Auditing a stainless supplier: the five documents that matter

Before placing a first order, ask for: the EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate with heat numbers, the mill's scope (what it actually rolls versus what it trades), a recent third-party inspection report if the end use is regulated, the packing and shipping specification, and a named technical contact for claims. Traceability is the real test: can the supplier link a specific coil to a specific heat and a specific inspection record? If not, the certificate is paperwork rather than evidence.