Ask suppliers to quote the same board before comparing prices
Whether prototype PCB quotations are comparable depends on consistent file revisions, delivery quantities, and Acceptance scope. A quotation using substitute laminate, panel counts, and no specified testing cannot be compared directly by unit price with one based on the original material, individual boards, and complete reports. Freeze RFQ conditions first, then distinguish engineering preparation, fabrication, special inspections, taxes, and shipping.
Send This Table Along with Manufacturing Documents
| Quote item | Details to Specify | Quote Response |
|---|---|---|
| Version and Deliverables | Project name, revision, and bare board or assembled board | Referenced file version and included processes |
| Quantity Definition | Accepted individual-board quantity, boards per panel, and whether delivery is in panels | Billing object and qualified delivery quantity |
| Structure and Materials | Board outline, layer count, approved stackup, material grade, and copper weight by layer | Adopted specifications, missing items, and substitution proposals |
| Holes and Surface | Hole types, finished-hole requirements, surface finish, and special areas | Processing Conditions and Items Requiring Confirmation |
| Inspection and Reports | Required records for electrical testing, dimensions, impedance coupons, and other checks | Execution scope, report contents, and fees |
| Delivery Schedule | Requested arrival date, partial-shipment requirements, and destination | Lead Time Start date, shipment node, and transport boundary |
Graphics Data as Per PCB Manufacturing Document List; if materials are not finalized, first complete Material and Substitution Condition Confirmation rather than allowing each supplier to select a different material before comparing totals.
Do not just look at the price per board
Project-specific engineering quotation. Pricing is issued after review of the available project data and requested scope.
Submit the available project files, quantity, required tests, target date, delivery destination, and applicable trade terms. Cost drivers are reviewed against the same controlled revision before a quote is issued.
Prepare a structured RFQ or use the short inquiry form.
| Cost Items | Verification Method |
|---|---|
| Engineering and Preparation | Whether charged separately, and whether unchanged repeat orders, artwork changes, or quantity changes require recalculation |
| Bare PCB fabrication | Whether pricing is per individual board, panel, or another basis, and whether agreed electrical testing and packaging are included |
| Special Requirements | Whether special materials, specified coupons, microsections, and reports cost extra |
| Taxes and Shipping | Tax basis, shipping costs, partial shipments, and risk-transfer point |
| Subsequent Assembly | List components, stencils, placement, programming, and functional testing separately from bare-board pricing |
One comparison metric is “total cost of accepted delivery for the same revision ÷ accepted individual-board quantity.” Still list one-time setup fees separately so first and repeat orders are not conflated. No company-wide rate is provided here; actual charges must be specified in the written quotation.
Local Shenzhen procurement and remote procurement: what to confirm separately
Customers in Shenzhen, Bao'an, or Shajing seeking an in-person file review or pickup should first confirm Reception Location, available services, and appointment arrangements; being in the same city does not mean the order is fabricated at the same location. For remote procurement from Dongguan, Guangzhou, or elsewhere, provide the delivery address,Shipping Method, acceptance of partial shipments, and inspection arrangements after receipt. Location affects collaboration and shipping conditions, not the technical definition of the same board.
Close three types of discrepancies after receiving the quote
- List every exclusion, suggested substitution, and open item explicitly; “standard production” is not a substitute.
- When files change, require the quotation to reference the new revision, retaining the original quotation and reason for the change.
- If the requested schedule, testing, or special process cannot be met, first decide whether to change requirements or the fabrication route, then compare again.
Enter when PCB fabrication is needed PCB prototyping; Select specific structure to view PCB manufacturing and board type directory. Available data then via PCB inquiry entry State the quantity, revision, and cost comparison basis.
Data Basis:Engineering reference | Gerber manufacturing data: layer functions, drilling, and attributes, checked on 2026-10-05. Used for the corresponding file, structure, or material descriptions in this article. The procurement checklist is a communication method, not a statement of universal fabrication capability or delivery commitments.
Related procurement and acceptance Q&A
What should I compare first when two PCB quotations have different unit prices?
Align revisions, accepted individual-board quantities, material structures, and inspection reports first, then examine engineering, fabrication, special charges, taxes, and shipping. Unit prices covering different items cannot be ranked directly.
See: Ask suppliers to quote the same board before comparing prices
How should setup fees for first and repeat orders be compared?
List one-time setup separately and confirm reuse conditions for unchanged repeat orders, artwork changes, and quantity changes. Total cost per accepted board can help comparison, but setup-fee differences must remain visible.
See: Look beyond the price per board
Does “standard production” in a quotation include specified testing?
Resolve exclusions, suggested substitutions, and open items individually. Obtain explicit responses for specified inspections, coupons, and reports; do not infer completion from “standard.”
See: Resolve three types of differences after receiving quotations
How can panel pricing be converted to an individual-board purchasing basis?
Specify boards per panel, delivery format, and accepted quantity; check whether all positions must be good or defective positions are allowed. The response should clearly state both the pricing unit and accepted delivery quantity.
See: Send this table with the manufacturing files
Why check shipping and partial shipments for remote quotations?
Even with the same technical definition, shipping costs, partial shipments, and risk-transfer points can differ. Confirm pickup/delivery arrangements separately, then compare total accepted-delivery costs under matching conditions.
See: Local Shenzhen procurement and remote procurement: what to confirm separately
Convert Process Requirements into Itemized Response Fields
RFQ attachments should say more than “build to files.” Specify values or explicit open items for board thickness, materials and copper weight by layer, finished holes, surface finish, impedance, coupons, and special areas. Suppliers should reference the same revision and mark acceptance, suggested adjustments, or exclusions. After engineering approval, incorporate adjustments into the manufacturing package to keep the quotation aligned with actual fabrication conditions.
A hypothetical example of normalizing total quotation costs
These hypothetical numbers illustrate procurement arithmetic only; they are not company quotations. A project-specific quotation requires review of the available files, quantity, materials, requested tests, delivery destination, taxes, shipping, and trade terms. A lower fabrication unit price from A does not establish a lower total cost.
| Verification | Solution A | Solution B |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing and Included Items | 900, Prepare and List Separately for Specified Inspection | 1150, including both items; do not add them again |
| Preparation, inspection, and shipping | 200＋100＋50 | 0＋0＋100 |
| Qualified Delivery Total Cost | 1,250 in the example's stated units | 1,250 in the example's stated units |
Also confirm that both quotations use the same tax basis, materials, reports, and quantities. If one delivers only 95 boards, do not retain 100 as the denominator. If substitution is allowed, complete the substitution review before comparing. List first-order setup fees separately; setup reuse for repeat orders requires written supplier confirmation and is not assumed from this example.
The final output is a comparison table showing file revision, pricing unit, inclusions, exclusions, total cost, and open items. Retain unresolved technical conditions as gaps instead of assuming inclusion to rank prices. Recalculate after material or quantity changes, preserving the original quotation and reasons for the changes.
Source material and applicable scope
- Ucamco, “Gerber Format — Official Gerber Format Website”; online webpage with no fixed revision identified; checked on 2026-10-18; relevant sections cover Gerber layer files, attributes, and Job file responsibilities. Supports only manufacturing graphics and semantic inputs. The quotation, scheduling, acceptance, and collaboration tables below are this site's engineering procurement recommendations, not universal pricing or service commitments.
