Buyer note: confirm assumptions before quoting
Lead time, MOQ, yield, leak-test scope, machining scope, and landed cost depend on the drawing, alloy, inspection plan, annual volume, and destination market. For current supplier facts, review the supplier capability sheet or send an RFQ package.
# IATF 16949 Aluminum Casting Supplier China: RFQ Evidence Checklist
IATF 16949 certification is useful to buyers only when it is connected to the specific RFQ: the certified scope, the part family, the approval documents required, and the inspection records the buyer needs before release.
This checklist helps procurement, SQE, and engineering teams evaluate an IATF 16949 aluminum casting supplier without treating certification as a substitute for project evidence.
What to verify first
For Bohua, buyers should start with the current certificate evidence on the certifications page:
- •IATF 16949:2016 certificate issued by NQA
- •certified scope: manufacturing of aluminum alloy cast parts
- •issue date and expiry date shown on the certificate page
- •IATF USI shown for official database verification
- •ISO 9001 requirements integrated within IATF 16949
- •ISO 14001 shown only as application in progress where relevant
The buyer should still confirm whether the certificate scope matches the part family and customer approval path.
1. Match certificate scope to the RFQ
Ask whether the quoted work is inside the supplier's certified manufacturing scope. For casting RFQs, this means checking:
- •casting process route
- •alloy family such as A356, ZL114, ADC12, or buyer-specified equivalent
- •heat treatment if required
- •machining coordination or finished-part scope
- •inspection records and traceability expectations
- •whether the customer needs PPAP, FAI, or a supplier approval package
A certificate proves the quality-management system has been audited. It does not automatically approve a new part, customer, or program.
2. Ask for project-specific quality records
Useful RFQ evidence can include:
| Evidence | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Certificate copy and scope | confirms audited management-system baseline |
| Material certificate example | shows alloy traceability format |
| CMM report example | shows dimensional record format |
| Leak-test or pressure-test record | relevant for pump, valve, compressor, or sealing parts |
| X-ray, section, or NDT plan | relevant when internal integrity is a risk |
| Control plan or inspection plan | shows how special characteristics are monitored |
| FAI or PPAP checklist | confirms approval documentation scope |
| Corrective-action example | shows how issues are contained and closed |
Ask for records that match your part family. Do not request generic proof that cannot be tied to drawing risk.
3. Use PPAP language carefully
PPAP may be required for automotive programs, but not every industrial or appliance RFQ needs a full PPAP package. Before quotation, state:
- •PPAP level or FAI requirement, if known
- •customer-specific forms or templates
- •special characteristics and critical dimensions
- •sample quantity and approval route
- •whether capability studies are required
- •retention and traceability expectations
If the buyer is unsure, ask the supplier to quote documentation options separately.
4. Keep traceability practical
Traceability should answer a real containment question: if a part has an issue, what records connect the part to material, process, inspection, and shipment?
RFQ CTA
Have a casting project? Upload your drawing for a fast, structured quote review.
Send the drawing, target alloy, finishing scope, MOQ, and delivery timing. Bohua will review it like a real sourcing project, not a generic contact request.
Ask the supplier how it links:
- •material lot or heat number
- •casting date, mold, or batch
- •heat-treatment record if required
- •machining or inspection lot
- •CMM, leak-test, or material report
- •packaging and shipment documents
This is more useful than broad claims about quality outcomes.
5. Avoid over-reading certification
IATF 16949 alone does not prove these items:
- •approval by your customer without review
- •fixed lead time
- •fixed cost reduction
- •fixed yield or defect rate
- •customer names or references
- •ability to bypass your own supplier approval process
Use certification as the starting evidence, then qualify the specific RFQ with drawings and records.
IATF supplier evidence RFQ route matrix
Use this checklist to choose the right Bohua route before sending the inquiry:
| Buyer blocker | Best route | Send these inputs |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate scope or IATF USI verification | Quality documentation RFQ | Current certificate question, part family, drawing package, approval deadline, and whether the buyer needs a certificate copy or database verification |
| PPAP, FAI, or customer-specific approval | Quality documentation RFQ | PPAP level or FAI scope, special characteristics, sample quantity, customer forms, and target approval date |
| CMM, material certificate, and traceability records | Quality documentation RFQ | Critical dimensions, datum scheme, alloy and heat-treatment needs, material certificate format, and traceability expectations |
| Pressure, leak, X-ray, or NDT records | Application-specific RFQ plus quality documentation | Leak or pressure criteria, NDT scope, sampling plan, acceptance criteria, and the product family such as pump housing, valve body, or compressor housing |
This matrix keeps certification discussion tied to the buyer's actual approval evidence instead of turning IATF into a generic sales claim.
Copy-paste IATF supplier evidence request
> IATF 16949 supplier evidence request
> Part family: pump housing / valve body / gearbox housing / EV motor housing / bracket / other __
> Drawing files: 2D PDF revision __, STEP __
> Process route expected: gravity casting / low-pressure casting / die casting / supplier recommendation
> Alloy and temper: __
> Machining scope: raw casting only / casting plus CNC / supplier to quote both options
> Inspection records required: CMM __, material cert __, leak-test __, X-ray or section check __
> Approval route: FAI / PPAP Level __ / customer-specific package / supplier recommendation
> Traceability needed: material lot, batch, inspection, shipment, other __
> Contact path: submit the site RFQ first; use email only for follow-up attachments after submission
FAQ
Does IATF 16949 replace buyer approval?
No. It supports supplier qualification, but buyers still need project-specific drawing review, documentation, sample approval, and any customer-specific requirements.
What should buyers verify before sending an automotive RFQ?
Verify certificate scope, PPAP or FAI expectations, special characteristics, inspection records, material traceability, and whether the supplier can support the buyer's approval forms.
Can non-automotive buyers benefit from an IATF facility?
Yes. The process discipline can be useful for industrial, rail, pump, valve, appliance, and energy-related casting RFQs, but the buyer should still define the actual records and approval needs.
Which Bohua path should I use after this checklist?
Review the certifications page, then send drawings and documentation requirements through the quality-documentation RFQ path. For pressure-sensitive parts, pair this checklist with the A356-T6 pressure-tight pump housing RFQ route.
Project CTA
Need Quality Documentation With Your RFQ?
Send your drawing for a structured DFM review, quote scope, and project-specific timing discussion.