Certifications and Standards
How CutLinq verifies supplier certifications and which ISO and EN standards govern each process
CutLinq is a marketplace connecting buyers to independent manufacturing workshops in Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia; CutLinq itself does not hold a manufacturing ISO certification because it does not operate the machines. Suppliers in the CutLinq network are required to submit their certification documents before onboarding, and their scope and validity are checked against the certificate register before a shop is listed for a given process.
This page explains what certifications mean in practice for a buyer, which standards apply to each process and how to request a supplier's certificate or a material and inspection report with your order.
What ISO 9001 does and does not guarantee
ISO 9001 certifies that a workshop has a documented quality management system: traceable work orders, defined inspection steps, non-conformance handling and corrective action records. It does not certify that every part meets a specific tolerance or that the shop owns a particular machine; those depend on the process and the drawing. Suppliers in the CutLinq network that hold ISO 9001 provide the certificate number and issuing body on request, which the buyer can verify directly with the certification body.
For welding, a separate qualification applies: welders working to EN ISO 9606 hold a certificate for a specific process, material group and position, and a workshop's welding procedure should be qualified to EN ISO 15614 for the joint type ordered. Ask for the welder qualification certificate (WQC) reference when a structural or pressure-bearing weld is involved.
| Standard | What it covers | Applies to | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | Quality management system | The workshop as a whole | Certificate number and scope |
| EN ISO 9606-1 | Welder qualification, steel | Individual welders | Welder qualification certificate |
| EN ISO 9606-2 | Welder qualification, aluminium | Individual welders | Welder qualification certificate |
| EN ISO 15614 | Welding procedure qualification | The joint and process combination | WPS/WPQR reference |
| ISO 2768 | General tolerances for linear and angular dimensions | Machined and formed parts without a stated tolerance | Tolerance class (f, m, c, v) on the drawing |
| EN 10025 / EN 10088 | Structural steel and stainless steel grades | Material certification | Mill certificate (EN 10204 3.1 or 2.2) |
Material traceability and mill certificates
An EN 10204 2.2 certificate is a test report based on the mill's own records for the cast or batch and is the default for general fabrication. An EN 10204 3.1 certificate is validated by an inspector independent of the production department and is required where material traceability is contractual, for example pressure equipment or export documentation. Requesting a 3.1 certificate typically adds a small percentage to material cost and should be stated at quote stage, not after the order is placed, because it may restrict which stock lot can be used.
Tolerances applied when none is stated
When a drawing gives no explicit tolerance, workshops in the network default to ISO 2768 medium (m) class for machined dimensions and to the process default for cutting and bending: laser profile ±0.1 to ±0.2 mm depending on thickness, bend angle ±0.5°, CNC milling ±0.05 mm standard. Stating the required ISO 2768 class (f fine, m medium, c coarse, v very coarse) on the drawing removes ambiguity and avoids a rejected part that was technically within the default but not within what the buyer needed.
| ISO 2768 class | Tolerance, 30-120 mm range | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| f (fine) | ±0.15 mm | precision fits, mating parts |
| m (medium) | ±0.30 mm | general fabrication, default |
| c (coarse) | ±0.50 mm | non-critical structural parts |
| v (very coarse) | ±1.00 mm | rough weldments, brackets |
Inspection reports and dimensional proof
A first-article inspection report, listing key dimensions measured against the drawing with a caliper or CMM, can be requested for the first batch of a new part and is standard practice for medical, food-contact and structural parts. A CMM report is used where feature tolerances are below ±0.05 mm or where geometric tolerancing (flatness, position, perpendicularity) is specified. State the inspection level required at quote stage, since 100% dimensional check on a large batch adds time compared with a sample check.
Design tips
- State the ISO 2768 tolerance class explicitly on the drawing rather than relying on the default
- Request the welder qualification certificate reference for any structural or pressure-bearing weld
- Specify EN 10204 3.1 material certificates at quote stage if traceability is contractual, not after order placement
- Ask for the ISO 9001 certificate number so it can be checked directly against the issuing body's register
- Define the inspection level (sample or 100%, caliper or CMM) for parts with tolerances under ±0.05 mm
- For export shipments, confirm which certificates the destination customs authority requires before production starts
Applications
| Industry | Typical requirement | Standard referenced |
|---|---|---|
| Food and pharmaceutical | 316L traceability, surface finish record | EN 10204 2.2/3.1 |
| Oil, gas and energy | Pressure part welding qualification | EN ISO 15614, EN ISO 9606 |
| Construction and structural steel | Structural steel grade certificate | EN 10025, EN 10204 2.2 |
| Medical and laboratory | First-article inspection, CMM report | ISO 2768, internal CMM procedure |
| Automotive supply | PPAP-style dimensional report | ISO 2768, customer-specific |
| Export shipments | Material and quality documentation package | EN 10204, ISO 9001 certificate copy |
Pricing and lead time
Certification and inspection requirements affect price mainly through three factors: the certificate type requested (a 3.1 mill certificate costs more than the standard 2.2 and may need a specific stock lot), the inspection level (100% CMM check on every part costs more than a sample check on a batch), and welder or procedure qualification when a job requires a specific WPS not already on file, which can add setup cost on the first order only. Adding these requirements typically extends lead time by 1 to 3 working days for document preparation and does not change the core cutting, bending or machining time. State documentation needs when requesting the quote so they are priced into the binding offer, not added afterward.
Frequently asked questions
CutLinq is a marketplace and does not operate manufacturing machines, so it does not hold a manufacturing ISO certificate. Suppliers in the CutLinq network hold ISO 9001 and provide their certificate on request.
Upload your DXF or STEP file with the certification and inspection level you need, and receive a binding quote within 12 hours.