What Happens During the Metal Finishing Process? (Step-by-Step Guide)

The metal finishing process at Rayco follows a structured, highly controlled workflow—from receiving and contract review through processing, inspection, and delivery—designed to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance at every step.

When parts are sent out for metal finishing, there’s often a gap between expectation and understanding. Engineers and purchasing agents know what result they need—but not always what happens in between.



At Rayco Metal Finishing, the process is built around control, traceability, and verification. Every step exists to reduce risk, prevent miscommunication, and ensure that the final product meets both functional and cosmetic expectations.

Step 1: Receiving & Order Entry

When parts arrive at the facility, the order is first entered by the front office to initiate the tracking process.

Step 2: Contract Review & Spec Verification

This is a critical check and balance phase where Rayco verifies the customer's specifications, material inventory, and drawing revision levels. Once accepted and passed through contract review, the job is released to the floor.

Step 3: Production, QR Tracking & Tank Processing

To maintain strict quality control, all software now runs off QR codes.

Labels with QR codes are printed and go directly with the jobs. The floor manager uses this system to move parts to the correct treatment section, such as aluminum or ferrous metals processing.

Operators then move the parts from a staging node into an operation node, which dictates a specific chemical tank sequencing.

Step 4: Quality Control & Testing

After tank sequencing, parts are blown off and dried before moving through QC. They undergo strict Quality Control testing, which may include utilizing a Fisher scope to measure film thickness or gloss meters to ensure the finish meets the requested standard.

Step 5: Packaging & Delivery

Once the parts have passed all rigorous QC inspections and meet the exact specifications outlined in the contract review, they move to the final stage . The parts are carefully packaged to protect their new finish, invoiced, and prepared for secure delivery back to the customer.

A well-run finishing process isn’t just about chemistry—it’s about control, communication, and consistency.



From the moment parts arrive to the moment they ship, every step is designed to remove ambiguity and ensure the result matches exactly what the customer intended. The more clearly that intent is defined upfront, the smoother—and more predictable—the entire process becomes.

Frequently Asked Questions