A low unit price may be a different offer rather than a better price. Quantity, revision, material condition, finish, inspection, documentation, freight, lead-time start, tooling, and release commitments can all change what a supplier actually priced.
1. Confirm all suppliers quoted the same job
Write the governing requirement in the baseline column. Use the supplier columns to record what each quote actually includes. Resolve every mismatch before comparing price.
| Scope field | Required baseline | Supplier A | Supplier B | Supplier C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model and drawing revision | ||||
| Release quantity and annual usage | ||||
| Material specification, grade, condition and source | ||||
| Finish and special processes | ||||
| Critical features, tolerances and inspection | ||||
| FAI, reports, certifications and traceability | ||||
| Delivery date, ship-to and clock-start event | ||||
| Packaging, freight and delivery terms | ||||
| Quote validity, payment and escalation terms |
2. Normalize total commercial cost
Enter extended U.S. dollar amounts on the same release-quantity basis. Use zero only when the quote explicitly includes the item at no additional charge; leave unknown items blank and resolve them.
| Cost at normalized scope | Supplier A | Supplier B | Supplier C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machining price at normalized release quantity | |||
| Programming, setup or nonrecurring engineering | |||
| Tooling, fixtures and dedicated gages | |||
| Material surcharge, minimum or buyer-furnished impact | |||
| Outside processing and finish | |||
| Inspection, FAI and documentation | |||
| Packaging and freight | |||
| Expedite, launch or recovery charges | |||
| Blanket-order, inventory or release fees | |||
| Total entered commercial cost |
3. Gate the non-negotiable requirements
Define the evidence required for each must-have. Check a supplier only after the evidence meets the acceptance rule. A failed mandatory gate is an exception to resolve, not a low score to average away.
| Must-have gate | Evidence / acceptance rule | Supplier A | Supplier B | Supplier C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drawing and specification scope | ||||
| Process and equipment fit | ||||
| Quality or customer approval | ||||
| Documentation and traceability | ||||
| Delivery requirement | ||||
| Cybersecurity and controlled-data path | ||||
| Commercial or contract term |
4. Score the viable suppliers on your priorities
Assign weights that total 100%. Score each viable supplier from 1 (weak) to 5 (strong) using documented evidence. Zero-weight criteria may be left blank. The calculator shows a weighted score only when the weights equal 100% and every weighted criterion has a valid score.
| Criterion | Evidence to score | Weight % | Supplier A 1–5 | Supplier B 1–5 | Supplier C 1–5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total evaluated cost | Normalized entered cost and unresolved exclusions | ||||
| Schedule confidence | Verified milestones, dependencies, capacity review and recovery path | ||||
| Capability and process fit | Routing, feature risk, inspection access and open technical questions | ||||
| Quality and documentation fit | Confirmed inspection, FAI, certifications, traceability and sub-tier controls | ||||
| Repeat-program and release fit | Firm window, setup amortization, commitments, inventory and reschedule terms | ||||
| Continuity and recovery | Material, sub-tier, capacity, business-continuity and corrective-action evidence | ||||
| Commercial clarity and response | Explicit assumptions, exclusions, ownership and useful decision support | ||||
| Weighted score — only after mandatory gates pass | |||||
5. Pressure-test schedule and repeat-program assumptions
Schedule questions
- When does quoted lead time start: PO, order acknowledgment, approved drawing, material receipt, deposit, or another event?
- Is material available, allocated, or only assumed?
- Which outside processes and inspection steps sit on the critical path?
- What buyer inputs must arrive before each milestone?
- What changes if the release is expedited, delayed, or revised?
Repeat-program questions
- Which demand is forecast, firm, or cancelable?
- How is setup amortized across releases?
- Who owns material, fixtures, tooling and dedicated gages?
- What inventory, minimum order and reschedule boundaries apply?
- When may price change for material, volume, scope or schedule?
6. Record the award logic
A score supports judgment; it does not replace the buyer's approved-supplier procedure, technical review, legal review, or contract authority.
Red flags before purchase order release
Ask Procut-CNC to quote the same baseline
Send the released model and drawing, normalized quantity and annual demand, material, required delivery, quality flow-downs, and main award driver. Do not upload another supplier's confidential quote unless you have authority to share it. State the comparable scope and commercial objective instead.
Procut-CNC will confirm process fit, assumptions, exclusions, priced tradeoffs, documentation scope, and available capacity before making a commercial commitment.