SPECIFICATION PATH / 01
Define what you want to buy
Make differences visible before comparing prices. A similar description may hide a different material, tolerance, finish or pack size.
01 / CHECK
Identify the product and revision
Record the product name, model or SKU, buyer revision, date and status. List drawings, bill of materials, artwork and sample records by ID and revision.
State which file controls if references conflict. Include intended use and quantity. Replace “latest file” or “same as before” with an exact revision.
02 / CHECK
Define materials and dimensions
List material grades, components, dimensions, units, tolerances, weight and assembly limits where relevant. Attach the drawing or bill of materials and state whether substitutes are allowed.
Mark undecided fields as open, with a buyer owner and decision date. Blank fields can hide different price assumptions.
03 / CHECK
Define appearance and function
Specify colour, finish, texture, artwork, logo position, accessories and required operation. Label photos and sample records as either illustrations or acceptance references.
Photos do not show hidden construction or prove future production. Record what an approved sample represents.
04 / CHECK
Specify packing and labels
List unit packs, inner packs, cartons, quantities, dimensions, marks, artwork and label revisions. State who supplies each item and who confirms it.
Name the destination market. Obtain the relevant product and labelling review; a layout alone does not establish compliance.
05 / CHECK
Name the checks and decision owner
For each key feature, state the requirement, test or inspection method, acceptance limit, timing and reviewer. Record any unresolved exception.
A standard number is a reference, not a test result. Use the released requirements to build the quality control plan.
06 / CHECK
Get written confirmation of this version
Send each supplier the same revision. Ask them to confirm receipt, list exceptions, name the proposed production site and state what is priced, sampled or pending.
Carry the chosen version into the purchase order. Record later differences through change control before affected work continues.
CONTROL TABLE / 02
Minimum fields for a controlled product definition
| Control | Record before quotation or sample | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Product name, model or SKU, revision, date, status and controlling-file list | Which exact version is being discussed? |
| Physical makeup | Materials, components, dimensions, units, tolerances and construction constraints | Which variables can change the product or price? |
| Appearance and function | Finish, colour, artwork, accessories, photos and sample role | Which reference is illustrative and which controls? |
| Packaging and labels | Unit/transport packing, marks, artwork and label revisions | Who supplies each element and for which market? |
| Acceptance | Buyer criteria, referenced method or standard, owner, timing and open exceptions | What evidence will support which decision? |
| Supplier response | Received revision, stated exceptions, priced/sampled status and named site where relevant | What differs before a commercial decision? |
DECISION STATES / 03
Keep definition, quotation, sample and production decisions separate
| State | Visible meaning | Permitted next action |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | Product fields are being assembled; unresolved fields remain visible | Request clarification, not a like-for-like comparison |
| Quote-ready | One version has been sent; each supplier’s exception is recorded | Compare assumptions before total prices |
| Sample-ready | Supplier and buyer can identify the version a sample should represent | Request, receive or review the traceable sample |
| Order baseline | Selected version, exceptions and commercial terms are bound to the order | Set production and inspection controls; do not treat this as supplier approval |
| Change pending | A proposed difference could affect the released version or evidence | Hold affected work pending written buyer decision |
Keep the supplier identity with the revision
Record the Chinese legal name and credit code alongside the product revision. Registration records can help you investigate a changed name or address.
| Record | Companies |
|---|---|
| Registered change records | 41 of 45 |
| Historical registration details (name, address, scope) | 40 of 45 |
| Historical shareholders | 33 of 45 |
These counts do not show whether a supplier notified a buyer, whether a change affected this product or when you last checked the entity.
Source: 45-company NHTSA-linked sample, licensed-platform archives from 21–22 August 2026. Historical-registration and shareholder queries were on 21 August. This selected group does not represent all suppliers.
METHOD AND LIMITATIONS / 04
Scope of this guide
ISO 10007:2017 covers configuration-management guidance. ISO 10005:2018 covers quality-plan guidance. Our six checks help buyers identify a product version and plan later controls.
We have not reviewed your product, files or supplier. This guide is not a specification template, engineering assessment, legal opinion or product approval.
PRIMARY SOURCES / 05
Official sources used for this guide
Source notes reviewed on 5 September 2026. Recheck applicable requirements for your product and destination.
- ISO 10007:2017Guidance on identifying product versions and changes.
- ISO 10005:2018Guidance on preparing and reviewing quality plans.
COMMON QUESTIONS / 06
Common questions
- Is a SKU alone enough to compare supplier quotations?
- Not reliably. A SKU may identify a sales line, but a buyer still needs the corresponding revision, physical assumptions, scope and exceptions to know whether quotations refer to the same product.
- Is a drawing enough by itself?
- It can be a controlling reference when the buyer makes its revision and scope explicit. Materials, packaging, artwork, acceptance evidence and unresolved exceptions may still need their own recorded fields.
- Does a supplier statement that the product is “the same as the sample” settle the specification?
- No. Record the sample ID and revision, the documents it was compared against and the limits of the decision. The sample, written specification and later production evidence answer different questions.
- Should destination-market requirements be copied into this checklist?
- Record the applicable source and decision owner where needed, but do not treat this generic guide as a legal or compliance determination. Obtain current, product- and market-specific advice from the relevant authority or qualified adviser.