| Quality Management System | A valid ISO 9001 certificate covering the relevant manufacturing site and product scope. | Demonstrates that documented procedures exist for design control, purchasing, production, inspection, corrective action, and continual improvement. | Current certificate, certification-body details, scope statement, audit validity, and manufacturing-site address. | 12% | 5 = Valid and site-specific 3 = Valid but scope requires clarification 1 = No verifiable certificate |
| PV Module Safety Certification | IEC 61730 compliance for photovoltaic module safety, with certification applicable to the exact module model or series. | Addresses electrical, mechanical, fire, insulation, and construction-related safety requirements for PV modules. | IEC 61730 certificate, test report, model list, certificate number, and issuing certification body. | 12% | 5 = Exact model covered 3 = Series coverage needs confirmation 1 = No valid evidence |
| PV Module Design Qualification | IEC 61215 design qualification and type approval for the proposed module technology. | Provides evidence that the module design has undergone environmental and performance qualification tests, including thermal cycling, damp heat, humidity-freeze, and mechanical loading tests. | IEC 61215 certificate and test report, including module technology, power class, and applicable standards edition. | 12% | 5 = Complete and model-specific 3 = Valid series evidence 1 = Unsupported claim |
| Environmental Management | ISO 14001 certification for the manufacturing site, supported by documented environmental controls. | Helps assess control of energy use, waste, emissions, chemicals, wastewater, and environmental compliance. | ISO 14001 certificate, environmental policy, regulatory compliance records, and waste-management procedures. | 6% | 5 = Certified and regularly audited 3 = Partial evidence 1 = No documented system |
| Factory Audit and Traceability | Lot-level traceability from cells, glass, encapsulant, backsheet, junction box, and frame through final testing and shipment. | Allows defective batches to be identified quickly and supports warranty investigation, recalls, and root-cause analysis. | Factory-audit report, sample serial-number trace, bill of materials, incoming-inspection records, and retention policy. | 10% | 5 = End-to-end traceability 3 = Partial traceability 1 = No practical trace system |
| Production Capacity | Capacity should be sufficient for the project schedule, with documented annual nameplate capacity and confirmed available production slots. | Reduces the risk of delivery delays, allocation shortages, rushed production, or substitution with an unapproved model. | Capacity statement, production-line list, planned utilization, confirmed allocation, delivery schedule, and recent shipment records. | 12% | 5 = Capacity and allocation verified 3 = Capacity stated but not independently supported 1 = Capacity unclear |
| Production-Line Capability | Dedicated or validated lines should support the selected cell format, module dimensions, electrical design, and automation requirements. | Confirms that the factory can repeatedly manufacture the specified product rather than relying on a prototype or one-time configuration. | Line photographs or audit records, equipment list, process flow, change-control procedure, and sample production records. | 8% | 5 = Exact configuration in routine production 3 = Configuration planned 1 = Capability unverified |
| Process Quality Control | Documented controls at incoming inspection, cell testing, stringing, lamination, framing, electroluminescence inspection, hi-pot testing, and final inspection. | Controls common sources of hidden defects such as microcracks, soldering faults, delamination, insulation failure, and power inconsistency. | Control plan, inspection standards, equipment calibration records, EL images, flash-test records, and nonconformance reports. | 12% | 5 = Controls documented and sampled 3 = Controls exist with limited records 1 = No reliable evidence |
| Performance Consistency | Flash-test results and electrical specifications should match the approved datasheet, with clearly defined power tolerance and measurement conditions. | Improves energy-yield predictability and reduces mismatch losses across the project array. | Recent flash-test samples, calibration certificates, datasheet, power-bin policy, temperature coefficients, and measurement uncertainty. | 8% | 5 = Consistent, verified results 3 = Limited sample evidence 1 = Data is incomplete or inconsistent |
| Reliability and Durability Testing | Routine quality testing should be supplemented, where relevant, by extended reliability testing such as damp heat, thermal cycling, mechanical-load, PID, UV, and hail testing. | Helps estimate degradation and failure risks under heat, humidity, wind, snow, ultraviolet exposure, and electrical stress. | Independent test reports, test conditions, sample identification, pass/fail criteria, and test dates. | 8% | 5 = Independent, relevant, recent tests 3 = Standard tests only 1 = Marketing claims without reports |
| Warranty and After-Sales Support | Written product and performance warranty terms should identify coverage period, degradation commitment, claim procedure, response time, and responsible legal entity. | Defines the buyer’s practical protection when defects, underperformance, or replacement requirements occur. | Signed warranty, claims process, service contacts, spare-parts policy, escalation route, and financial or insurance support where applicable. | 8% | 5 = Clear, enforceable, supported terms 3 = Standard terms with gaps 1 = Vague or unverifiable terms |