The difference between a weak enquiry and a strong one is usually not the part. It is whether the factory can separate “nice to know” from “must be true.” A buyer who marks critical features, visible surfaces, material and quantity can usually get a more meaningful quote faster.
Score your RFQ before sending it
Use this rough 100-point self-check. The goal is not to impress anyone. It is to make the first engineering review faster.
| Item | Weight | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing, sketch or 3D file | 20 | Allows process split, tooling and inspection review |
| Material confirmation | 10 | Stainless, brass, titanium, copper or iron changes tooling and cost |
| Quantity split | 10 | Prototype and production use different setup and inspection logic |
| Finish by area | 10 | Polish, PVD, brushing, plating and etching are not interchangeable |
| Critical dimensions | 20 | The buyer must say which features control fit or performance |
| Target date | 10 | Some drawings need an earlier sample checkpoint |
| Destination and role | 10 | Helps confirm receiving inspection, packaging and compliance scope |
| Application boundary | 10 | Liquid, pressure, food, medical or safety use changes review |
Rule of thumb: An A-class RFQ is the one where the factory can give a clear process recommendation and next step without asking the buyer to guess.
What to send
- STEP, STP, PDF or DWG drawing
- Material specification and any material certification expectation
- Prototype quantity and production quantity
- Finish by area, color, PVD, plating or etching notes
- Critical tolerances, not just the global tolerance
- Target date, destination and receiving inspection requirement
- Any leakage, pressure, food, medical or safety boundary
What a useful reply should include
The buyer should expect: manufacturability notes, suggested process split, finish recommendation, quantity-based price logic, sample expectation and one clear next action. If the reply only says “send more details,” the RFQ was usually too open.
Related buyer resources
Send your RFQ now