A specialty material is necessary when a conventional option cannot satisfy the specifications and testing requirements already established for the intended use. If the conventional option meets those requirements, the specialty designation alone does not establish a need. The decision should therefore be demonstrated requirement by requirement.
How to check whether it is necessary
The American Society for Quality says a supplier quote should be requested against stated specifications and other requirements, such as testing. It also says material suppliers should conform to pre-established requirements.
| Check | Question for the reader | Decision signal |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | Which pre-established specification or testing requirement must the material meet? | Without a stated requirement, the case for a specialty material remains unconfirmed. |
| Conventional option | Does the existing material meet that requirement? | If it does, a specialty alternative has not been shown necessary for that requirement. |
| Quote basis | Was the supplier given the same specifications and testing requirements? | A quote prepared against the same basis is more useful for comparison. |
| Supplier conformity | Can the proposed supplier conform to the pre-established requirements? | The material name alone is not evidence of conformity. |
| Total supplier cost | Which additional elements are associated with the material? | ASQ lists material cost, communications methods, inventory requirements and required incoming verification among the elements that total supplier cost can include. |
What the reader must still confirm
The cited guidance does not establish that every specialty material is necessary, nor does it provide a universal threshold for deciding when one is required. It also does not identify the reader’s actual specifications, testing requirements, inventory conditions, incoming verification needs, supplier terms or total supplier cost.
Those points must be confirmed from the applicable requirements and a supplier quote. Until the conventional option has been shown not to meet the relevant requirement, the accurate status is unconfirmed rather than specialty material required.