| 1. Define the process and production scope | Process coverage and capacity | Confirm which process stages are included, the intended product and output, operating hours, and the boundary between supplied equipment and buyer-provided utilities or systems. | A process flow diagram, equipment list, stated design capacity, and a written list of inclusions and exclusions. | Compare proposals on the same process scope and capacity basis; distinguish rated capacity from expected operating output. |
| 2. Assess customization capability | Layout, product, and site requirements | Check whether equipment can be configured for the required product specifications, available floor space, local utilities, material handling, and applicable site constraints. | Dimensioned layout drawings, interface specifications, a customization schedule, and a change-control process. | Ask for a clear list of standard versus customized components, associated costs, and effects on delivery and maintenance. |
| 3. Verify materials and component specifications | Corrosion resistance and maintainability | Review wetted-part materials, seals, pumps, instrumentation, and other components against the actual process chemicals, temperatures, and operating conditions. | Component and material specifications, maintenance requirements, and documentation for parts exposed to process media. | Compare specifications against the buyer’s process conditions rather than relying on broad claims such as “corrosion resistant.” |
| 4. Review safety and environmental provisions | Hazard controls and compliance responsibilities | Determine how the proposed equipment addresses process hazards, ventilation, containment, guarding, alarms, and interfaces with plant treatment systems. Confirm applicable local requirements with qualified specialists. | Risk-assessment documents, safety-system descriptions, operating instructions, and a written statement of compliance scope. | Identify which safeguards are included in the equipment package and which depend on plant-wide systems or buyer actions. |
| 5. Plan installation and commissioning | Site readiness, schedule, and acceptance | Clarify foundation and utility requirements, delivery sequence, installation supervision, commissioning tasks, operator training, and criteria for performance acceptance. | A site-readiness checklist, installation schedule, commissioning plan, training plan, and agreed acceptance-test protocol. | Compare the supplier’s responsibilities, required buyer resources, schedule assumptions, and remedies for unmet acceptance criteria. |
| 6. Check after-sales support and spare parts | Service access and response commitments | Ask how technical support is delivered, what service hours are available, how urgent issues are escalated, and how spare parts are identified and supplied. | Written service terms, support contact process, recommended spare-parts list, warranty conditions, and any stated response-time commitments. | Use contract terms rather than informal assurances to compare support coverage, response commitments, exclusions, and parts availability. |
| 7. Compare lifecycle cost and documentation | Total ownership and long-term operation | Consider purchase and installation costs alongside energy and utility needs, consumables, routine maintenance, training, spare parts, and expected service life. | A clearly scoped commercial proposal, utility consumption estimates with stated assumptions, maintenance schedule, manuals, and recommended spares. | Compare costs using the same operating assumptions and confirm that drawings, operating manuals, maintenance instructions, and parts information are included. |