Wire Harness RFQ Package Checklist: Drawings, BOM and Test Requirements

Wire harness RFQ package checklist: send a controlled drawing, connection data, BOM, application conditions, quantity tiers and written acceptance requirements. A supplier can price the defined scope more reliably when the package distinguishes approved requirements from open decisions. If a critical item is missing, ask for a separately identified assumption or option instead of allowing it to become an unspoken production commitment.

Key points for buyers

• Issue the drawing, BOM and connection list at matching revisions.
• Describe where and how the harness will be installed and used.
• Separate prototype, pilot and expected production quantities.
• Name the workmanship standard, revision and product class when applicable.
• List electrical tests, inspection evidence, packaging and documentation separately.

Which design files should an RFQ include?

Include the latest released harness drawing or installation layout, schematic or circuit list, connector and terminal part numbers, and a BOM. Circuit data should identify each wire’s origin, destination, connector cavity and any splice. Specify the connector viewing direction and identify unused cavities. If a document is preliminary, mark it clearly and state which approved document governs a conflict.

Identify wire gauge, insulation or cable type, color, shielding, seals, protective covering, labels and branch dimensions wherever the design controls them. Do not make a supplier infer critical requirements from a photograph; photos can explain packaging or installation context, but should supplement controlled engineering data. Mark every file with document number, revision and status, and keep obsolete revisions out of the RFQ. JinHai’s custom wire harness service is a starting point for discussing an OEM or custom assembly scope.

What application details affect the quotation?

State the equipment or vehicle application, installation location, routing path, mating components and available space. Describe relevant exposure—such as temperature range, moisture, abrasion, vibration, chemicals or movement—only to the extent defined by the project. Identify applicable customer, regulatory or industry requirements and attach the controlling specifications.

Separate confirmed requirements from choices engineering has not made. For an open connector, material or protective-covering choice, request a priced option and state who approves it. If an environmental limit is not established, record it as an open item and assign an owner. Avoid vague labels such as “automotive grade” when the program has measurable or documented requirements.

How should quantities and commercial scope be stated?

List sample or prototype quantity, pilot quantity and recurring demand separately. State whether figures are firm orders, estimates or forecasts, and give the forecast time period. Include delivery location, requested timing, packaging, labeling needs and any requested quote-validity period.

Ask suppliers to identify whether tooling, fixtures, sample builds, special inspection, reports, packaging and freight are included or excluded. Request separate line items or assumptions for anything not defined. This lets purchasing compare offers on the same basis instead of comparing one bundled price with another that omits project costs.

Which workmanship and test requirements belong in the RFQ?

Name the expected acceptance basis: customer specification, drawing notes, an agreed workmanship standard, or a combination. If invoking IPC/WHMA-A-620, identify the applicable revision and product class in the purchase package. WHMA describes A-620 as a standard for performance and acceptance of cable and wire harness assemblies; see the WHMA overview of IPC/WHMA-A-620.

A workmanship reference alone does not define every project test or report. List the required electrical test method and coverage, inspection or sampling plan, acceptance limits, records, and customer witness or approval points. Add other tests only when the product specification calls for them. If method, limit or frequency is not approved, mark it “to be confirmed” and ask for its impact to be quoted separately. JinHai’s production process page provides manufacturing context; the RFQ should still state which checks and records apply to the specific part and revision.

Wire harness RFQ package checklist before sending

1. Part number, drawing revision and BOM revision agree.
2. Each circuit has a source, destination and connector cavity.
3. Connector orientation, unused cavities, splices and branch dimensions are clear.
4. Application, routing and environmental requirements are stated or flagged open.
5. Prototype, pilot and recurring quantities are separated.
6. Acceptance basis, test requirements, limits and required records are identified.
7. Tooling, packaging, labels, delivery and freight are included or separately quoted.
8. Alternates and assumptions require buyer review and written approval.

What should the supplier return with the quotation?

Ask the supplier to acknowledge the exact files and revisions reviewed, confirm the quantity basis, and list missing, conflicting or assumed requirements. Request separate pricing for options and exclusions, plus a clear statement of what the quoted scope includes. Engineering can resolve circuit or component questions, quality can confirm acceptance evidence, and purchasing can compare price and delivery against the controlled package.

If a clarification changes the package, issue the same updated revision to every bidder and ask each supplier to confirm which version its quotation uses. Keep a short question log with the question, owner, answer and date. A single record makes it easier to identify unresolved scope and prevents an old assumption from carrying into an order.

Frequently asked questions

Can a supplier quote a wire harness from a sample or photo?

A sample or photo can explain application context, but may not identify cavity mapping, internal circuits, controlled dimensions or acceptance criteria. Provide current engineering files and mark any reverse-engineering work as a separate scope for review.

What if the BOM or connector is not final?

Mark it open and identify who will approve the selection. Request a clearly priced option or preliminary assumption; do not treat it as an approved production requirement.

Should the RFQ include forecast demand?

Yes, when available. Keep forecast demand separate from the initial firm quantity and state its time basis so suppliers can explain what each price tier assumes.

Prepare the package for review

Before sending, check the revision index, confirm the acceptance basis, and ensure open requirements have owners. Issue the same controlled package to every bidder and ask suppliers to return their assumptions and exclusions. The wiring harness quality page provides general inspection context, but the RFQ must define evidence for its specific part. For a project-specific discussion, use the contact page and identify the part number, drawing revision and quantity stage.