| Quality management system | A documented quality system aligned with ISO 9001; automotive programs may additionally require IATF 16949. | Current certificate, certification scope, issuing body, audit status, and corrective-action records. | Shows whether production, inspection, traceability, and nonconformance control are managed consistently. |
| Product coverage | Coverage of the required vehicle applications, connector types, lengths, left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive configurations, where applicable. | Application list, dimensional drawings, connector matrix, fitment data, and sample approval records. | A correct adapter and profile are essential for stable contact with different windscreen curvatures. |
| Rubber or elastomer formulation | Controlled formulation with documented material specifications, batch identification, and incoming-material inspection. | Material specification, supplier qualification records, hardness data, batch certificates, and test reports. | The wiping edge must balance flexibility, wear resistance, low noise, and resistance to weathering. |
| Wiping performance | Clear water removal across the specified operating range without persistent streaking, skipping, chattering, or untreated areas. | Controlled test procedure, before-and-after images, inspection records, and sample test results. | Performance depends on consistent edge geometry, even pressure distribution, and correct frame curvature. |
| Weather and ozone resistance | Testing should address relevant heat, ultraviolet, humidity, and ozone exposure for the intended market. | Test methods and reports referencing applicable procedures such as ISO 1431-1, ISO 4892-3, or equivalent methods. | Weathering can cause cracking, hardening, deformation, and premature loss of wiping quality. |
| Mechanical durability | Endurance testing under repeated wiping cycles, representative temperature conditions, and realistic glass contamination. | Cycle-test method, test duration, load conditions, failure criteria, and post-test inspection results. | Durability testing helps identify wear of the wiping lip, spring strips, connectors, and spoiler. |
| Dimensional and fit control | Inspection of blade length, profile dimensions, connector geometry, spoiler position, and spring-strip alignment against approved drawings. | First-article inspection report, control plan, calibrated measurement records, and sample approval documentation. | Small dimensional errors may cause poor glass contact, fitting problems, or excessive wind lift. |
| Material compliance | Materials should comply with the destination market’s applicable chemical requirements, including REACH and RoHS where relevant. | Declaration of conformity, restricted-substance screening, supplier declarations, and laboratory reports. | Documented compliance reduces regulatory, customs, and downstream customer risks. |
| Laboratory capability | Internal or external testing performed with calibrated equipment; independent laboratories should be competent under ISO/IEC 17025 where applicable. | Equipment calibration certificates, laboratory accreditation details, raw data, and test sample identification. | Reliable measurements make supplier comparisons and corrective actions more objective. |
| Production traceability | Each shipment should be traceable to production date, material batch, tooling, inspection status, and packaging information. | Lot-number format, production records, inspection logs, barcode samples, and recall procedure. | Traceability enables faster investigation and containment when a batch issue is identified. |
| Packaging and logistics | Packaging should prevent bending, deformation, moisture damage, surface contamination, and connector loss during transport. | Packaging specification, drop or transport test records, carton dimensions, pallet plan, and labeling samples. | A properly manufactured blade can still fail to fit or wipe correctly if it is deformed in transit. |
| Quality consistency | Stable results across pre-production samples, pilot orders, and mass production, supported by defined acceptance criteria. | Statistical process-control records, inspection trends, defect-rate reports, and retained samples. | Consistency is more valuable than a strong sample if every production lot must meet the same requirements. |
| Technical support and corrective action | Clear engineering communication, documented root-cause analysis, and time-bound corrective-action responses. | Technical contact details, complaint procedure, 8D or equivalent reports, and change-notification process. | Fast, evidence-based support reduces the impact of fitment, noise, packaging, or field-performance issues. |
| Supplier selection score | Use a weighted assessment: product performance 30%, quality system 20%, compliance 15%, consistency 15%, technical support 10%, logistics 10%. | Completed supplier questionnaire, sample scorecard, audit results, and approved corrective-action plan. | A structured scorecard prevents price alone from determining the final supplier decision. |