Material selection starts with component function. Loading, environment and manufacturing together establish the requirements.
Record operating conditions
Describe forces, movement, temperatures and contact with process media. Include intended service life and maintenance access. These requirements enable a meaningful comparison of materials.
Include manufacture and supply
A technically suitable material must also be processable and available in the required form. Machining, joining, surfaces and delivery condition influence selection. Design, manufacturing and procurement should share the same requirements.
Document the decision
Record requirements behind the selection and applicable documents. This supports later spare-parts decisions. Assess a material substitution as an engineering change even if the component’s external shape remains the same.