KENYA · GUIDE 0872 · EDITION 4.7
Resin coaster making in Kenya: Operations and Quality Checks
Deliver the agreed result consistently
Design coaster sets around repeat dimensions, level contact surfaces, and a documented finish, checking product suitability with competent advice before making heat or food related claims.
The operating sequence for this offer is:
- Select a suitable resin system and original design, reviewing supplier safety information and required workspace controls before beginning sample work.
- Use competent material handling and the supplier's process instructions, keeping batch identity and observed defects recorded without improvising chemical formulations.
- Inspect cured finish and stability, reject tacky or defective pieces, and state actual care and heat-use limitations.
Put acceptance into the job record
Fully finished stable surface without tackiness
Compare every sample on a flat table, inspecting edges, surface defects, rocking, and underside protection, then verify that decorative inclusions remain enclosed in the finished construction.
Inspect at the point where a correction is still possible, then again at handover. Record rejected or incomplete output separately from accepted output. A completed task is not automatically an accepted task, and an invoice does not establish that the customer received the right result.
Measure real capacity
Time preparation, the main operation, transport, cleaning, approvals and correction as applicable. The slowest stage determines how much you can promise. Where two orders need the same person, space or equipment at the same time, resolve the conflict before confirming both deadlines. An additional enquiry should not erase a commitment already made.
| Operating checkpoint | Evidence for this business |
|---|---|
| Before starting | Design coaster sets around repeat dimensions, level contact surfaces, and a documented finish, checking product suitability with competent advice before making heat or food related claims. |
| During delivery | Use competent material handling and the supplier's process instructions, keeping batch identity and observed defects recorded without improvising chemical formulations. |
| At acceptance | Compare every sample on a flat table, inspecting edges, surface defects, rocking, and underside protection, then verify that decorative inclusions remain enclosed in the finished construction. |
| At the pilot review | Record material batches, process observations, surface defects, finishing time, set consistency, and buyer feedback about table contact while keeping unsupported heat resistance claims out of promotion. |
Keep a correction and escalation rule
When inputs, access, specifications or customer instructions change, pause the affected work and confirm the effect on time and cost. Do not quietly lower the acceptance standard to avoid a delayed delivery. Keep rework caused by your error distinct from a customer-requested change of scope and agree the remedy clearly.
A coordinated set loses value when individual coasters vary in thickness or rock under a glass, even if each decorative pattern looks attractive in photographs.
Retain the minimum records needed to investigate a complaint without disclosing unrelated personal information. Use measured delivery and actual acceptance as the basis for expanding capacity, rather than the maximum theoretical output of a tool or production line.
Operating control points for this exact offer
| Sequence | Work method | Release checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obtain the actual resin/hardener identities, safety data sheets and instructions from the manufacturer. Confirm the intended shallow casting and coaster use are supported. | A locally listed generic resin is not automatically equivalent to the ArtResin reference; do not borrow another brand’s ratio or cure time. |
| 2 | Have a competent operator assess ventilation, skin/eye protection, spill response and disposal under the documents. Set moulds on a level protected surface away from food, children and pets. | Do not treat low odour or an eco marketing label as proof that no precautions are needed. |
| 3 | Confirm the mould’s actual cavity dimensions and required volume using a manufacturer-compatible method. Prepare one sample under the exact product instructions before committing the set. | The 400 ml allowance is purchasing arithmetic, not a mixing recipe or a recommended batch size. |
| 4 | Follow the documented process, track material batch and time, and protect the curing pieces from dust without violating ventilation requirements. Use bubble-removal methods only if authorised for that resin and mould. | Do not introduce an open flame, solvent, pigment or extra hardener as an improvised rescue. |
| 5 | Release only according to the product’s verified cure criteria, inspect both faces and edges, and add compatible surface-protection pads if selected. Provide use/care information for the actual system. | Sticky, soft or persistently odorous pieces are held for manufacturer advice and never sold as usable coasters. |
Do not substitute a tick for an observation: record the count, measurement, approved sample or evidence reference used at each checkpoint. Mark unresolved work as held and identify who can approve the recheck.
Diagnose a failure before repeating it
| Observed symptom to investigate | Check the cause | Proposed response |
|---|---|---|
| Surface stays sticky | Review product identity and recorded measuring, mixing and cure conditions against the actual instructions. | Hold all related pieces and contact the manufacturer; do not add extra hardener over the top. |
| Coaster is bowed | Check mould support, cure surface and documented demould timing. | Reject the piece and correct the process on a sample before repeating the set. |
| Dust is trapped in the face | Inspect curing protection and work-area cleanliness. | Use only the manufacturer-approved repair route or remake; do not polish uncured resin. |
These are diagnostic prompts, not proof of the cause in a real incident. Separate suspect output, record any correction and repeat the relevant acceptance check. Link rejected units, rework time, replacement materials, customer credits and collection delays to the actual job result.