| Product quality and testing | 15% | Product specifications, inspection plans, test records, sample-unit results, and documented nonconformity handling. | Check that test methods match the machine type and intended market. Compare sample results with the written specifications and confirm that corrective actions are documented. |
| Quality management system | 12% | Current ISO 9001 certificate, certificate scope, issuing certification body, and audit or process-control records. | Verify the certificate with its issuer or accreditation directory. Confirm that the certified legal entity, site, and scope cover the manufacturing activity being evaluated. |
| Product safety and conformity | 12% | Applicable test reports, technical documentation, declarations of conformity where required, and product labels for the target market. | For arc-welding equipment, check whether IEC 60974-1 (safety and performance requirements) and IEC 60974-10 (electromagnetic compatibility) are applicable to the product and market. Verify the exact model and report scope; a standard reference alone is not proof of conformity. |
| Production capacity and utilization | 12% | Rated output by product family, recent monthly production records, current order backlog, shift pattern, and capacity planning information. | Compare verified available capacity with your forecast and requested delivery schedule. Distinguish installed or stated capacity from actual output and capacity already committed to other orders. |
| Delivery performance | 10% | Shipment records and on-time, in-full (OTIF) results for the preceding 12 months, with the calculation method and order count. | Check the reporting period, denominator, and definition of “on time.” Compare records with purchase orders and shipment documents rather than relying only on a quoted percentage. |
| Component and supplier traceability | 10% | Approved-component lists, incoming inspection records, batch or serial-number records, and procedures for managing component changes. | Ask the supplier to trace a sample machine’s key components and production batch through its records. Confirm that substitutions require review and customer notification when agreed. |
| Warranty and after-sales support | 10% | Written warranty terms, spare-parts list and availability policy, service response process, and repair or replacement records. | Review exclusions, claim deadlines, responsibility for freight, and support coverage in the destination market. Confirm how technical issues are escalated and resolved. |
| Production-site and process control | 8% | Factory address, process flow, production equipment list, calibration records, and an in-person or live remote audit where practical. | Confirm that the proposed manufacturing site matches the certificate and order documents. Review controls for assembly, inspection, rework, and final release. |
| Environmental and workplace management | 6% | Relevant management-system certificates, site scope, and environmental or occupational health and safety procedures. | Where relevant to your sourcing requirements, verify ISO 14001 or ISO 45001 certificates with the issuer and check that their site and scope cover the operation under review. |
| Commercial and export readiness | 5% | Quotation, Incoterms® rule and named place, packaging details, export-document samples, and agreed payment and lead-time terms. | Check that the quotation identifies the exact model, configuration, included accessories, shipment basis, and delivery assumptions. Ensure documents and packaging suit the destination market. |
| Total suggested weighting | 100% | Use the same evidence requirements and scoring method for every supplier being compared. |