A structured supplier evaluation scorecard — weighting product capability (25%), quality system maturity (25%), certification status (20%), capacity fit (15%), and references (10%) — converts factory selection from a price comparison into a risk-adjusted decision. The most reliable disqualification signal is a quotation more than 10–15% below comparable factories: this consistently indicates material substitution, capacity overcommitment, or suspended compliance. Certifications must be verified on the issuing body's public database (amfori.org for BSCI, global-standard.org for GOTS, textileexchange.org for GRS) — not accepted from the PDF the factory provides.
The Request for Information (RFI)
Before requesting a quotation, a structured RFI establishes whether a factory is capable of being evaluated further. An RFI should cover:
- Product specialism: what product categories has the factory produced in commercial volume in the last 12 months? Request 3 reference buyers in the same product category.
- Capacity: total monthly production capacity and current utilisation rate — a factory at 100% utilisation has no margin for your order.
- Certifications: full list of current social compliance audits and product certifications with certificate numbers and expiry dates.
- Quality system: brief description of the quality control process — does the factory have a documented quality manual?
- Machinery: key machinery list for your product category.
- Minimum order requirements: per style, per colour, per size.
The Evaluation Scorecard
| Criterion | Weight | Scoring guide |
|---|---|---|
| Product capability match | 25% | 5 = core product; 3 = adjacent product; 1 = new category for factory |
| Quality system maturity | 25% | 5 = documented system + active in-line QC; 3 = basic final inspection; 1 = no documented process |
| Certification status | 20% | 5 = all required certs current; 3 = some gaps; 1 = expired or missing |
| Capacity fit | 15% | 5 = order is 5–15% of monthly capacity; 3 = 15–30%; 1 = >30% or <5% |
| Reference quality | 10% | 5 = 3 positive references in same product category; 3 = mixed or adjacent; 1 = no verifiable references |
| Financial stability indicators | 5% | 5 = established relationships, trade references positive; 1 = new or unverified |
Red Flags That Warrant Automatic Disqualification
- Expired or suspended social audit — always verify on the audit body's platform, not the certificate PDF the factory provides.
- Unable to provide references who have ordered the same product in the last 12 months.
- Quotation more than 10–15% below other comparable factories — this almost always means material substitution, hidden fees or a capacity problem.
- Reluctance to allow a factory visit or third-party audit.
- Inconsistency between stated capacity and visible factory size during a visit or video tour.
- Changing information between RFI and quotation stage — suggests the factory adjusts answers to match what it thinks you want to hear.
Factory Tiering
Not all factories carry the same risk profile — and managing all vendors with the same level of oversight is inefficient. Tiering your factory panel based on evaluation score and relationship maturity allows you to focus oversight where it is needed most.
| Tier | Criteria | Oversight level |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — Core vendors | Score ≥4.0; 3+ successful seasons; all certifications current | Annual audit + quarterly check-in; reduced in-line QC |
| Tier 2 — Approved vendors | Score 3.0–3.9; 1–2 seasons; minor gaps addressed | Bi-annual audit; standard in-line and final QC |
| Tier 3 — Conditional vendors | Score <3.0; new relationship; gaps under correction | Pre-production visit + full in-line + third-party final inspection on every order |
MZ Global Trading's factory panel is pre-tiered and publicly backed by annual audit results. Buyers are given access to the evaluation summary for any factory proposed for their program — no blind commitments.
For the criteria MZ Global Trading applies in its own factory network — including minimum certification standards and audit frequency — see our supplier evaluation framework. Submit your product requirements in the sourcing RFQ form to receive matched factory proposals.
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Disclaimer: This content is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, customs or compliance advice. Always verify requirements against your buyer specification, applicable regulations and your destination market before making commercial decisions.