| Product Standard Compliance | Whether the cold rolled strip is produced according to the buyer’s required grade and standard. | ASTM A1008/A1008M, EN 10130, JIS G3141, or ISO 3575 | The quotation, test certificate, and inspection report should identify the same grade, delivery condition, and applicable standard. | Review mill test certificates and compare chemical and mechanical requirements with the purchase specification. | 15% |
| Chemical Composition | Carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, and other elements required for the selected grade. | The applicable product standard and the agreed purchase specification | All reported values should remain within the specified limits, with heat or batch traceability. | Check heat numbers, laboratory reports, and independent testing where the application is safety-critical. | 10% |
| Mechanical Properties | Yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, and forming performance. | ASTM A1008/A1008M, EN 10130, or JIS G3141, depending on the ordered grade | Measured values should meet the selected grade and remain consistent across samples from the same lot. | Verify tensile-test data, hardness results, and sample performance during forming or stamping trials. | 15% |
| Thickness and Width Tolerance | Actual thickness, width, crown, edge condition, and dimensional consistency. | The dimensional tolerance table in the agreed product standard or purchase specification | Tolerance should be agreed before production; tighter tolerances should be priced and documented separately. | Use calibrated micrometers and width gauges at several points along each coil or strip bundle. | 15% |
| Surface Quality | Scratches, pits, roll marks, rust, stains, laminations, and surface cleanliness. | The ordered surface finish and acceptance criteria in the technical specification | Surface should be suitable for the intended process, including bending, stamping, painting, plating, or welding. | Conduct visual inspection under adequate lighting and define defect limits using approved samples. | 15% |
| Coil Shape and Edge Condition | Flatness, coil set, camber, burrs, edge cracks, telescoping, and winding quality. | Buyer-defined flatness and edge requirements; applicable dimensional standard where specified | Edges should be compatible with slitting, stamping, roll forming, or welding without excessive burrs or cracking. | Inspect the coil edge and winding condition; run a trial through the buyer’s processing equipment when possible. | 10% |
| Production Capacity and Lead Time | Available rolling, annealing, tempering, slitting, and packaging capacity. | Capacity should be demonstrated for the required thickness, width, coil weight, and monthly volume. | Supplier should provide a realistic production schedule and a contingency plan for delays. | Review production planning records, sample lead times, and historical on-time delivery performance. | 10% |
| Quality Management | Process control, calibration, nonconformance handling, corrective action, and traceability. | ISO 9001 certification or an equivalent documented quality-management system | Records should link raw material, heat number, production line, inspection results, and final shipment. | Audit procedures, calibration certificates, inspection records, and corrective-action reports. | 10% |
| Packaging and Export Documentation | Moisture protection, coil securing, labeling, packing dimensions, and shipping documents. | Purchase contract, destination-country import rules, and agreed packing instructions | Packaging should prevent corrosion and deformation during inland transport, ocean shipment, and storage. | Approve packing photos or a packaging sample and verify invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and test certificate. | 5% |
| Commercial Terms and Total Cost | Material price, slitting fees, tooling or setup charges, freight, insurance, duties, and payment terms. | Incoterms® 2020 and the buyer’s landed-cost calculation | Compare total landed cost rather than headline price, while maintaining the required technical specification. | Request a detailed quotation with validity period, quantity basis, delivery term, payment terms, and surcharge policy. | 5% |
