| Quality management | Check whether the supplier’s quality system is appropriate for the part’s industry and risk level. | ISO 9001:2015 specifies requirements for a quality management system. Certification does not, by itself, guarantee that a specific part meets its drawing. | Valid certificate, certified site and scope, audit details, and examples of inspection records. |
| Industry-specific quality systems | Match additional requirements to the intended application rather than treating certificates as interchangeable. | AS9100D addresses quality management for aviation, space, and defense organizations. IATF 16949:2016 applies to automotive quality management systems. | Current certificate and confirmation that the relevant site and manufacturing activities are within its scope. |
| Drawing interpretation and tolerances | Confirm that the supplier can review dimensional tolerances, geometric tolerances, datums, surface finish, and critical-to-function features. | ISO 286 covers limits and fits; ISO 1101 specifies rules for geometrical tolerancing. Neither standard establishes a universal CNC machining capability for every supplier or part. | Drawing review, a feature-by-feature quotation, proposed inspection method, and written agreement on any deviations. |
| Material traceability | Verify alloy, temper or condition, and traceability requirements before production. | EN 10204:2004 defines inspection-document types, including type 3.1 inspection certificates with specific inspection results. | Material certificate linked to the supplied batch or heat, material designation, condition, and any required test results. |
| Metrology and inspection | Evaluate whether measurement equipment and methods suit the part’s tolerances and geometry. | ISO/IEC 17025 specifies competence requirements for testing and calibration laboratories; it is not a general certification requirement for every machine shop. | Calibration records, measurement-equipment list, sample inspection report, and details of any external accredited laboratory used. |
| Material and weight understanding | Check that quoted material and estimated part weight are consistent with the design and application. | Approximate reference densities are 2.70 g/cm³ for aluminum 6061, 8.0 g/cm³ for stainless steel 304, and 4.43 g/cm³ for titanium Ti-6Al-4V. Actual values depend on the specific material and condition. | Material designation on the quote, certificate requirements, and confirmation of any material substitutions. |
| Surface finish and finishing | Specify surface texture and finishing operations separately where they affect function, corrosion resistance, or appearance. | Surface texture requirements should be stated on the engineering drawing or purchase specification; a generic “smooth finish” does not define a measurable acceptance limit. | Quoted finish process, applicable drawing callouts, sample parts or finish records, and inspection method where required. |
| Production capacity and lead time | Assess capacity against the required batch size, delivery schedule, and repeat-order plan. | There is no universal CNC machining lead time or minimum order quantity; both depend on design, material availability, process steps, capacity, and inspection requirements. | Written production schedule, stated assumptions, capacity plan, material procurement timing, and change-notification process. |
| Quoting and design-for-manufacture review | Compare quotes using the same revision, quantity, material, tolerance, finishing, packaging, and inspection scope. | A price comparison is meaningful only when the quoted technical and commercial scope is comparable. | Itemized quotation, drawing revision confirmation, exclusions, tooling or setup charges, and approval of proposed design changes. |
| Export and compliance documentation | Identify destination-market requirements and determine whether they apply to the finished part or its use. | RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU concerns certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment; applicability depends on product scope and exemptions. REACH is Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. | Applicability assessment, material declarations or test reports when required, country-of-origin information, and agreed shipping documents. |
| Risk, communication, and corrective action | Check how the supplier handles nonconforming parts, engineering changes, and delivery risks. | Acceptance limits, response times, replacement terms, and corrective-action requirements should be agreed in the purchase order or quality agreement. | Documented nonconformance process, escalation contacts, corrective-action examples, and written commercial terms. |
| Buyer note: This table provides standards-based evaluation criteria and general technical references, not supplier rankings or company-specific performance claims. Confirm current standard editions, certificate validity, and destination-market requirements during procurement. |