| Tooling and process capability | 16% | Experience with the required die types and operations, such as progressive, transfer, tandem, blanking, forming, and trimming. | Relevant completed programs, process plans, die layouts, and references for comparable part families. |
| Part and material complexity | 14% | Ability to address part geometry, tolerances, springback, draw depth, material grade, thickness, and forming risk. | Technical reviews, forming analyses, sample parts, and documented resolution of comparable quality issues. |
| Engineering and simulation | 12% | Design-for-manufacturing capability, process planning, forming simulation, die design, and engineering-change management. | Design reviews, simulation reports, revision controls, and documented responses to design changes. |
| Press and production compatibility | 10% | Fit with the intended press line, including bed and bolster dimensions, shut height, stroke, tonnage, feed, and transfer requirements. | Verified press specifications, tooling interface drawings, and a documented press-fit review. |
| Build quality and dimensional control | 14% | Machining and assembly controls, die alignment, component traceability, and conformance to agreed part and tool specifications. | Inspection plans, measurement reports, calibration records, and dimensional results from tool tryout. |
| Tryout and launch support | 12% | Availability of skilled personnel for die spotting, press trials, part correction, runoff, and production ramp-up. | Tryout plans, issue logs, runoff records, staffing plans, and agreed acceptance criteria. |
| Delivery and project management | 8% | Schedule planning, milestone visibility, risk escalation, communication, and coordination across engineering, build, and tryout. | Project schedules, milestone reporting, capacity plans, and historical delivery data where available. |
| Maintenance and lifecycle support | 6% | Ease of maintenance, spare-part availability, repair documentation, technical support, and accommodation of future engineering changes. | Maintenance manuals, spare-parts lists, service-response terms, and repair or modification procedures. |
| Quality and change-control systems | 5% | Document control, nonconformance handling, corrective action, supplier controls, and management of design and process changes. | Audits, quality procedures, corrective-action records, and applicable certifications verified for the relevant facility. |
| Total cost and commercial clarity | 3% | Transparency of tooling scope, assumptions, exclusions, payment milestones, warranty terms, and foreseeable lifecycle costs. | Comparable quotations, scope matrices, commercial terms, and documented change-order procedures. |
| Total | 100% | Use consistent evidence requirements and project-specific acceptance criteria when comparing suppliers. |