Thermoforming Supplier Comparison Template: Free Excel Scoring Tool

Compare 2-5 thermoforming suppliers head-to-head on 30 weighted criteria with this free Excel template. Generates a numerical score, identifies strengths/weaknesses, and ranks suppliers. Used by procurement teams at automotive Tier-1, medical OEM, and EV manufacturer customers of DitaiPlastic.

What This Template Does

• Tracks RFQs from up to 5 suppliers in parallel
• Scores each on 30 evaluation criteria across 6 categories
• Auto-calculates weighted total scores
• Highlights critical gaps (red), strengths (green)
• Generates pivot-ready data for executive presentation
• Includes total cost of ownership (TCO) calculator

The 30-Criterion Framework (6 Categories)

Category 1: Cost (15% weight)

1. Quoted unit price
2. Tooling cost
3. Setup / NRE charges
4. Volume tier discounts
5. Total Year-1 spend

Category 2: Quality (25% weight) — Highest weight

6. ISO/IATF/AS9100 certification
7. PPAP capability level
8. FAI process
9. SPC and Cpk data availability
10. Customer-reported PPM defect rate

Category 3: Capability (20% weight)

11. Equipment match for part size
12. Material/process options
13. DFM team expertise
14. Multi-cavity / advanced process capability
15. Tool design and build capability

Category 4: Delivery (15% weight)

16. Tooling lead time
17. Production lead time
18. On-time delivery (OTD) %
19. Capacity utilization (avoid overloaded suppliers)
20. Logistics options (FOB, EXW, DDP)

Category 5: Risk Management (15% weight)

21. Financial stability (years in business, revenue scale)
22. IP protection (NDA, tool ownership, sub-contracting)
23. Geographic / political risk
24. Insurance coverage
25. Backup capacity / disaster recovery plan

Category 6: Relationship Management (10% weight)

26. Account manager dedication
27. Engineer accessibility
28. Communication speed
29. Language fluency
30. Cultural / time zone fit

How to Score

Each criterion: 1-5 scale

• 5 = Best in class (top 10% of suppliers)
• 4 = Strong (above industry average)
• 3 = Industry standard / acceptable
• 2 = Below standard / minor concern
• 1 = Major gap / disqualifying

Multiply each score by criterion weight, sum total. Maximum: 100 weighted points.

Score Interpretation

Total Score	Interpretation	Recommended Action
85+/100	Strategic-tier supplier; rare	Award strategic programs
70-84	Strong supplier	Award production programs
55-69	Industry-typical	Acceptable for non-critical
40-54	Significant gaps	Develop with action plan
<40	Major risk	Disqualify or extensive remediation

Common Patterns to Watch For

Low-Cost / Low-Quality Trap

Supplier scores high on Cost, low on Quality. Total weighted score may still beat alternatives — but high quality risk. Past customers report 5-15% scrap, weak FAI, no SPC. Trade-off rarely worth it for production programs.

High-Capability / High-Cost Premium

Supplier scores high on Capability and Quality but expensive. Usually local/Western, named brand. Score reflects real capability, but may be overkill for your part. Use for premium/high-IP programs only.

Mid-Tier Industry Standard

3s and 4s across the board. The most common pattern. Solid choice for most production programs. Rarely a game-changer; rarely a disaster.

Specialist Outlier

Supplier scores 5 on a few criteria critical to you (e.g., medical compliance, exotic material) but lower elsewhere. May be the right choice if their strengths align with your priorities.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Module

Beyond unit price, TCO includes:

• Tooling amortization: Tool cost / annual volume = $/part contribution
• Inventory carrying: Annual carrying cost (10-25% of inventory value)
• Logistics: Freight, customs, warehousing
• Quality cost: Inspection labor, rework allowance, expected scrap
• Supplier management: Account management overhead, audit costs
• Risk premium: Cost of disruption × probability

The Excel template auto-calculates 3-year TCO from these inputs.

Sample Output Visualization

The template generates:

• Radar chart comparing each supplier across the 6 categories
• Bar chart of total weighted score
• Heatmap showing where each supplier scored vs benchmark
• TCO table with Year 1, 3, and 5 spend projections

Using This Template Across Multiple Programs

Best practices from procurement teams using this template:

• Weights customizable per program (medical = quality 35%, cost-sensitive = cost 25%)
• Score multiple suppliers concurrently in same Excel file
• Versioned annually as suppliers performance evolves
• Shared with executive team for award decisions
• Used in supplier scorecard reviews quarterly

Related Decision Tools

• 12-Point Supplier Evaluation Framework — methodology behind the template
• SQE Audit Checklist (47 points) — for on-site verification
• RFQ Template — for collecting comparable quote data
• China vs USA/EU Sourcing Analysis — for geographic decisions

Comparison Template FAQ

Do I need to use exactly 30 criteria?

No — customize. The template lets you hide rows you don’t need, or add your own custom criteria. The framework is a starting point, not a rigid requirement.

Should I share the scoring with the supplier?

Optional. Some teams share to help suppliers improve; others keep internal for negotiating leverage. Strong suppliers often appreciate honest scoring as feedback.

Can I use this template for non-thermoforming suppliers?

The 30 criteria are general manufacturing criteria. Adapt the technical-capability category (5 criteria) for injection molding, metal stamping, etc. The methodology transfers directly.

How often should I update supplier scores?

Quarterly review with full re-scoring annually. Quick monthly update on Delivery and Cost categories. Major events (audit, major program win/loss, leadership change at supplier) trigger off-cycle updates.

Do you publish your scores against competitors?

We publish detailed comparisons with 8 competitors (linked at the end of our supplier evaluation framework). Customer-specific scoring is private.