| OE Compatibility | Confirm fitment against the vehicle application, axle position, mounting pattern, piston diameter, rotor thickness, pad geometry, connector type, and parking-brake configuration. | 100% dimensional match to the approved OE reference or controlled replacement drawing; no unapproved changes to critical interfaces. | Controlled 2D/3D drawings, dimensional inspection reports, fitment matrix, first-article inspection, and sample installation record. | Critical |
| ECE R90 Applicability | Check whether the specific product and market legally fall within UN ECE Regulation No. 90. R90 primarily addresses replacement braking components such as brake lining assemblies and, where applicable, replacement discs and drums; a caliper is not automatically R90-approved. | No unsupported “R90-certified caliper” claim. The supplier provides the exact legal basis, approval scope, and any applicable approval documentation for the offered part. | Approval number where applicable, scope statement, conformity documentation, test reports, and written confirmation of whether the caliper itself is within the claimed approval. | Critical |
| Functional Performance | Evaluate hydraulic sealing, piston return, sliding or fixed-caliper operation, pad wear compatibility, corrosion resistance, and parking-brake function where fitted. | Passes documented component and system-level tests defined by the customer, applicable vehicle requirements, and relevant laboratory procedures. | Pressure-leak test records, piston-force data, endurance results, corrosion test reports, functional test specifications, and nonconformance history. | Critical |
| Material and Heat Treatment | Verify the caliper body, piston, guide pins, seals, brackets, and surface treatment against the approved specification. | Material certificates and heat-treatment records are available for each controlled batch; critical material substitutions require written approval. | Mill certificates, hardness results, chemical analysis, heat-treatment charts, coating thickness records, and supplier-change notifications. | High |
| Manufacturing Capacity | Assess verified monthly output for the exact caliper family, available machining and assembly capacity, tooling ownership, labor coverage, and expansion capability. | Capacity is stated by product family rather than total factory output, with documented utilization, bottleneck operations, and a realistic lead-time plan. | Production-capacity report, machine list, takt-time analysis, shift plan, recent production records, and capacity-confirmation audit. | High |
| Quality Management | Review process control, inspection planning, calibration, corrective action, internal audits, and management of special characteristics. | A current automotive quality-management certificate is preferred, supported by product-specific control plans and measurable corrective-action performance. | Certificate scope, process flow, PFMEA, control plan, gauge-calibration list, audit reports, and corrective-action records. | High |
| Traceability | Track raw material, machining, heat treatment, coating, assembly, inspection, packaging, and shipment for every production batch. | Each unit or batch has a readable identification code linked to production records and retained quality documents. | Batch-code structure, electronic production records, retention policy, mock recall result, and packaging-to-product reconciliation. | Critical |
| Incoming and Final Inspection | Confirm inspection coverage for dimensions, sealing surfaces, piston movement, mounting interfaces, coating, appearance, and packaging. | Inspection frequency and acceptance criteria are defined before mass production, with calibrated equipment and documented release approval. | Inspection standards, sampling plan, gauge R&R results, final-release records, defect photographs, and rejected-part controls. | High |
| Supply Continuity | Review dependency on single-source materials, critical subcontractors, tooling, utilities, logistics routes, and contingency stock. | A documented business-continuity plan identifies alternate sources, recovery priorities, communication procedures, and safety-stock rules. | Risk register, business-continuity plan, supplier map, disaster-recovery test, inventory policy, and disruption-notification procedure. | High |
| Packaging and Export Readiness | Check protection against corrosion, impact, contamination, and mixed-part errors during international transport and warehouse handling. | Packaging preserves functional surfaces, identifies the part and batch clearly, and supports pallet, container, and barcode requirements. | Packaging specification, drop or vibration test where required, corrosion-protection method, carton labeling sample, and loading instructions. | Medium |
| Commercial and Technical Support | Evaluate response time, engineering support, sample policy, warranty process, technical documentation, and change-control communication. | Written technical answers are complete and consistent; engineering changes are communicated before implementation; warranty claims are evidence-based. | Response-time records, engineering-change procedure, warranty terms, sample approval workflow, installation instructions, and technical contact matrix. | Medium |