| 1 | Material Grade and Mechanical Performance | 18% | Common international grades include ASTM A307 Grade A with a minimum tensile strength of 60 ksi, ASTM F1554 Grade 36 with a minimum yield strength of 36 ksi, and ISO 898-1 property classes 8.8 and 10.9 with nominal tensile strengths of 800 MPa and 1,000 MPa respectively. | Confirm the material designation, heat number, mill test certificate, tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and hardness for each production lot. | 5 points: complete traceability and test results match the specified standard; 3 points: partial documentation; 1 point: unsupported material claims. |
| 2 | Thread Accuracy and Dimensional Control | 15% | Metric threads are commonly specified under ISO 965-1, while unified inch threads use UNC or UNF profiles. Thread fit depends on the declared tolerance class, such as 6g for external metric threads and the applicable unified thread class. | Request thread plug and ring gauge records, pitch-diameter measurements, major and minor diameter data, straightness results, and inspection frequency. | 5 points: documented gauge control and dimensional reports for every lot; 3 points: sampling records only; 1 point: visual inspection only. |
| 3 | Surface Protection and Corrosion Resistance | 12% | Typical finishes include plain steel, electroplated zinc, hot-dip galvanized coating, and stainless steel. ASTM A153 specifies hot-dip galvanized coating requirements for hardware, with coating thickness dependent on the material category and diameter. | Verify coating type, coating thickness, adhesion, salt-spray or cyclic-corrosion results where required, chromate or passivation details, and environmental suitability. | 5 points: finish and test method are clearly specified; 3 points: finish is documented but testing is limited; 1 point: finish is described only by color. |
| 4 | Manufacturing Process and Capacity | 11% | Thread rods may be produced by cold forming, hot forging, or machining, depending on diameter, material, thread length, and required mechanical performance. Production capacity should be assessed against the buyer’s monthly demand and required lead time. | Review equipment lists, process flow charts, monthly output, raw-material storage, bottleneck operations, maintenance records, and capacity during peak seasons. | 5 points: stable process with documented capacity reserves; 3 points: capacity meets current demand only; 1 point: capacity is not verifiable. |
| 5 | Quality Management and Inspection System | 10% | ISO 9001 is a widely used quality-management framework. A robust fastener inspection program normally covers incoming material, forming, thread dimensions, surface finish, mechanical properties, packaging, and final release. | Check certificate validity, inspection plans, calibration records, nonconformance reports, corrective-action procedures, and independent audit results. | 5 points: certified system supported by recent records; 3 points: internal controls are present but limited; 1 point: no formal system evidence. |
| 6 | Product Range and Customization Capability | 9% | A commercially useful range may include metric and inch threads, coarse and fine pitches, full-thread and partial-thread configurations, multiple diameters, cut-to-length options, chamfered ends, and special finishes. | Compare available diameters, standard lengths, thread profiles, tolerances, packaging options, custom drawings, minimum order quantities, and tooling charges. | 5 points: broad standard range plus controlled customization; 3 points: standard products only; 1 point: limited or unclear capability. |
| 7 | Testing, Traceability, and Technical Documentation | 8% | Useful documentation includes drawings, inspection reports, material certificates, coating reports, dimensional records, certificates of conformity, and packaging specifications. Traceability should connect the finished batch to its raw material heat. | Ask for anonymized sample documents, batch-number examples, retention periods, laboratory qualifications, and the procedure for handling customer complaints. | 5 points: complete batch-level documentation; 3 points: documents are available only on request; 1 point: records are inconsistent. |
| 8 | Export Experience and Packaging Control | 7% | Threaded products require packaging that prevents tangling, thread damage, corrosion, moisture exposure, and length or diameter mixing during transport and storage. | Verify export packaging specifications, moisture protection, palletization, carton markings, barcode or label capability, loading photos, and container utilization. | 5 points: packaging is tested and shipment-ready; 3 points: basic packaging is available; 1 point: packaging is undefined. |
| 9 | Lead Time, Delivery Reliability, and Supply Continuity | 6% | Delivery performance should be measured using confirmed production lead time, inspection time, export documentation time, transit planning, and the supplier’s historical on-time delivery rate rather than a single quoted date. | Request a production schedule, capacity reservation procedure, typical lead-time range, backup raw-material sources, and a written escalation process for delays. | 5 points: measurable delivery history and contingency planning; 3 points: delivery dates are estimated; 1 point: no performance data. |
| 10 | Total Cost, Compliance, and After-Sales Support | 4% | Total landed cost includes product price, tooling, testing, packaging, inland transport, export handling, freight, duties, inspection, and the cost of potential nonconformities. Compliance requirements vary by destination and application. | Compare quotations on the same specification, Incoterm, quantity, test plan, packaging basis, payment terms, warranty terms, and replacement or corrective-action procedure. | 5 points: transparent quotation and responsive technical support; 3 points: acceptable price but incomplete cost details; 1 point: price is the only clear input. |