How to verify a Mexican manufacturer before placing an order

A good quote is not the same as a good supplier. Before you pay for tooling or place a first order, it's worth confirming five things: the company is who it says it is, it can actually make your part, its certifications are real, its quality system will hold up, and other customers are happy with it.

None of this requires a big budget. Most of it takes a few emails, a video call, and a small first order.

1. Confirm the company's identity

Ask for the company's full legal name, its RFC (Mexico's tax ID), and the address of the plant that will make your parts. Then check that they line up:

• The RFC is active. Mexico's tax authority, the SAT, offers a free online service to validate an RFC.
• The invoices will match. The legal name and RFC on the supplier's official invoices (CFDI) should be the same ones on your contract and purchase orders.
• The address is a factory. Look it up on a map. An industrial building with loading docks is a good sign; a residential street or a shared office is a question to ask.
• The website and email match the company. A company domain that matches the business name is more reassuring than a free email address, though many legitimate small shops use one.

2. Confirm they can make your part

Capabilities on a website are a starting point. Confirm them for your part specifically.

• Ask for an equipment list. Machine types, sizes, and quantities. For molders, press tonnage. For fabricators, the largest sheet or part they can handle.
• Ask for photos or a video walkthrough of the area where your part would be made.
• Ask for examples of similar parts they've made, in the same material and at similar tolerances.
• Order samples or a first article. Nothing replaces holding a part and measuring it against your drawing.

3. Verify certifications

If you need ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or ISO 13485, don't rely on a logo on a website. Ask for the certificate itself and check four things:

• The legal entity and site address match the plant making your parts, not a sister plant or a parent company abroad.
• The scope covers your process. A certificate for "machining of components" doesn't cover painting or assembly.
• The expiry date hasn't passed.
• The certification body is real and accredited. Many certification bodies let you look up a certificate online, and the IAF CertSearch database covers accredited management system certificates from participating bodies.

4. Look at the quality system

A certificate shows a system exists. These questions show whether it works day to day:

1. How do you inspect incoming material? Do you keep material certificates?
2. What measuring equipment do you have? (A coordinate measuring machine is a strong sign for precision work.)
3. Can you provide a first article inspection report and a dimensional report with each lot?
4. How do you handle a nonconforming part? What happened the last time it occurred?
5. Can you trace a finished part back to its material lot and production date?

For automotive parts, ask whether they can support PPAP. For medical devices, ask about their document control and traceability.

5. Ask for references

Ask for two customers you can contact, ideally in your industry or buying similar parts. A short call with a current customer about on-time delivery and how problems get resolved is worth more than any brochure.

6. Visit, or send someone

For a significant program, visiting the plant before you commit is normal. You'll see housekeeping, maintenance, and how the floor actually runs. If a trip isn't practical, a third-party audit firm can visit on your behalf.

7. Start small and pay in steps

Even with everything checked, start with samples or a pilot order before a full production run. Tie payments to milestones, such as a deposit for tooling and a balance on approved samples, rather than paying everything up front.

How we label capabilities

Every capability on Agalma Sourcing carries a label so you know how much weight to give it:

• ✓ Documented: the manufacturer states it on its own website, and we link to the exact page.
• ~ Inferred: it's typical for that type of plant, based on its official industry classification, but not confirmed.
• ? Unknown: nobody has said either way. Ask before you rely on it.

We mark something as verified only when it's been confirmed directly with the manufacturer or through documents. Documented and inferred capabilities are a strong starting point, not a substitute for the checks above.