Supplier Vetting & Qualification – In-Depth Criteria

Only suppliers that meet the technical, operational, and compliance standards of high-reliability industries make it into my referral network. Here’s a full breakdown of what I look for.

🏢 Company Profile & Structure

  • Overview Presentation: Preferably a PDF or PPT
  • Founding year, company history
  • Ownership structure or parent group
  • Key team members and roles
  • Facility locations, total floor space
  • Number of employees by department
  • Customer Base: Industry segments served
    • Aerospace, Defense, Medical, Automotive, Industrial
  • Org Chart (if available): Key operational contacts

🧰 Manufacturing Capabilities – PCB

  • Types supported: Rigid, Flex, Rigid-Flex, HDI, RF/Microwave
  • Min/Max layer count
  • Trace width/spacing tolerances
  • Surface finishes: ENIG, HASL, Immersion Silver, OSP, etc.
  • Copper thickness and board thickness options
  • Panel size limitations
  • Controlled impedance support
  • Via technology: blind, buried, via-in-pad, filled & capped

🛠️ PCBA Capabilities

  • Assembly types: SMT, THT, Mixed
  • Double-sided placement capability
  • Component pitch range and minimum
  • Fine-pitch/BGA/QFN/LGA placement
  • Rework and inspection for BGA/QFN
  • Conformal coating & potting
  • Cleanroom usage if applicable
  • Component sourcing (full turnkey vs. consignment)

⚙️ SMT Line Infrastructure

  • Number of SMT lines
  • Brands/models of pick-and-place machines
  • Year installed/last upgraded
  • Stencil printing systems (automated/manual)
  • Reflow oven type and zones
  • Wave soldering (if supported)
  • AOI (inline/offline), SPI, X-ray inspection tools
  • ICT and FCT support

📊 Production Capacity & Flexibility

  • Monthly volume for:
    • Bare PCBs
    • Assembled boards
  • Minimum order quantities
  • Batch size flexibility (prototype vs. mass production)
  • Operating shifts: Single/double/triple
  • Dedicated prototype lines (if any)
  • Forecast scalability – how quickly can you ramp?

🧾 Certifications & Regulatory Compliance

  • Must-have certifications (if targeting specific industries):
    • ISO 9001 (General)
    • AS9100 (Aerospace)
    • ISO 13485 (Medical)
    • IATF 16949 (Automotive)
    • IPC Class II / III compliance
    • RoHS and REACH declarations
    • ITAR registered or compliant (Defense projects)
    • UL, CE, or other safety/membership marks