Casting and Forging Quote Review Checklist
Casting and forging quotes are easy to compare on piece price and hard to compare on everything else. This checklist covers the items that usually decide the real cost: drawing revision, tooling terms, material surcharge, inspection scope and delivery.
0 of 29 items complete
10 critical items still open - these are the highest-risk gaps.
Part definition and scope
Tooling and amortization
Material and yield
Quality and traceability
Logistics and commercial terms
Each item is a yes or no. Critical items left unchecked mean the quote is not comparable or carries hidden risk. Resolve those before issuing a purchase order.
Compare supplier quotes inside your ERP
Optional review of how quote terms and supplier performance could be compared on your own servers.
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How to use the checklist
Work through the five groups for each supplier quote and tick what is clearly stated in writing. Leave an item blank when the quote is silent, and treat critical blanks as questions to send back. Use one copy per supplier and compare the unchecked lists. Export it with your notes and attach it to the sourcing file. It works for new parts, for re-quotes after a revision, and for annual price reviews with existing suppliers.
What to look for in each group
Part definition ensures every supplier priced the same part. Tooling shows who pays, who owns and what happens after the order ends. Material and yield items expose how price will move with commodity costs, and whether the yield assumption is believable. Quality items confirm that inspection and certification are included, rather than priced as extras later. Logistics and terms cover lead time, packaging, freight and payment. A low price with blanks in tooling or surcharge terms is usually not the lowest total cost.
- Compare the same revision, alloy and tolerance
- Separate tooling from piece price
- Write down the surcharge formula
- Confirm inspection scope matches the drawing
Common mistakes
Accepting a quote that references an older revision is the most frequent mistake. Another is comparing a supplier owned tooling price with a buyer owned one without adjusting. Surcharge terms are often left to later, and then drive large increases. Finally, many buyers forget to check that the yield assumption is consistent with the weight on the drawing; an unusually low quoted weight may mean the supplier will request changes after tooling is cut. Record decisions and the reasons so the next review starts from facts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which items on the list matter most?
Drawing revision, tooling ownership, surcharge terms, inspection scope and written exceptions. These are marked critical because they are the usual source of disputes and cost changes after the purchase order is placed.
How do I compare quotes with different tooling terms?
Convert them to a total cost over the expected volume: add the tooling charge to the piece price multiplied by the quantity, or amortize the tooling over the same quantity for each supplier. Then compare the totals at each volume break.
What is a material surcharge?
A surcharge adjusts price for movements in raw material or alloy cost, usually tied to a published index and reviewed on a schedule. Ask for the formula in writing, including the base price and the adjustment trigger.
Should every quote include first article inspection?
For new tooling, yes, because it shows that the process can meet the drawing before production begins. State the format, such as a dimensional layout and material certification, and who approves it, so there is no confusion at release.
If you want quote data, tooling status and supplier performance compared automatically across your ERP records, we can build that on your own servers.
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