lathe Problems advice needed

And the idea that it doesn't matter as long as the retailer makes good is still disappointing to those like myself who want to buy something once and not have to play musical returns with a supplier until by apparent luck I'm supplied one that is adequate. This is why I still prefer to buy good second hand british equipment and accessories for the same price as new far eastern. Even with some previous ownership, the quality is usually still there with the caveat that you employ all the usual cautions when buying secondhand.

No, ISO9000 is a consistency system, not a quality system. It says we have a procedure to do that particular task, and we always follow that procedure, and have a document trail to prove it. It says nothing about the quality of the procedures, and even less about the design process. As long as you follow the procedures, and can prove it, you're fine.

In other words you can produce cr*p, but you produce consistent cr*p where each unit is the same.

Andrew

Sadly not. I too had exactly the same experience. The introduction of ISO9000 was a glorious opportunity to fix a large number of organisational and other defects that reduced productivity and otherwise annoyed our customers.

Unfortunately the boss had been ordered to deliver ISO9000 accreditation as a target and given no resources to actually change anything in the real world despite evidence galore that all was not well. The top team felt the status quo was good enough, possibly not realising that their work-force was flat-out due to internal inefficiencies.

Like you, I wasted a lot of time reviewing documentation that went straight into a cupboard. The final straw was discovering that our software quality process required the use of a Spectrum Analyser and lots of other inappropriate lab equipment. The ISO team had produced an impressive inch-thick document by retitling someone else's quality process. They hadn't actually read it!

A few years later the enterprise failed. The customer found an alternative who was cheaper, faster and more reliable. I was annoyed because the crash was avoidable. A hard working team were let down by leadership failure. At about the same time a colleague successfully turned his business unit round by introducing a pragmatic approach to quality, much of it simple. He was empowered to use ISO9000 to streamline and correct a raft of rusty work-practices. His leader wanted to change and invested. As far as I know they're still going strong.

Dave

When I was involved with the accreditation there was simple rule to follow

"say what you do and do what you say"

it was that simple until you had to produce standard operating procedures for everything, but again once you actually understood what the work force actually did it wasn't so bad to document it

one of the hardest jobs was controlling it all - stop the workers from doing their own thing because they thoughtit was abetter way.....

Ooops. Apologies to Ady for veering off into an interesting discussion about ISO9000.

Back on topic, I was sorry to read about your new lathe issues and hope Chester sort it out soon. Looks like someone in the factory fitted a headstock they should have rejected.

For the benefit of anyone else who might have a problem with a new lathe, I think older web advice suggesting that new Chinese lathes should be treated as a kit of parts to be stripped down and put right is unhelpful. Mostly they're not that bad, though obviously some still are! I suggest the first thing to do with a new lathe is to check it out carefully and report immediately any faults you're not happy to fix to the supplier. Don't make serious defects your problem by messing with it. Later on of course it's likely that you will want to improve the lathe. Go for it. Should be tweaks rather than a need for major surgery though.

Dave

UPDATE**

I got a reply saying

"Although there may be an issue as you have stripped down a brand new machine whilst still under warranty and without consent, in this case it has quite clearly highlighted the issue that you have with the machine."

They will send someone to pick it up when I have it back together and on pallet (which i still have). They have also offered me another replacement machine or a full refund. I said I will think things over and let them know. So I can only say that they have been very fair and am happy and relieved at the outcome. They also said that when they get to look at the machine they will get on to the factory about it. So all good news.

So, there you go! Now we have heard from both sides of the problem - buyer and vendor. Problem solved.

Likely would have been without all this 'dirty washing' plastered all over the forum. Other vendors have the same problems with these imported machines.

Mostly the incidence is sorted without recourse to threads like this. The vendors are then regarded as the best thing next to sliced bread. Same problem, different perception by third parties. .

As it seems the OP is content, I'm locking this thread.

Clearly there is an issue with this machine, or at least its headstock, but not one that would be obvious under a normal inspection (which wouldn't involve taking the headstock off).

It is a shame if people get the impression that all imported machines are likely to have issues of this kind. The great majority don't, but unsurprisingly people are more likely to post when they have a problem, than when they do.

Neil