Quality at Export Commodity is not a department — it’s built into every step of the process. From material sourcing to final inspection, we operate to standards that protect your project and your reputation.
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While Export Commodity is not ISO 9001 certified, our quality management practices align with its core principles: document control, defined processes, customer focus, continual improvement, and root cause analysis on any non-conformance. We operate with the rigor of a certified shop and the accountability of a local business.
Design for Manufacturability review is performed on every file before printing begins. Our engineers check wall thicknesses, support requirements, feature sizes, dimensional tolerances, and potential print failure points. Issues are resolved before production — not discovered in finished parts.
Critical dimensions are verified on finished parts using digital calipers, depth gauges, and CMM-style measurement for engineering parts. We measure to your nominal geometry, not just eyeball the result. Non-conforming parts are rejected and reprinted, not shipped.
All print jobs are monitored throughout production. We check for layer adhesion issues, warping, support failures, and geometry deviation before a problem becomes a failed part. Catches mid-print are common — and we restart jobs rather than deliver compromised parts.
Client confidentiality is a foundational operating principle at Export Commodity — not an optional add-on. Here’s how we protect your IP:
Every client is offered a mutual NDA before any files or sensitive project details are transferred. Sign it and your files are protected. Don’t want the NDA? We still treat your files as confidential by default — it’s how we operate.
Client files are stored on secured internal systems with access restricted to the production team assigned to your project. Files are not stored on public cloud platforms. Deletion on request is confirmed in writing.
We never publish, post, or share client designs, products, or production details without explicit written permission. We may describe project types in general terms, but we never identify clients or show their designs without approval.
The quality of a printed part starts with the quality of the material. We source from reputable filament and resin manufacturers with published, tested material data sheets.
Print supports, failed parts, and production scrap are segregated by material type. PLA scrap goes to filament recycling programs where available. Resin waste is handled through appropriate chemical waste disposal — never down the drain.
We optimize print settings to minimize support material without compromising part quality. Efficient part orientation reduces material use and print time. We track scrap rates by material and process as part of our continual improvement program.
For projects where material is not specified and performance requirements allow, we recommend PLA — a bioplastic-derived material with a lower environmental footprint than petroleum-based thermoplastics. It’s also our most-used material, which means we have the best process control on it.
We schedule large print batches to run during off-peak energy hours where possible, reducing grid strain and operating costs — savings that are partially passed on through competitive pricing.
Yes, with caveats. We can provide manufacturer-issued data sheets (TDS) for all materials we stock as standard. Batch-specific Certificates of Analysis (COA) — which include lot-specific mechanical testing results — are available for select engineering-grade materials at additional cost. This must be specified at the time of quoting, as it requires sourcing from specific certified material lots. COAs are most commonly requested for medical device, aerospace, and structural engineering applications. Standard commercial prototyping and display work generally doesn’t require COAs, and we’ll tell you that honestly rather than upsell you on documentation you don’t need.
Yes. A Certificate of Conformance (COC) — a document stating that the parts were produced to the specifications in your order — is available on request at no charge. It includes the part description, material, quantity, and a statement of conformance signed by our production manager. For orders requiring formal documentation in your quality management system, we can tailor the COC format to your requirements. Let us know at the quoting stage if you need this documentation.
Our internal first-pass quality rate — parts that pass inspection without requiring reprinting — runs approximately 92–95% depending on material and geometry complexity. When a part fails inspection, it’s reprinted at our cost before delivery. Our client-facing delivery quality rate (parts delivered that meet spec) is 98%+. The difference between those numbers is the cost of our quality control process — which we absorb, not you. We track these metrics internally as part of our continual improvement program.
Export Commodity is not currently ISO 9001 certified. We operate with quality management practices aligned to ISO 9001 principles — documented processes, defined quality controls, customer focus, and continual improvement — but we have not pursued third-party certification. For clients who require ISO 9001 certification from their suppliers, we can discuss our process documentation and quality practices to help you assess fit for your specific application. Many of our clients in regulated industries find our quality practices sufficient for their needs without the certification requirement.
For food-contact applications, we offer PETG printed on thoroughly cleaned printers with food-safe PETG filament from compliant manufacturers. FDA-compliant PETG is appropriate for indirect food contact and non-heated food contact surfaces. We do not claim our prints are suitable for direct food contact without specific material certification. For medical applications, we advise that our standard process is not sterile and parts are not validated for implantable or sterile-field use. Biocompatible resins for non-implantable medical device prototyping and anatomical models are available — we’ll discuss application specifics before recommending materials for any medically-adjacent use.