We talk with Elite Metal Finishing's Steve Allen about his challenge of getting the Oceanside, California, shop to attain Nadcap accreditation in chemical processing. In the finishing industry, this effort is not for the faint of heart, especially for someone relatively new.

“ I knew this was going to be a huge challenge,” says Allen, who started at Elite in 2022 after working four years at Tech Plate in Orange, California, a company owned by one of his best friend’s father.

The decision was made to pursue Nadcap—National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program—accreditation in 2023. In late 2024, Elite earned the chemical processing certification after many months of blood, sweat, and tears and following rigorous planning steps.