| 1 | Product Range | Confirm whether the mill can supply the required H-beam series, nominal sizes, flange and web thicknesses, lengths, and custom cutting options. | Applicable dimensional requirements under ASTM A6/A6M, EN 10034, or JIS G3192. | Current product list, dimensional tables, rolling-size availability, and a written confirmation of the requested section. |
| 2 | Steel Grade Compliance | Check that the offered grade matches the project specification and that chemical composition and mechanical properties are guaranteed. | ASTM A36/A36M, ASTM A572/A572M Grade 50, EN 10025-2 S235/S355, or JIS G3101 SS400, as specified. | Mill test certificate showing heat number, grade, chemical analysis, yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation. |
| 3 | Dimensional Accuracy | Assess control of height, flange width, web and flange thickness, straightness, squareness, and mass per metre. | ASTM A6/A6M, EN 10034, or JIS G3192 tolerances for rolled structural sections. | Inspection reports, calibrated measuring equipment records, and dimensional results linked to the production heat. |
| 4 | Material Traceability | Ensure every bundle can be traced from the finished beam back to the steel heat and production records. | EN 10204 inspection-document principles, especially Type 3.1 certification when contractually required. | Bundle labels, heat numbers, certificates, packing lists, and photographs showing permanent or durable identification. |
| 5 | Surface Quality | Inspect for cracks, seams, laps, harmful laminations, excessive scale, corrosion, and damage caused during handling. | Surface and internal quality provisions in the applicable material specification; purchaser-approved acceptance criteria. | Pre-shipment inspection photographs, defect-repair procedures, nonconformance records, and an agreed inspection plan. |
| 6 | Ultrasonic Testing Capability | Determine whether ultrasonic testing is available for detecting internal discontinuities when required for critical structural applications. | ASTM A578/A578M or another project-specified ultrasonic examination procedure. | Testing procedure, equipment calibration certificates, operator qualification, scan coverage, and signed test reports. |
| 7 | Quality Management System | Review whether production, inspection, corrective action, document control, and customer complaints are managed systematically. | ISO 9001:2015 certification from an accredited certification body. | Valid certificate, scope of certification, issuing body, expiry date, and audit or quality-process documentation. |
| 8 | Production Capacity and Lead Time | Evaluate whether the manufacturer can maintain the required monthly volume, rolling schedule, delivery window, and emergency replenishment capability. | Contract-specific delivery schedule and confirmed production allocation rather than an unsupported capacity claim. | Production plan, capacity statement, historical delivery references, loading schedule, and written lead-time commitment. |
| 9 | Export Packaging and Logistics | Check bundle weight, lifting points, corrosion protection, marking, container or bulk-vessel suitability, and port-handling arrangements. | Buyer-approved packing specification and applicable international shipping documentation requirements. | Packing drawings, bundle photographs, weight limits, shipping marks, commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin where required. |
| 10 | Commercial Transparency and After-Sales Support | Compare pricing, payment terms, inspection responsibility, claims handling, replacement policy, and technical communication. | Clear purchase contract aligned with Incoterms® rules and the agreed technical specification. | Itemized quotation, Incoterm, inspection and claim clauses, response-time commitment, and approved pre-production sample or trial order. |