These two specs both cover free machining stainless steel materials.  A581 is for wire & wire rod, A582 is for bars.  What is the difference between a rod and a bar?  The metallurgist (long retired & not replaced) who wrote our spec referenced A581 which is for wire and wire rods.  I believe he stated that anything below a certain size (1/4"?) was a rod and not a bar.  The size we are buying is round .176".  

Now we have a new supplier PPAP with certs to A582.  Chemically, there is no difference, I have no problem using the material.  My only concern is matching certs to specs during quality audits.  I don't really want to track down every reference to A581 and change it to A582 but I will if that is really the right thing to do.  How do you decide which spec to use?

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