A two-stage process for selecting manufacturers. The first stage compares suppliers on commercial terms through an RFQ. The second compares their actual product offerings. A supplier advances only after clearing both.
Base supplier selection on product suitability and total cost rather than on quoted unit price, which is the only field every quotation shares and the one least connected to whether the goods arrive correct and on time.
Requirements are issued to a shortlist in identical form so that returns are comparable.
| Compared on | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Unit pricing at defined quantities | Establishes the price break, not just a headline figure |
| MOQ | Determines capital committed on the first order |
| Lead time | Feeds reorder timing downstream |
| Production requirements | Surfaces tooling and customisation constraints early |
The output is a commercially viable shortlist rather than a selection.
Shortlisted suppliers' product offerings are compared directly.
Findings are recorded in a structured report with strengths and weaknesses per supplier and an overall rating. Samples are reviewed where the value of the order warrants it.
The lowest quotation frequently ships thinner packaging, omits an accessory, or differs on a dimension that only appears at inspection. The commercial screen cannot detect any of that. Running the stages in this order keeps the detailed review effort on suppliers that could realistically win the order.