SUPPLIER VERIFICATION
Check a supplier before you rely on the claim
A polished website and a prompt quotation do not tell you who makes the product, where production happens, or whether the business can meet your requirements.
Verify the right business
First identify the legal entity you would contract with, its trading name, factory or source, and the person responding. For a UK company, public Companies House records can help confirm the registered entity and filing history. They do not, by themselves, prove capability or financial health.
- Who is the contracting party and who owns the factory?
- Is the quoted product made there, subcontracted or bought in?
- Can the supplier explain the process, capacity and quality controls?
Request evidence that matches the risk
The next questions depend on the product and order. Relevant evidence could include a site conversation or visit, references that can be checked, current certificates with a defined scope, samples, test reports and a trial order. Check who issued documents, what they cover and whether they apply to the site and product in question.
This is a structured commercial screening process, not an audit or a guarantee. A buyer’s technical, legal and financial advisers should conduct the specialist checks needed for the transaction.
Look for inconsistencies
A mismatch between company names, factory locations, certificate scopes, payment details and quotations deserves an explanation. So does a supplier that cannot answer straightforward production questions. An unexplained gap is a reason to pause, not a verdict by itself.
SEND AN INITIAL BRIEF
Give me the facts you have.
An imperfect brief is fine. I’ll review it, ask about gaps by email if useful, and discuss the scope before any paid research. Sending the form creates no engagement.
What are you struggling to source?
You don’t need to know exactly what type of manufacturer you need. Tell me the problem as you understand it. Fields marked * are needed.