Non-Conforming Material Policy

End User Complaints to Almetals

  I.                    Timeliness

A.                   Non-oxidation claims on material shipped over ninety (90) days is purchaser's responsibility, Almetals will not accept any claim shipped over this time limit.

When metal is shipped with polyfilm in coil form, Almetals will only accept claims in coil form with the following exception:

Exception:  Almetals will only accept claims of blanks or parts in cases where samples of defect are provided, and the manufacturer of the polyfilm agrees that the film is defective after inspection of samples, and the manufacturer of the polyfilm agrees to reimburse for all cost associated with the claim.

B.                 Oxidation claims or water stain claims on unprotected material.

Will be reviewed if notified within thirty (30) days of ship date.  Almetals will not accept any oxidation claims shipped over thirty (30) days.  Further restrictions on oxidation claims are listed below (Section IX).

II.                 Notification to Almetals

Almetals must be notified, in writing, of any claim as soon as possible, so that Almetals can start the reviewing process, and make sure all material necessary can be contained.  The notification should be sent in to the Quality Control Department, or to the end user's Account Representative or Inside Sales Representative.

This may be mailed to:     

Almetals
51035 Grand River
Wixom, MI  48393

Faxed to: 248-348-7627

Emailed to: quality@almetals.com

III.                Information Required       

The initial notification to Almetals must indicate the Almetals Lot Identification Sticker numbers.  These stickers are located on both the I.D. and O.D. of each slit coil that leaves our building.  Other information that will help expedite Almetals' internal investigation includes the Case Ticket number of the skid. 

There should also be a succinct description of the material in terms of Product, Gauge, Width, Number of Cuts, and Shipped Date and Weight, as well as weight of rejected material.

Lastly, a clear description of the defect is necessary.

IV.               Sample

A sample of material clearly showing the defect is required.  If a sample of the material cannot be provided, digital pictures clearly showing the defect may be accepted. Pictures should be e-mailed to quality@almetals.com. We will notify end user as to the method to ship the sample within 24 hours of receiving the Information required detailed in Section III.

V.                 Issuance of Disposition

Upon inspection of all documentation, as well as the sample of the defect, Almetals will issue a written disposition.  The response will be sent out within three (3) days of receiving all of the Required Information detailed in Section III, and the Sample detailed in Section IV:

A.                 Acceptance of Claim/Return

Almetals will issue an RMR (Return Material Release).  This document will state what material type, gauge, width, and weight is being returned.  It will have a specific RMR number at the top that must be referenced on any return documentation.  It will also detail how the material is to be returned (our truck, customer drop off, a specific freight line, etc.)

Any material returned to Almetals prior to this RMR being authorized and issued will be denied entrance and returned to the end user at their own expense.

B.                 Acceptance of Claim/Scrap

Almetals will issue an RMR (Return Material Release).  This document will state what material type, gauge, width and weight are to be scrapped.  It will have a specific RMR number at the top that must be referenced on any Debit paperwork.  It will also state, "Material to be scrapped at end user, please issue agreed upon scrap credit" in the Freight section of the RMR.

Any material returned to Almetals prior to this RMR being authorized and issued will be denied entrance and returned to the end user at their own expense.

C.                Denial of Claim

Almetals will issue a denial letter with explanation of our denial.

D.                Request for Further Information

Almetals will issue a letter requesting further information, detailing what the exact problems we are having with issuing a disposition are.

VI.               Corrective Action Request

Almetals issues Corrective Action in a standard Sideways 8D format.  If this is unacceptable, the end user must notify Almetals of such in writing, not just send in their own form.  End user forms will not be filled in unless Almetals has been notified in writing that the 8D is not sufficient.  This notification in writing can be sent to Almetals in the same manner as the original claim as in Section II.

VII.             Limitations of Liability

Almetals accepts no responsibility for rejected material in any form other than that which was supplied, or the labor or costs to produce such forms, nor for any direct or consequential damages to anyone.

VIII.           Additional Comments

Almetals policy is to issue disposition in an expedient manner on all claims.  To do so, we need to have our Claim Policy followed.

Credit on all accepted claims is issued upon receipt of the material, or receipt of the Scrap Credit on issues where the disposition was Scrap Out.

IX.               Oxidation Claims

No oxidation claim will be honored if Almetals is not notified within 30 days of receipt of the material.

No condensation, or water stain claims will be honored on metal shipped Collect.

In cases of Wet packages, very cold packages of aluminum, or distortion of Almetals Water Stain Sticker delivered on Prepaid shipments:

A.                   It must be noted on Receiving paperwork at time of receipt of material and immediately forwarded to Almetals

B.                  Wipe off excess moisture, and

C.                  Do not open packaging until metal has warmed to room temperature (in case of very cold packages of aluminum only)

No condensation, or water stain claims will be honored if Almetals Water Stain Sticker is not attached or, if distorted, not noted on the Bill of Lading upon receipt of material.

Note: The Almetals Water Stain Sticker is placed on the outside of the package.  It has a large black dot in the center that will distort due to any moisture contacting it.  We utilize this to determine if moisture has come in contact with the package after the material left our building.

X.               Red rust claims on steel will be investigated on a case-by-case basis if Almetals is notified within 30 days of metal receipt. No rust claims will be honored after 30 days of customer receipt.