| 1 | Drilling performance on fiberglass | 15% | Hole quality, edge chipping, delamination, tool wear, and consistency on the buyer’s specified laminate. | Run comparative trials using the same workpiece, machine, speed, feed, and inspection method; record results across multiple holes. |
| 2 | Tool material and construction | 15% | Specified substrate, cutting-edge construction, coating (if applicable), and suitability for the intended fiberglass application. | Request product specifications and material documentation; compare the delivered sample with the agreed specification. |
| 3 | Geometry and application fit | 12% | Diameter, point and flute geometry, overall length, shank type, and suitability for the specified laminate thickness and drilling setup. | Check dimensioned drawings and sample tools against the purchase specification; confirm recommended operating conditions with the supplier. |
| 4 | Dimensional consistency and inspection | 12% | Conformance to drawing tolerances and consistency between samples and production lots. | Review inspection records and measuring methods; independently measure samples and compare lot-level results. |
| 5 | Quality management | 10% | Documented controls for incoming materials, production, nonconforming product, corrective action, and final inspection. | Review relevant procedures and audit evidence. If ISO 9001 certification is claimed, verify the certificate, validity, certified site, and scope. |
| 6 | Customization and engineering support | 10% | Ability to review drawings, propose suitable tool specifications, make samples, and manage approved revisions. | Request a written technical review, sample plan, drawing approval process, and change-control procedure. |
| 7 | Production capacity and delivery reliability | 8% | Ability to meet the required order volume, lead time, packaging needs, and repeat-order schedule. | Compare stated capacity with production plans and review delivery performance records for comparable orders. |
| 8 | Lot traceability | 5% | Ability to link finished tools to production and inspection records, and to identify affected lots if an issue occurs. | Check sample labels, batch records, and the supplier’s documented process for complaint investigation and recall where applicable. |
| 9 | Environmental and workplace systems | 5% | Relevant environmental and occupational health and safety controls at the manufacturing site. | Where relevant to procurement requirements, verify the scope and validity of any claimed ISO 14001 or ISO 45001 certification. |
| 10 | Commercial terms and after-sales support | 8% | Quotation clarity, minimum order requirements, packaging, warranty or claim terms, and responsiveness to technical issues. | Compare written quotations and contract terms; assess response quality during sample evaluation and issue resolution. |
| Total suggested weight | 100% | Use the same requirements and test conditions for every supplier being compared. |