Supplier Verification Checklist

01 Paperwork

From business registration to the process diagram — what to check before you ever visit the plant.

Confirmed business registration

Holds relevant certifications (ISO, etc.), issued within the last 3 years

An old certificate doesn’t guarantee the equipment behind it still qualifies

Confirmed export history

Requested and received a manufacturing process diagram

No diagram at all is itself a signal

Received a company profile

02 On-Site

What paperwork alone never reveals — only visible on the actual floor.

An on-site visit or third-party audit was actually conducted

Equipment age matches what’s stated on paper

Tolerance ranges that don’t match the machine’s age are a common gap

Confirmed the skilled workers listed on paper are the ones actually on the floor

If the person doesn’t match the paperwork, other things might not either

Confirmed actual production follows the process diagram

Also worth checking for workaround steps that never appear on paper

03 Financials

A factory can look solid on the floor and still be financially unstable.

Requested 3 years of financial statements or tax filings, and reviewed revenue structure and debt ratio

Financial strain usually shows up first as quality and delivery problems

04 Communication

How a supplier responds when something goes wrong matters too.

Communicates well in English (or your working language)

Tends to flag problems before you have to ask

A supplier that only answers when asked may be hiding other issues too

Is This Korean Manufacturer Worth a Closer Look?