| Business identity | Confirm the supplier’s registered legal entity, business scope, operating address, and whether it is the manufacturer or a trading company. | Current business registration documents and a live video tour of the stated facility. | Check that the entity on the quotation, contract, invoice, and payment account is consistent. | 0–2 |
| Quality management | Determine whether the supplier’s quality system is appropriate for the product and your customer requirements. | A current ISO 9001 certificate; for automotive supply chains, ask whether IATF 16949 certification is required by the customer or sourcing program. | Verify the certificate’s issuer, validity, and covered site and scope directly with the certification body or official verification source. | 0–2 |
| Fitment and specifications | Confirm the cap’s application, interface dimensions, thread or locking design, gasket material, and any tether or venting requirements. | Controlled drawings, material specifications, fitment references, and an approved sample matched to the buyer’s requirements. | Compare the sample and drawings with the target vehicle or tank interface; do not rely on a broad compatibility claim alone. | 0–2 |
| Sealing and pressure performance | Check that sealing and pressure or vacuum performance meet the applicable vehicle, tank, or customer specification. | Test reports stating the method, acceptance limits, sample identification, and results for the offered design. | Ask for the test plan and confirm that limits come from the applicable specification; requirements are not identical for every cap application. | 0–2 |
| Material and fuel compatibility | Verify that plastics, elastomers, coatings, and other materials are suitable for the specified fuel, vapour, temperature, and service conditions. | Material declarations, supplier specifications, and relevant exposure or ageing test results tied to the actual material grade. | Confirm the test conditions and acceptance criteria match the intended application and destination-market requirements. | 0–2 |
| Production and inspection controls | Assess incoming-material checks, in-process controls, final inspection, traceability, and handling of nonconforming product. | Inspection plan, sample control records, calibration records, traceability example, and corrective-action procedure. | Request a recent, suitably redacted inspection record and check that lot identification can be traced through production. | 0–2 |
| Automotive approval documentation | Establish whether the buyer or end customer requires a formal automotive submission or approval process. | Where required, review the applicable PPAP submission level and customer-specific requirements before production approval. | PPAP requirements depend on the customer and program; confirm the required scope and approval status in writing. | 0–2 |
| Regulatory and market compliance | Identify chemical, environmental, and vehicle-market obligations that apply to the product and destination. | Applicable declarations or test documentation, such as REACH-related information where relevant to the market and product. | Ask for documents covering the exact product and materials; a general compliance statement may not establish product-specific conformity. | 0–2 |
| Capacity and delivery planning | Check production capacity, tooling status, minimum order quantity, sample timing, production lead time, and peak-season planning. | A written production schedule, capacity statement, and order milestones specific to the requested quantity. | Compare the proposed schedule with sample approval, material availability, inspection, and shipping time. | 0–2 |
| Commercial terms and risk controls | Review specifications, approved changes, payment milestones, delivery terms, inspection rights, warranty, and remedies for nonconformity. | A signed purchase agreement and a quality agreement or written product specification where appropriate. | Avoid paying an unrelated account; independently verify any change to bank details before transferring funds. | 0–2 |
| Pre-shipment inspection | Agree on the inspection scope, sampling method, acceptance criteria, packaging checks, and corrective-action process before production. | Inspection report with lot details, measured results, photographs, and pass/fail disposition. | Use a mutually agreed inspection plan; require written approval before shipment if critical results do not meet specification. | 0–2 |