What does a buyer check before sending you Gerbers or a bill of materials?
Answer
They check your capability limits against the board: layer count, minimum track and gap, hole size, finish: and the IPC class you build to. A capability matrix with real minimums and maximums answers the whole first conversation and prevents quotes you would have to withdraw.
A hardware engineer has a design ready and is deciding which two or three suppliers get the files.
Information to make clear
Use the fields that affect this buying decision. Leave unsupported claims out.
- Layer count range
- The first filter on any board.
- Minimum track and gap
- Decides whether the design is manufacturable at your shop.
- Minimum hole size and aspect ratio
- Common cause of a design being bounced back.
- Base material and Tg range
- FR-4 grades, high-frequency and metal-core are different capabilities.
- Surface finish options
- HASL, ENIG, OSP and immersion finishes affect assembly and shelf life.
- Maximum panel and board size
- A hard constraint that is cheap to publish.
- Assembly capability and volume band
- SMT, through-hole, mixed and volume range shape the quote.
Documents to prepare
State what can be published, shared on request or issued with an order.
| Document | What it supports | Suggested handling |
|---|---|---|
| Capability matrixMay be requested at: before files are sent | Your real minimums and maximums, parameter by parameter | Publish |
| IPC class statementMay be requested at: technical qualification | Which acceptance class you build and inspect to | Publish |
| ISO 9001 plus sector certificatesMay be requested at: vendor approval | Quality system, and IATF 16949, AS9100 or ISO 13485 where the sector demands it | Publish |
| UL certification and file numberMay be requested at: products entering north american markets | Recognised construction for the board | Publish |
| Test and inspection capability listMay be requested at: technical qualification | AOI, in-circuit test, flying probe, X-ray and functional test | Publish |
| RoHS, REACH and conflict minerals declarationsMay be requested at: onboarding | Material compliance for the destination market | Publish |
| ESD control programmeMay be requested at: audit | Handling controls against a recognised standard | Share on request |
Details to ask in an enquiry
Collect only the information needed to assess the request and respond.
- Gerber or ODB++ files
- Nothing can be quoted precisely without them.
- Layer count, size and quantity
- The core price drivers.
- Material and surface finish
- Changes cost and lead time significantly.
- IPC class required
- Determines inspection and yield assumptions.
- Assembly scope
- Bare board, assembly, or box build are different quotes.
- Destination and target date
- Compliance requirements and freight follow the destination.
Related questions
How detailed should a capability matrix be?
Detailed enough that an engineer can check their design against it without contacting you: layer count, minimum track and gap, minimum hole, aspect ratio, maximum panel, materials, finishes and tolerances. It is the single highest-value page an EMS supplier can publish.
Should we publish our equipment list?
Yes: makes, models and counts for placement, reflow, AOI and test. Buyers use it to judge throughput and quality capability, and unlike a photograph it can be evaluated against their own volume requirement.
What should we say about IP and file confidentiality?
State plainly how files are received, who can access them, whether an NDA is signed before or after files arrive, and what happens to files after the project. This is often the deciding factor for a first-time customer and it is entirely within your control to answer.
This is an editorial checklist, not a compliance standard. Requirements vary by market, customer and contract. Confirm current requirements with the responsible technical and commercial teams.
Plact Research. Plact's editorial desk for buyer-evidence guides. The guides organize common buyer questions, documents and enquiry fields. Requirements should be checked against current standards, regulations and contracts.