We answer these questions from buyers every week. The good suppliers welcome them; the risky ones dodge them. Use this list on any factory you're considering — including us.

1. Factory or trading company?

Not all "factories" bend their own pipes. Some are traders with a catalogue. Ask for:

• A live video walkthrough of your product being made — not a showroom.
• The factory's business license scope (manufacturing, not just trading).
• Photos of specific equipment: mandrel bender, TIG stations, CNC machines.
• An offer to visit. Real factories say yes quickly and help with the invitation letter.

2. Where do the fitment data and jigs come from?

The difference between a system that bolts on and one that hangs wrong is the jig. Ask how they verify fitment:

• Do they design in CAD against real chassis dimensions, or copy sample parts?
• Can they show jigs for the platform you're buying?
• For a new fitment, will they build a jig and a first article before volume?

If the answer is "we follow the sample you send", every reorder depends on your sample — and quality will drift.

3. Can they certify the material?

"Titanium" and "304 stainless" are not single products. Ask for:

• GR5 (Ti-6Al-4V) certification for titanium, not commercially pure TA1/TA2 sold as a premium upgrade.
• Mill certificates for stainless — nickel and chromium content determine corrosion life in salted climates.
• Batch traceability, so a warranty claim can be traced to a production run.

4. What does their welding standard look like?

Ask for close-up photos of welds — inside and outside if possible. On titanium, proper welds are back-purged (shiny, consistent beads); contamination shows as a dull, coloured, sugary surface. On stainless, look for full-penetration beads without heavy undercut. A factory proud of its welding will show you welds without being asked twice.

5. What does QC actually check?

"We check everything" means nothing. Listen for specifics: jig fitment checks, pressure or leak testing, weld inspection criteria, surface finishing standards, packing method. Ask whether you receive photos of your actual system before shipping — a small request that tells you a lot about their process discipline.

6. How do they handle problems?

Every long-term partnership hits a problem eventually: a fitment complaint, a shipping dent, a finish inconsistency. Ask for an example of a claim they handled — what the buyer reported, what the factory did, how fast. vague reassurance is a red flag; a concrete story with an outcome is a green one.

7. Are the lead times engineered or improvised?

Ask what determines the lead time: material stock, welding capacity, or finish queue. Factories that plan production against orders can commit to dates; factories that overpromise will slip on your third order, when it matters most.

8. Sample policy and minimums

A confident factory sells samples at fair prices (not free, not gouged) and treats the first order as the start of a program. Be cautious with very low quoted prices on the first order followed by increases on reorders — price stability across reorders is part of the product.

Rule of thumb: the questions a supplier answers with specifics are the areas where they are strong. The questions they answer with adjectives are where you should look hardest.

We wrote this checklist because we'd rather compete on process than on confusion. If you use it on us, we'll answer every point with photos, certificates and names — and if we're not the right fit for your program, we'll tell you that too.