Manufacturing readiness checklist before an RFQ
A supplier can only quote the package in front of them. If the BOM, drawings, test requirements, build quantities, or revision history are unclear, the quote will carry assumptions. Those assumptions usually surface later as cost changes, schedule slips, or avoidable back-and-forth.
Use this checklist before you request production quotes. It will not make every design production-ready, but it will show where the package still needs work.
1. Product definition
Confirm that every file points to the same product revision. The package should include the current BOM, approved manufacturer part numbers, alternates where permitted, Gerbers and fabrication notes, mechanical CAD and drawings, enclosure requirements, cable and harness drawings, firmware version, and assembly instructions where needed.
Flag open design decisions instead of letting suppliers guess.
2. Build assumptions
State the quantity you need quoted, expected build timing, prototype or pilot status, tooling assumptions, material ownership, approved substitutions, packaging needs, and any parts that the customer will supply.
Ask for price breaks only at quantities you may realistically buy. A low unit price at an unrealistic volume is not a useful production plan.
3. Test and quality requirements
Define how the product will be inspected and tested. Include acceptance criteria, test procedure, test fixture status, programming steps, traceability needs, sample approval rules, and the process for handling failures or deviations.
If a requirement is still being developed, name the owner and the date when it will be ready.
4. Cost and schedule risks
Identify long-lead parts, single-source components, unfinished tooling, uncertain yields, custom packaging, regulatory dependencies, and work that still depends on engineering changes. Separate known cost from placeholder cost.
A credible quote should make assumptions visible. It should not hide uncertainty inside one unit-price number.
5. Quote comparison
Compare more than price. Review scope, exclusions, lead times, non-recurring engineering charges, tooling, test coverage, quality expectations, payment terms, packaging, logistics, and the process for revisions 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 the BOM, PCB, mechanical, firmware, and instructions
Quantities and timing stated clearly
Approved substitutions and customer-supplied parts identified
Test method, fixture status, and acceptance criteria documented
Tooling, packaging, compliance, and logistics assumptions listed
Open engineering decisions assigned to an owner
Quote comparison based 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, start with a cost and production review.