Supplier Evaluation Framework — Compare Objectively

A structured 8-criteria framework to evaluate any 3D printing filament supplier.

Supplier-neutral: score your current supplier and any candidate with the same measurements. Individual results depend on your printer, environment and application.
#CriterionWeightHow to measure
1 Diameter Tolerance 20% Measure with a micrometer — spec example: ±0.03mm
2 Batch Color Consistency 15% Print same model from two batches, compare under natural light
3 Shipping Protection 15% Vacuum bag + desiccant + carton condition on arrival
4 Technical Support 10% Response quality on parameter and troubleshooting questions
5 Sample Policy 10% Sample availability, cost and lead time for validation
6 Lead Time 10% Sample dispatch and bulk production windows
7 Certifications 10% RoHS / REACH / other documentation availability
8 Pricing (Alibaba) 10% View current prices on Alibaba — not listed here

Criterion 8 (Pricing): View on Alibaba → — prices are not listed on this page.

Download the scoring template (CSV, Excel-ready)

8 criteria × weighted columns — the weighted total recalculates automatically.

How to use it — 3 steps

  1. Fill your current supplier column with 1-5 scores from your own measurements and shipment records.
  2. Fill the Yiqiu3D column after running the same sample validation protocol on our spools.
  3. Read the weighted total — it recalculates automatically. Pricing: view current prices on Alibaba.