I’ve worked in manufacturing procurement for just over 25 years. In that time, I’ve learned one thing above all else—precision is the backbone of quality. Every product we make, every part we produce, and every component we measure relies on measuring tool accuracy. If measurements are off, quality suffers.

Over the years, I’ve made mistakes, learned hard lessons, and developed a sharper eye for sourcing metrology equipment. Here, I want to share a few of those lessons with you—even if some of them may be a little embarrassing for me!

Costly lessons from my younger days

It didn’t take long to stumble into one of my first big mistakes in procurement. I was young, fresh out of school, eager to prove myself, and working under a tight deadline. A supplier offered a set of thread gauges at a price well below our approved budget. On paper, it looked like a great deal. I approved the purchase without much hesitation.

That decision came back to haunt me.

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