Source identity & role
Identify the proposed seller and whether it is a manufacturer, distributor or another intermediary. Clarify the product range and who will answer technical or delivery questions.
Quality & documentation
Documents for your material review
The documents need to describe the material you are evaluating. Define what evidence matters, what it refers to and what still needs to be checked.
Discuss document requirementsSource and material checks.
Material & evidence
Connect the offered name, grade and form to each document. Record its revision, source and whether it describes a typical grade, a sample or a supply lot.
Sample & order relationship
State which sample is being evaluated and what a later order must match. Keep unresolved differences visible so a sample result is not silently extended to another batch.
COA, TDS and SDS
CoA, TDS and SDS are useful for different questions. They are not substitutes for one another.
| Document | What it helps you review | What to check | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoACertificate of analysis | Reported test results for the identified material or batch | Product/grade identity, lot number where applicable, tested parameters, methods and stated limits | Properties that were not tested or listed; future batch equivalence |
| TDSTechnical data sheet | Product description, typical properties, intended use and handling guidance | The exact grade, document version, test basis and whether values are typical or specified | That every typical value has been measured for the proposed supply lot |
| SDSSafety data sheet | Safety, handling, storage and related hazard information | Material identity, supplier details, revision and relevance to the supplied material | Purity, particle morphology, product performance or acceptance of a batch |
Document availability and scope differ by supplier and grade. Tell us which files or results are essential before accepting an offer.
Match each document to the proposed material
A familiar document title is a starting point. The identity and scope inside it matter.
Nike’ sourcing review is organized around the requested material and the proposed option. We clarify which documents the source can provide and which requirements need further discussion.
Our role is to coordinate source documents, clarify material identity and organize the information needed for your review. Additional testing is discussed separately.
Start with the proposed material
Match the material across all three documents.
Name · product code · grade · supplied form
Grade & typical properties
Check the product code, revision, test basis and whether values are typical or limits.
Lot & reported results
Match the proposed grade and batch or lot. Read each result with its method, unit and limit.
Identity & supplied form
Match the product identifier, composition, form and document version.
A TDS value is not a batch result. An SDS describes the identified product; it is not a certificate of batch performance.
When a document leaves a question open
The next step depends on how important the missing information is to your evaluation.
Ask for clarification.
If a value, method or product identity is unclear, request an explanation or the applicable source document before comparing it with another grade.
Agree a sample evaluation.
Define the quantity and acceptance criteria. Confirm the sample’s grade or lot relationship, availability, costs and what a later order would need to repeat.
Scope additional testing.
Where needed, discuss an agreed third-party test, method, sample preparation, cost and timing. Extra testing is not included by default.
If a critical requirement remains unsupported, keep it open.
Clarify the gap, evaluate an alternative or wait for the required evidence before accepting a candidate. A sample or datasheet should not be used to imply an unverified result.
Material comparison tools
See a filled AlN comparison example
Prepare your requirements and compare candidate information with two blank working templates. Unknown items can stay blank.
Material Requirement Checklist
Identity, phase and form, critical limits, quantity, application, destination and essential documents.
Download checklist (.txt)Candidate Comparison Template
Requirement, candidate response, source, grade or lot relationship, open questions and next step.
Download comparison (.csv)Blank working templates. Not certificates, test reports or issued quotations.
Example: BN nanosheet dimensions
The formula BN identifies the chemistry. It does not establish a nanosheet’s lateral size or thickness.
A useful BNNS inquiry states both dimensions and asks which characterization is available for the proposed product. The required evidence should be agreed before treating two powder candidates as comparable.
Read the BNNS sourcing briefDiscuss the documents you need
Share your material, essential documents and any sample or testing requirement. Supply documents and destination requirements are confirmed for the actual order.
Document references.
OSHA SDS guidance explains safety-data sections in the US context. Document availability and applicable requirements must be checked for the proposed material.