| 1 | Supplier identity and factory capability | Registered business details, factory address, product catalogue, and a clear statement of whether production is in-house or subcontracted. | Cross-check registration details and address; arrange a live video walkthrough or independent factory audit. | Confirm the contracting, invoicing, and manufacturing entities are clearly identified. |
| 2 | Solar and electrical performance | Panel rated power, test conditions, output voltage/current, battery capacity in Wh, and charge-controller specifications. | Request model-specific test reports and compare panel output under stated conditions. Treat charging-time claims as conditional on sunlight, orientation, temperature, and connected load. | Check that ratings and limitations appear consistently on the datasheet, sample, packaging, and quotation. |
| 3 | Battery safety and transport | Battery chemistry, cell specifications, protection features, applicable safety test reports, and UN 38.3 test summary for lithium-battery transport where required. | Match reports to the exact cell and finished-product configuration; confirm shipping documents with the carrier or dangerous-goods specialist. | Do not accept a certificate or test summary for a different cell, model, or configuration as product-specific evidence. |
| 4 | Market-specific compliance | Declaration of conformity and relevant test reports for the destination market. Depending on product and market, this may include EMC, radio, chemical, electrical-safety, or restricted-substance requirements. | Check the model number, applicant, standards, test laboratory, report date, and scope. Confirm current requirements with the relevant regulator or an accredited compliance specialist. | Treat CE, UKCA, FCC, and RoHS as market- and product-dependent requirements, not interchangeable universal approvals. |
| 5 | Environmental and ingress claims | Test evidence for any advertised ingress-protection rating, plus operating-temperature and storage limits. | Verify the test method and whether the rating applies to the complete device, ports, and accessories in the stated configuration. | Do not equate “water-resistant” wording with a tested IP rating or assume a rating covers immersion unless the evidence says so. |
| 6 | Quality-management controls | Quality-system certificate, incoming inspection records, production checks, final-test criteria, and corrective-action process. | Verify certificate issuer, validity, scope, and site; request recent, product-relevant inspection records. | An ISO 9001 certificate concerns a quality-management system; it does not by itself certify product performance or safety. |
| 7 | Sample and production validation | Pre-production sample, approved specification, packaging artwork, and written acceptance criteria for the order. | Test samples under intended use; record output, charging behavior, ports, finish, and packaging. Use a defined inspection plan for production lots. | Reference the approved sample and revision-controlled specification in the purchase contract. |
| 8 | Capacity, lead time, and order terms | Written production capacity, minimum order quantity, sample and production lead times, payment milestones, Incoterms® 2020 rule, and named delivery place. | Compare the quotation with the purchase contract; confirm what is included in price, freight, insurance, export clearance, and destination charges. | Avoid relying on verbal lead-time or delivery promises; record dates, responsibilities, and remedies in writing. |
| 9 | Warranty and after-sales support | Written warranty duration and exclusions, defect-claim process, replacement or repair terms, spare-parts availability, and response channel. | Ask for the procedure for documenting a defect and confirm who pays for return shipping, replacement, or local service. | Ensure the warranty is enforceable under the contract and practical for the buyer’s market. |
| 10 | Final supplier comparison | Completed evidence file covering product performance, compliance, quality, commercial terms, and service. | Score each supplier against the same requirements and mark missing or unverified evidence separately from confirmed results. | Select based on verified suitability and total landed cost—not headline price or unsupported performance claims alone. |