# Rubber Part RFQ Review and Quotation Checklist > Source: https://netray.co/tools/rubber-rfq-review-and-quotation-checklist > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer Thirty-plus checks to run on a molded rubber RFQ so compound, tolerance, tooling, process and commercial risks are caught before the quote goes out. ## Category quality ## Industry Rubber & Elastomer Products ## Audience - Estimator - Quality engineer - Sales engineer ## Tool **Kind:** checklist **Scoring Note:** Score is the share of items checked. Any unchecked critical item should be resolved or listed as a quote assumption before the quote is released. **Groups:** #### Drawing and requirements **Items:** **Text:** Drawing is current and the revision is recorded on the quote **Critical:** true **Text:** 3D model or sufficient views received to calculate volume **Critical:** false **Text:** Annual and per-release quantities are stated **Critical:** true **Text:** Part is new, a transfer from another supplier, or a re-quote of a running part **Critical:** false **Text:** Critical to function dimensions are identified on the drawing **Critical:** true **Text:** Cosmetic and surface requirements, including parting line and flash limits, are defined **Critical:** false **Text:** Markings, part identification and date codes are specified **Critical:** false #### Material and compound **Items:** **Text:** Compound callout is complete (family, hardness, ASTM D2000 or OEM spec) **Critical:** true **Text:** Fluids, temperature range and exposure duration are known **Critical:** true **Text:** Hardness tolerance is stated and achievable with the compound **Critical:** false **Text:** Compression set, tensile and other property requirements are known **Critical:** false **Text:** Compound is available from an approved source and lead time is known **Critical:** true **Text:** Regulatory material needs identified (FDA, NSF, USP Class VI, RoHS, REACH) where relevant **Critical:** true **Text:** Specific gravity confirmed from the data sheet for weight calculation **Critical:** false #### Tooling and process **Items:** **Text:** Process selected: compression, transfer or injection, with reason **Critical:** false **Text:** Cavity count chosen to match volumes and press size **Critical:** false **Text:** Shrinkage allowance defined for the compound **Critical:** true **Text:** Tolerance class (for example ISO 3302-1) is stated and the tool can hold it **Critical:** true **Text:** Tool ownership, life, maintenance and storage terms are agreed **Critical:** false **Text:** Undercuts, thin sections, inserts or bonding requirements reviewed for moldability **Critical:** true **Text:** Cure time estimated and a post-cure need identified **Critical:** false **Text:** Flash level, deflash method and trim method are defined **Critical:** false #### Quality and documentation **Items:** **Text:** Inspection plan and sample sizes agreed for critical characteristics **Critical:** true **Text:** FAI, PPAP or other submissions required are listed and priced **Critical:** true **Text:** Certificates of conformance, compound batch traceability and test reports required **Critical:** false **Text:** Gauges, fixtures or optical measuring needs identified for flexible parts **Critical:** false **Text:** Packaging, labeling and shipping requirements are specified **Critical:** false **Text:** Retention of records and lot traceability period are known **Critical:** false #### Commercial and delivery **Items:** **Text:** Costing covers compound, press time, labor, secondary ops, scrap and margin **Critical:** true **Text:** Price breaks match realistic setup and run sizes **Critical:** false **Text:** Tooling is quoted as a separate line with lead time **Critical:** true **Text:** Quote validity period and raw material price review clause are included **Critical:** true **Text:** Quantity tolerance (for example plus or minus 10 percent) is stated **Critical:** false **Text:** Freight, duty, and Incoterms are stated or excluded **Critical:** false **Text:** Capacity and lead time are confirmed with scheduling **Critical:** false ## Content **Intro:** Most rubber quoting losses are visible in the RFQ, if someone looks. This checklist walks through drawing, compound, tooling, quality documents and commercial terms so the quote reflects the job you will actually run. **Sections:** #### How to use it **Body:** Run through the list when an RFQ arrives, before costing starts. Check what is confirmed, and for each unchecked critical item, ask the customer or write the assumption into the quote. Keep a copy with the quote so the production team sees the same facts. The score gives a fast view of how complete the RFQ is, and a low score on a high-value job is a signal to slow down and ask questions. **Bullets:** - Do the review before costing, not after. - Turn every open critical item into a question or a stated assumption. - Attach the completed list to the job file. #### Why these items matter **Body:** Compound callouts decide cost and availability, because a fluoroelastomer or peroxide-cured grade can be many times the cost of a standard nitrile. Tolerance class decides tooling precision, inspection effort and reject rate. Tooling terms decide who bears the risk if the mold wears out. Documentation requirements such as PPAP, FAI or traceability create labor that is easy to forget in piece price. Each group maps to a part of the cost model in the quote worksheet. #### Moldability review **Body:** Look for thin sections that trap air, deep undercuts that tear on demolding, sharp internal corners that cause flow lines, and tight tolerances across a parting line. Rubber-to-metal bonded parts need surface preparation, adhesive systems and often preheated inserts. Large parts may exceed press platen size. A quick review with the tooling shop before quoting prevents committing to a part that will scrap heavily. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Teams often quote from an old drawing revision, accept an incomplete compound callout and then discover the compound needs special sourcing, or leave tolerance class unspecified. Another is skipping capacity checks, which creates unrealistic lead times. A final one is failing to price documentation; PPAP and first-article submissions take real engineering time that should be a line item or part of the tooling charge. **Cta:** Netray can help make the RFQ review a structured step inside your ERP, with open items tracked to closure. Ask us for a short review of how RFQs move through your team. **Faq:** #### What are the most important RFQ items to confirm? **Answer:** The drawing revision, full compound callout, fluid and temperature environment, tolerance class, annual volumes and documentation requirements. These five drive cost, tooling and risk, and gaps in them cause most re-quotes and disputes. #### Why ask about fluids and temperature? **Answer:** Because they decide which elastomer family works at all. A compound that suits oil can swell or fail in steam or glycol brake fluid. Without environment details, a hardness and color callout is not enough to quote safely. #### Should I quote if the RFQ is incomplete? **Answer:** You can, with clearly written assumptions, but flag them. Price the worst plausible case for critical gaps or request clarification. A quote that assumes a standard tolerance on a tight part is a likely loss. #### Does this replace formal contract review? **Answer:** No. It is a technical and commercial quoting aid. For quality systems such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949 or AS9100, your contract review procedure still applies, and this list can serve as an input record. ## Search terms rubber RFQ review checklist, molded rubber quote checklist, rubber part contract review, elastomer RFQ questions, rubber tooling quote checklist, custom rubber parts quoting steps, rubber drawing review checklist, rubber molding feasibility review --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json