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Describe the job before comparing suppliers
List the actual equipment/configuration, intended work, customer conditions, required tools and the period in which the people must be available. Keep customer approval and public trade/safety/work requirements as separate checks.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) describes supplier scouting as matching defined manufacturing needs to capabilities and business interest. That process is a useful preparation reference; it does not certify a service subcontractor or promise that an overseas business qualifies for a particular programme.
Experience with the model family can leave a material gap
Fictional example: the job concerns Machine Q, Revision C, with a customer-approved diagnostic application. The candidate shows relevant work on Revision A but no evidence for Revision C or access to the required application. Its claim is a useful lead; the missing evidence remains open.
Management can request the relevant records, arrange an authorised demonstration, use another qualified supplier or narrow the task. It should not mark the candidate capable merely because the model names resemble each other.
| Job requirement | Evidence to verify | Gap to keep visible |
|---|---|---|
| Actual equipment/version | Comparable job record or qualified demonstration | A different revision or process may need further assessment. |
| Named people and availability | Relevant task experience and confirmed allocation | Company capacity is not the same as these people being available. |
| Tools/software/measurement | Required capability, legitimate access and appropriate condition | A generic tool list may omit the job-critical item. |
| Customer and operating constraints | Site access, agreed scope and permitted process | A supplier reference does not settle these requirements. |
Make any trial test the disputed capability
If an authorised, safely designed trial is appropriate, agree what it is intended to establish and who can assess the result. Do not turn it into unapproved customer work or assume a trial exempts any operating requirement.
Keep the evidence, date, scope and remaining questions in the supplier file. Funding, corporate background and manager availability belong in the broader partner review; this technical check does not replace them.
Choose the commitment supported by the evidence
Ask management to distinguish capability demonstrated, capability claimed and capability still unknown. A narrower initial job, further qualification or a different supplier may be appropriate while a material gap remains. Include supervision and parent support in the proposed job cost.
Scope
- Original job-capability comparison using a narrow manufacturing supplier-scouting reference. No subcontractor certification, trade/work permission, safety clearance or guarantee of delivery is supplied.
Next step
Use Partner evidence to record the exact capability claim, what was checked and the remaining gap. Keep the detailed job specification and technical records in the authorised project system.
Sources & review notes
National Institute of Standards and Technology — MEP
Passage, dates and research notes
official-guidance · Supplier scouting process: describe the needed item/capability and identify possible manufacturers
Read the main process. Only the capability-matching principle is used; no service-provider certification, guaranteed match, programme eligibility or domestic-content conclusion is implied.
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