Supplier Evidence Check

Do you have a recent mainland China business licence copy showing the legal Chinese name and Unified Social Credit Code?

Why it matters: English trading names can vary. The Chinese legal identity is the anchor for company-level checks and contracts.

Suggested request: Request a clear business licence copy and record the legal Chinese name, code, registered address, and licence date shown.

Does the entity named on the quotation and proposed contract match the legal entity you intend to buy from?

Why it matters: A brand, store, export company, and manufacturing entity may be different organisations.

Suggested request: Ask the supplier to identify each entity's role and issue the quotation and contract in the intended contracting entity's legal name.

Does the beneficiary name on the payment instruction match the contracting entity, or is the difference documented?

Why it matters: Unexplained entity changes make it harder to connect a payment to the agreed commercial counterparty.

Suggested request: Obtain beneficiary details on company letterhead and a written explanation for any mismatch before payment review.

Do you have current evidence connecting the quoted entity, production address, equipment, and relevant manufacturing steps?

Why it matters: A sales contact or product catalogue alone does not show where the quoted product will be made.

Suggested request: Request a dated site walkthrough or audit scope that shows the address, relevant process flow, equipment, and entity signage.

Have you received product-specific process details, key material information, tolerances, and capacity assumptions?

Why it matters: General category experience may not cover the exact material, finish, tolerance, tooling, or volume required.

Suggested request: Send a controlled specification and ask the supplier to identify constraints, outsourced steps, tooling needs, and measurable limits.

Has the supplier disclosed which components or processes are subcontracted and how those providers are controlled?

Why it matters: Undisclosed hand-offs can break traceability between the approved sample, materials, and production site.

Suggested request: Request a make-or-buy process map, critical subcontractor controls, and notice requirements for provider changes.

Is there a dated approved sample or specification with revision control that both sides can identify?

Why it matters: A visually acceptable sample is difficult to enforce if materials, dimensions, tests, and revision status are not recorded.

Suggested request: Create a signed or otherwise traceable golden-sample record with photos, measurements, materials, tests, and revision number.

Are measurable acceptance criteria, sampling stage, defect handling, and release authority documented?

Why it matters: Instructions such as 'good quality' do not define what an inspector or production team should accept.

Suggested request: Define critical measurements, functional checks, packaging checks, sampling method, defect classes, and release decision owner.

Do requested reports or certificates identify the relevant product/model, standard, laboratory, date, and applicant?

Why it matters: A document can be genuine yet unrelated, out of scope, expired, or issued for a different product configuration.

Suggested request: Compare model identifiers and scope line by line; confirm current market requirements with a qualified compliance professional.

Does the purchase documentation require written approval before material, component, process, site, or subcontractor changes?

Why it matters: Unrecorded changes can make samples, test documents, and inspection criteria no longer representative of production.

Suggested request: Add a written change-notice and buyer-approval clause tied to the specification, sample, test scope, and inspection plan.