Learning path: leave each gate with reviewable evidence before moving forward.
Who this path is for and what you will produce
You have names from image search, a trade show or a marketplace, but the list may mix brand owners, traders and manufacturers. Build a traceable shortlist recording each company’s legal identity, product-specific capability, sample evidence, transaction entity and open questions. This is not a factory audit, and it does not mean FindBao has verified the suppliers for you.
Start with a product reference, target specifications, destination market, likely volume and timing. If the brief is unclear, first use the image-to-manufacturer guide to turn a visual lead into questions.
Gate 1: identify the contracting entity
Record the source URL, date, display name, legal company name and contact. Ask who will sign the contract, issue the invoice and receive payment. If these are different entities, request a written explanation of their relationship and authority. A business licence helps identify a legal entity; it does not establish production capability.
Advance when: you can link the proposed contract party to the product and samples. Pause sampling and payment if the contact avoids identity questions. Use the supplier verification guide for a fuller check.
Gate 2: test product-specific capability
Break the product into its critical processes, such as driver assembly and final testing for a lamp or woodworking and finishing for furniture. Ask which processes are in-house, outsourced, tested and released by whom. Request evidence tied to your product and planned volume instead of collecting generic factory photographs.
Advance when: responsibility for critical processes is clear and the candidate can explain how approved materials, methods and quality criteria carry from sample to production. Mark any site or third-party verification still needed as unconfirmed.
Gate 3: compare samples against one brief
Give shortlisted candidates the same drawing, materials, dimensions, market, packing and test requirements. Record each sample revision, discrepancy, method of measurement and owner. Separate fixable issues from requirements the candidate cannot meet. Samples or quotes based on different specifications cannot be ranked by unit price alone.
Advance when: differences from the written brief have a resolution and the supplier can describe repeatable production controls. Record findings in the supplier review checklist.
Gate 4: choose a primary and backup with open issues
Put legal identity, critical processes, sample results, MOQ, quoted scope, timing, payee and unresolved issues side by side. The primary candidate need not be the cheapest; choose against the project’s decisive requirements and retain a backup for capacity, quality or schedule changes.
Stop when: contract identity, critical materials or sample status remain unclear. A quote is not purchase approval. Buyers should arrange necessary identity, quality, compliance and payment checks. FindBao currently supports assisted sourcing, inquiries and quote comparison; factory audits and inspections are not active services.