Manufacturing readiness checklist before an RFQ
A manufacturing partner can only evaluate and quote the package in front of them. When the BOM points to one revision, the PCB files to another, and test or enclosure requirements still live in someone’s head, the quote has to fill the gaps with assumptions.
Those assumptions usually surface later as price changes, schedule slips, or another round of engineering questions.
Use this checklist to build a clearer review package before you request production quotes. Not every item applies to every product, and the checklist does not make a design production-ready. It shows what is controlled, what is missing, and what still needs a decision.
Start with one controlled baseline
Identify the controlling product revision and package date. Include:
Product or assembly name and revision
Current BOM, electrical, mechanical, firmware, and work-instruction revisions
Target quantity and realistic quantity breaks
Prototype, pilot, bridge-production, or mature-production stage
Requested timing and whether it means first article, pilot, shipment, or receipt
Customer-supplied and manufacturing-partner-supplied material responsibilities
Open decisions, each with an owner and target date
A folder full of files is not a controlled package unless the files describe the same build.
What to send for PCB and PCBA review or quoting
First state whether the request covers bare-board fabrication, assembled PCBAs, programming and test, or a finished product.
Design and fabrication
BOM in XLSX or CSV with manufacturer part numbers, quantity per assembly, reference designators, approved alternates, do-not-substitute parts, and customer-supplied items
Schematic PDF for design context
Gerbers or ODB++, NC drill files, fabrication drawing and notes, and controlling PCB revision
Layer stack-up, material, copper weight, finished thickness, surface finish, impedance, via, panelization, and workmanship requirements
Board outline and mechanical interface drawing where needed
Assembly
Pick-and-place or centroid file tied to the same revision
Top and bottom assembly drawings
Polarity, orientation, do-not-populate, hand-solder, cleaning, coating, staking, and special-process notes where applicable
Stencil or paste requirements and known panel, tray, fixture, or carrier constraints
Approved substitution and deviation process
Programming, test, and acceptance
Firmware or software image and version
Programming method, equipment, configuration data, and verification method
Functional test procedure with pass/fail limits
Fixture status, golden unit, calibration needs, and required data capture
First-article, sampling, traceability, rework, and nonconformance expectations
If a file does not exist, say so. A useful quote can separate the defined build from engineering, fixture, programming, or test-development work that still needs scope.
What to send for enclosure or mechanical-part evaluation
An enclosure review needs geometry, interfaces, requirements, and a physical baseline when one exists.
Geometry and revision
Native CAD when available, plus a neutral STEP export
2D drawings with dimensions, tolerances, datums, GD&T where used, and critical features
Mechanical BOM with part number, description, revision, quantity, and mapped files
Exploded assembly or interface drawing showing mating parts, fasteners, inserts, seals, cables, PCBs, displays, motors, bearings, or other retained components
Revision history and designation of the controlling model
Material, process, and appearance
Intended material or measurable performance requirements
Current and proposed process: machining, sheet metal, additive, molding, casting, extrusion, or another named route
Color, texture, gloss, coating, marking, cosmetic-surface classification, and acceptable defect limits
Relevant UV, temperature, flame, chemical, impact, wear, ingress, cleanability, or regulatory needs
Tooling assumptions, quantities, annual demand, target economics, and tool-life or ownership requirements
Fit, function, assembly, and evidence
Mating-component models or interface-control dimensions
Fastener, insert, adhesive, gasket, seal, and assembly requirements
Relevant loads, duty cycle, serviceability, cable routing, heat, noise, vibration, optical, or moving-interface needs
Representative unit, loose components, known-defect sample, photos, or inspection report
Rules for teardown or destructive inspection
Dimensional, cosmetic, assembly, and functional acceptance criteria
A STEP file can start a geometry review. It cannot establish material, cosmetic, tolerance, assembly, test, or acceptance requirements by itself.
What to send for a mechanical BOM or complete-product quote
A mechanical BOM should let each line trace to a controlled part definition and realistic production scope.
Part definition
Line number, part number, revision, description, and quantity per assembly
Linked CAD and 2D drawing for each custom part
Material, process, finish, color, tolerance, and inspection requirements
Approved maker or vendor information for bought-out parts
Approved alternates, do-not-substitute parts, and substitution rules
Material responsibility by line
Commercial and production assumptions
Quote quantity and realistic breaks
Prototype, pilot, bridge, or production route by part
Tooling, fixtures, gauges, programming, test development, and other NRE separate from recurring part cost
Tool ownership, maintenance, storage, revision, and replacement assumptions
MOQ, long-lead, lifecycle, sole-source, and availability risks
Yield, attrition, scrap, rework, and spares only when they have an approved basis
Complete-product scope
Final assembly instructions and labor scope
Firmware loading, calibration, functional test, and data recording
First-article and pilot approval requirements
Quality, traceability, sampling, nonconformance, deviation, and acceptance rules
Packaging, labels, manuals, accessories, carton, and shipping assumptions
Exclusions, payment terms, lead-time start condition, delivery terms, and change-order process
Ask the quoting party to return assumptions and exclusions against the same structure. That makes it easier to see whether two quotes cover the same work.
Test and quality requirements
Define the applicable incoming, in-process, end-of-line, and final checks. Name the procedure, equipment, fixture, software, limits, sample size, records, reference units, acceptance authority, traceability, failure handling, rework, deviation, and release-to-ship rules.
If a requirement is still being developed, name its owner and due date. Do not leave the quoting party to invent it.
Cost, schedule, and quote comparison
Call out long-lead and sole-source parts, unfinished engineering, incomplete tooling, uncertain yields, custom packaging, regulatory dependencies, validation work, and requested dates not yet reconciled to a feasible plan.
Separate recurring cost from placeholders and one-time work. Compare exact revisions, included and excluded work, material assumptions, NRE, tooling, fixtures, programming, test, quality, packaging, logistics, payment terms, lead-time start, delivery terms, revision handling, rework, warranty, and change orders.
If two quotes appear far apart, first check whether they cover the same work.
Quick review before sending the RFQ
One controlled revision across BOM, PCB, mechanical, firmware, and instructions
Manufacturing lane and requested scope stated clearly
Quantities, stage, and timing defined
Every custom part linked to a drawing or model
Materials, finishes, tolerances, and critical requirements documented
Substitutions and material responsibilities identified
Test method, fixture status, and acceptance criteria documented
Tooling, packaging, compliance, and logistics assumptions listed
Open decisions assigned to an owner
Quotes compared on total scope, not unit price alone
Need a second set of eyes?
Knectiv reviews hardware packages, production assumptions, cost structure, and manufacturing readiness before teams lock in expensive decisions. If your prototype works but the path to a credible quote is still unclear, Knectiv can help organize the package, surface gaps, and define the next production decision.