Inquiries for machinery and equipment require seven categories of parameters (Source: Procurement RFQ Guide): ① Product information (drawings/materials/dimensional tolerances); ② Production capacity parameters (units per hour/cycle time/shifts); ③ Power requirements (voltage/frequency); ④ Level of automation; ⑤ Environmental conditions (temperature/humidity/altitude); ⑥ Quality certifications (inspection standards/certifications); ⑦ Commercial terms (quantity/FOB/delivery time/payment terms)—the more complete the parameters, the more accurate the quotation.
I.
Product and Process Parameters
Drawings: 3D models (STEP/IGES) + 2D drawings (tolerances/GD&T/surface finish requirements); Materials: Specify the grade (e.g., 316L per ASTM A276; do not simply write “stainless steel”); Workpiece: Dimensions/weight/quantity; Process: Operations involved (turning/milling/welding/assembly); Variants: Number of product models (model changes affect structure)—drawings and material grades form the basis of the quotation (Source: Jfortune/axhera).
II.
Production Capacity and Cycle Time
Capacity: Target units/hour or kg/cycle (provide precise figures; do not write “the more, the better”); Cycle time: Total cycle duration (including loading/unloading and inspection?); Annual output: Annual demand + shifts (1/2/3 shifts); Equipment utilization: Expected OEE; Capacity expansion margin: Room for future capacity increases—capacity determines equipment specifications (underestimating leads to undersized machines; overestimating wastes money).
III. Power Supply and Environment
Voltage/Frequency: 220V/380V/415V, 50/60Hz (based on destination country standards, e.g., 480V/60Hz for the US); Power: Available power capacity; Installation Site: Temperature/humidity/altitude (derating required for high temperatures/altitudes); Facility: Workshop dimensions/gate height/floor load-bearing capacity; Utilities: Compressed air/water/natural gas connections—incorrect power specs mean the equipment cannot be used upon arrival (Source: Kingsler).
IV.
Automation and Integration
Automation Level: Manual/semi-automatic/fully automatic (number of operators); Interfaces: Robots/conveyor lines/loading & unloading connections (existing equipment brands/PLC models); Inspection: In-line inspection requirements; Changeover: Changeover time requirements—automation level determines the budget (fully automatic is 30–50% more expensive than semi-automatic).
V.
Quality and Certification
Inspection: Required inspection reports (CMM/FAI/PPAP levels); Certification: CE/ISO 9001/FDA/UL (based on target market); Standards: Applicable standards (GB/ISO/ANSI); Material Certification: Quality certificates/third-party testing—specify certification requirements clearly (EU CE, US UL, and FDA food standards differ).
VI.
Commercial Parameters
Quantity: Current order + annual demand + MOQ (tiered pricing); Trade Terms: FOB/EXW/CIF/DDP; Lead Time: Expected delivery date; Payment: TT/LC/down payment ratio; Warranty: Warranty period + spare parts supply; Installation & Training: Includes installation and commissioning?—commercial parameters are as important as technical parameters (missing one item means the quote relies on assumptions).
7. Inquiry Checklist Template
① Equipment name + model; ② Workpiece drawings + material grade; ③ Production capacity + cycle time + work shifts; ④ Voltage/frequency + power rating; ⑤ Level of automation; ⑥ Site environmental conditions; ⑦ Quality inspection + certification requirements; ⑧ Quantity + trade terms + delivery schedule + payment terms;
⑨ Warranty + training — fill in each item on the list (provide precise figures for every item; avoid vague terms like “approximate” or “roughly”).
