| 1 | Machine Compatibility | Confirm compatibility with pouch types, dimensions, filling materials, sealing structures, and product characteristics. | The supplier should provide a written specification covering pouch width, pouch length, fill volume, product density, and sealing temperature range. | Approved sample pouches, material test report, and application-specific configuration sheet. | 15% |
| 2 | Rated Production Capacity | Compare the number of working stations, filling method, product characteristics, and actual output rather than relying only on theoretical speed. | Request a factory acceptance test using the buyer’s product and packaging materials. Record packs per minute, stoppages, and reject rate. | Signed test protocol, production video under comparable conditions, and output guarantee. | 14% |
| 3 | Filling Accuracy | Evaluate the dosing system according to the product: volumetric, auger, piston, cup, multihead, or liquid pump filling. | Accuracy must be defined for the specific product and target weight; a common procurement target is a documented average deviation of approximately ±1% to ±2%, subject to product characteristics. | Statistical weight records from multiple production runs and calibrated scale certificates. | 13% |
| 4 | Sealing Quality | Check seal strength, seal appearance, contamination tolerance, temperature control, and compatibility with laminated films. | Seals should be continuous, wrinkle-free, and free from product contamination during the agreed test run. The required seal strength should be specified by the packaging material supplier. | Peel or tensile test results, leak test records, and sample inspection checklist. | 12% |
| 5 | Automation and Controls | Review PLC, HMI language, servo control, recipe management, alarm records, sensor layout, and data connectivity. | The machine should support password-protected settings, stored recipes, fault diagnostics, emergency stops, and clear operator instructions. | Control-system architecture, HMI screenshots, electrical schematics, and user manual. | 10% |
| 6 | Hygienic and Safety Design | Assess stainless-steel contact parts, cleanability, guarding, interlocks, accessibility, and suitability for food or pharmaceutical environments. | Product-contact areas should be cleanable and corrosion-resistant; safety guarding and emergency-stop functions should be demonstrated before acceptance. | Material declaration, risk assessment, sanitation procedure, and safety inspection report. | 10% |
| 7 | Compliance Documentation | Verify the documents required for the destination market, including electrical safety, machinery safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and food-contact requirements where applicable. | Certificates and declarations must match the exact machine model, configuration, and destination-market requirements; generic certificates should not be accepted without verification. | Declaration of conformity, test reports, wiring diagrams, and applicable material declarations. | 9% |
| 8 | After-Sales Support | Evaluate commissioning, operator training, remote troubleshooting, field service, response times, and spare-parts availability. | A formal service-level agreement should define response time, technical support channels, warranty coverage, and escalation procedures. | Service agreement, training plan, spare-parts list, and support contact details. | 7% |
| 9 | Total Cost of Ownership | Calculate purchase price together with tooling, installation, utilities, packaging waste, maintenance, spare parts, labor, and downtime. | Compare at least a three- to five-year ownership model instead of evaluating only the initial quotation. | Itemized quotation, utility-consumption data, maintenance schedule, and spare-parts pricing. | 5% |
| 10 | Delivery and Project Execution | Review engineering approval, manufacturing lead time, inspection milestones, packaging, shipping terms, installation, and acceptance criteria. | The contract should include approved drawings, milestone dates, factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, and remedies for missed requirements. | Project schedule, inspection plan, packing list, acceptance protocol, and clearly defined Incoterms. | 5% |
