Manufacturing RFQ Checklist

Verify the package before suppliers begin estimating.

The checklist is a planning tool. Individual projects may require additional technical, quality, contractual, regulatory, packaging, security, testing, or documentation requirements.

Technical Files

Confirm suppliers receive enough information to understand the product.

Current drawings are included. Part numbers and revision levels are clearly identified.

CAD files are included where useful. Models match the released drawing revision and intended geometry.

Tolerances and critical dimensions are defined. Suppliers can identify precision requirements that affect process and inspection.

Applicable specifications are supplied. Material, finish, test, process, marking, packaging, or other referenced requirements are available.

Materials & Components

Define what the supplier must purchase or use.

Material grade and condition are specified. Alloy, resin, temper, hardness, color, certification, or other requirements are clear.

Approved substitutions are defined. Suppliers know whether alternatives are prohibited, allowed, or require approval.

Purchased components are identified. Manufacturer part numbers, approved sources, or customer-supplied components are documented.

Material certifications are identified where needed. Required certificates, lot data, traceability, or test reports are stated in the RFQ.

Quantities & Forecast

Give suppliers enough demand information to choose an appropriate manufacturing strategy.

Prototype quantity is defined. Initial samples or engineering quantities are separated from recurring production.

Production quantity is defined. Requested order quantity and useful pricing breaks are provided.

Annual forecast is provided when available. Suppliers can evaluate tooling, automation, material purchases, and capacity against future demand.

Ramp-up expectations are communicated. Launch quantities, future releases, peak demand, or phased production are described.

Tooling & Engineering

Make one-time production requirements visible in the quote.

Required tooling is identified. Molds, dies, fixtures, gauges, programming, workholding, and assembly aids are included in quote scope.

Tool ownership expectations are stated. Ownership, maintenance, storage, use, transfer, and replacement expectations are considered.

Engineering or NRE charges should be separated. Programming, design, setup, qualification, or other one-time charges can be compared independently.

Prototype and production tooling are distinguished. Temporary tooling should not be confused with long-term production assets.

Quality Requirements

Clarify the inspection and documentation included in supplier pricing.

First-article requirements are stated. Specify whether samples, dimensional reports, or customer approval are required before production.

Inspection requirements are defined. Critical characteristics, sampling, full inspection, tests, reports, or gauges are identified.

Traceability requirements are included. Material lot, heat, batch, serial, component, or production records are specified where needed.

Required certifications or quality records are listed. Suppliers know which documents must accompany samples or production shipments.

Delivery & Packaging

Define when, where, and how the product must arrive.

Requested lead time is stated. Prototype, tooling, first-article, and production timing are separated where useful.

Delivery location is defined. Supplier pricing can reflect the correct destination and freight assumptions.

Packaging requirements are included. Protection, labeling, quantity per package, preservation, palletization, or special handling are stated.

Freight responsibility is clear. Determine whether shipping is included, separate, prepaid, collect, or otherwise handled commercially.

Quote Response

Ask suppliers to structure responses so they can be normalized and compared.

Piece pricing is requested by quantity. Use the same quantity breaks for all suppliers where practical.

Tooling and one-time charges are separated. This avoids hiding major program costs inside unit pricing.

Lead time is requested. Ask for tooling, first sample, and recurring production lead times where applicable.

Supplier assumptions should be listed. Material, inspection, finishing, freight, packaging, quantity, or excluded-scope assumptions should be visible.

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