Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is my contact at Vip?

While we work as a team at Vip, your account will have an outside salesperson and customer service representative depending on your location. Use our rep locator to find your representative.

Do you have a Line Card?

Yes, we do have a line card. However, we are a custom manufacturer, so please know we create new things daily and are not limited to what is on this line card. It will give you a good overview of our capabilities and processes, but always talk to your sales or customer service representative if you need something custom! 

Are you hiring?

At Vip, we are always looking for talented people to join our team. Our employees tend to stay with us for a long time, so we don't often have openings, but we are constantly expanding, which means new jobs are being created! If you would like to be considered for employment in our California or Nevada locations, please send your resume to human.resources@viprubber.com.

How long does it typically take to get a quote?

If all of the information is provided up front, a quote can be generated in 24-48 hours. Mold quotes typically take longer due to the need to quote tooling.

How can I follow up on my RFQ or Order?

If you would like to follow up on a quote, feel free to give us a call at 562.905.3456 or find your support team. Our customer service reps would be happy to help you!

Please do allow 24-48 hours for our estimators to work on pricing your product. Everything is custom, so some quotes can take time to price properly. When an order is received, it is quickly logged into our system and then sent to our quality control department for review. Order entry will also carefully check the purchase order to confirm everything is correct and will send a final confirmation. The review process is critical to ensure parts are manufactured exactly as they should be. Visit our rep locator page to find your customer service representative or salesperson.

When will my order ship?

The approximate ship date is located on the order confirmation you receive from order entry after placing your order. Please refer to that document to check the date. If you there is any confusion, your customer service representative would be happy to assist. Please note that ship times are estimates. The nature of manufacturing rubber and plastic takes time, wisdom and can fluctuate based on environmental factors such as heat or cold. Vip will not send out a product that does not meet our standards of excellence, so we will do whatever it takes to get the part right.

Are First Article Inspections Available?

First Article Inspection (FAI) is an inspection performed on a part prior to beginning full production. Vip will create several pre-production pieces of a customer’s part and perform an in-depth evaluation to verify that all engineering, design and specification requirements are correctly understood, accounted for, verified and recorded. The inspection will also confirm that, as a supplier, our material, tooling, processes, documentation, and personnel can reliably and consistently produce a part that meet the customer’s requirement throughout the production process. Once it is determined that the part is ready for customer approval, the FAI, along with the physical part, will be shipped to the customer for approval. Once approved, Vip will move into the production phase and fulfill the order.

Please note that lead time for production begins after a first article is approved by the customer.

First article inspection reports are extremely detailed, but are a very important part of the process. Some of the key components considered in an inspection are dimensional and cavity measurements, specification requirements, and design characteristics. Due to the fact that a FAI is primarily concerned with proving repeatability, it is not necessary to perform this inspection beyond the first production run unless something significant has changed dimensionally, such as new or modified tooling. Vip provides a FAI with each new order that requires one, however due to the labor intensive nature of this process, if a FAI is required on a re-order, there will be a minimum $350 charge applied to the order. The cost will be quoted at time of re-order and will depend on the complexity of the part.

Is material testing available?

Yes, we do offer material testing for customers - typical, standard and lot testing. Typical testing is available at no charge, standard testing is $150 and the price of full lot testing depends on each individual part.

Can Vip perform and AS9102 First Article Inspection?

Yes, we can perform an AS9102 FAI. The cost for this detailed test depends upon the complexity and dimensions of the part, as well as the number of parts required for the AS9102 FAI report. Talk to your customer service rep for more information. Please request testing at the time of quoting and/or ordering.

Can Vip supply a PPAP report?

Yes, a production part approval process (PPAP) is available to customers if required. This is not part of the standard reporting procedure due to it’s complex nature. A PPAP (level 1-3) will range in cost and time required to complete the test, depending on which level test is needed. Talk to your customer service rep for more information. Please request a PPAP at time of quoting and/or ordering.

Is Vip qualified for any Boeing specs?

Yes, we are qualified to the BMS1-52, BMS1-57, BMS1-62, BMS1-71, class 2, BMS1-72, BMS1-73, BMS1-74, BMS1-75, BMS1-76, and BAC5071 - types 1, 2, 3, & 4; Forms 1, 2, 3, with Form 4 (form D) coming soon.

What are Vip’s quality certifications?

Vip is a certified AS9100 company (with ISO9001). We are also EAR/ITAR registered and compliant. Vip is a Boeing approved facility. 

Can Vip make a drawing based on the sample we send in?

Yes, Vip can make a drawing from your sample. The cost for that is $25.

What are Vip’s standard tolerances?

Read our Standard Tolerances PDF to learn more.

What does CPCS, CFT, MPCS and MFT stand for on the quotes?

• CPCS = 100 pieces
• CFT = 100 feet
• MPCS = 1,000 pieces
• MFT = 1,000 feet

Can you help me understand durometer?

The hardness of rubber is measured by a scaled called durometer. There are three scales, 00, A, and D. The most commonly used scale in the rubber industry is A. Our durometer chart will give you an idea of how the numbers on the scale feel and should assist you in choosing the correct hardness for your application. However, as always, assistance is always just a phone call away.

Do you have a chart for converting fractions to decimals?

We sure do, you can see jump to our conversion help page.

What do I need to know about Prop 65?

If your products are used in California, Prop 65 may affect you. California Proposition 65 (Prop 65), requires businesses to provide a “clear and reasonable” warning on products that contain chemicals known to the State of California that may cause cancer or reproductive harm. Visit our Prop 65 page to learn more.

Does Vip do all manufacturing in the USA?

Yes, we are proudly manufacturing everything right here in the United States of America. Have a look at our long history in the USA.

Does Vip have anything in stock?

We are a custom manufacturer, so we typically do not carry anything in stock. We make parts to our customer's specifications as soon as they order.

Does Vip offer custom compounding?

Absolutely! Vip has a master chemist and a lab on-site and is equipped to create custom rubber and plastic compounds to meet specific needs. Please talk to your customer service representative or outside sales rep to discuss options.

Do you manufacture material to meet government specs?

Yes, we do. We offer custom material to match national stock numbers (NSN), and Mil-Spec materials. We also can meet ASTM designations.

Can Vip color match material?

We do offer color matching for plastic products. There is a $175 charge for this service. It is helpful if you know the PMS (Pantone color or name) of the color you want. Please note that color matching is not exact, however we can usually get within about three shades.

How do I pronounce the name Vip?

This is a question we get asked often. The correct pronunciation is Vip, all together as one word, and not V.I.P. The company is named for Howard Vipperman Senior, who was nicknamed Big Vip. Jump on over to our History Page to learn more about how we began.

Where is Vip located?

We have two locations. Our main corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility is located in La Habra, California. We also have a manufacturing facility in Minden, Nevada. Find your support team.