NDA-First Aluminum Casting RFQ: What Buyers Can Share Before Sending Drawings

# NDA-First Aluminum Casting RFQ: What Buyers Can Share Before Sending Drawings

Many OEM buyers need to screen casting suppliers before they can share drawings. That is normal. The buyer may need an NDA, internal purchasing approval, engineering permission, or customer approval before releasing a full 2D drawing or STEP model.

The problem is that a supplier cannot quote a custom aluminum casting accurately without technical detail. A good NDA-first workflow solves this by separating early supplier screening from drawing-based quotation.

This guide explains what buyers can safely share before drawings and what should wait until after NDA.

What can be discussed before NDA?

Before sharing confidential drawings, buyers can usually discuss non-sensitive context:

• •part family: housing, bracket, pump part, valve body, cover, manifold, end bell
• •approximate size and weight range
• •target alloy family: A356, ZL114, ADC12, or open to recommendation
• •expected annual volume range
• •first sample or pilot quantity
• •likely process: gravity casting, low-pressure casting, die casting, sand casting, or unknown
• •whether machining, heat treatment, coating, leak test, CMM, or PPAP may be required
• •destination country and Incoterm preference
• •whether the buyer needs a second source, new tool, or transfer-tool review

This does not replace the drawing. It helps the supplier decide whether the project fits their process, equipment, and documentation capabilities.

What should wait until after NDA?

Hold back information that identifies the part design or customer program:

• •full 2D drawing
• •STEP, IGES, or native CAD model
• •customer name or end customer
• •proprietary assembly context
• •exact tolerance stack if confidential
• •patented geometry
• •unreleased product timing
• •current supplier name or pricing

You can still say "machined bearing bore," "sealing face," "pressure test," or "PPAP required" without exposing the complete design.

A practical pre-NDA message template

Buyers can start with a short screening message:

> We are evaluating aluminum casting suppliers for a confidential OEM housing program. NDA is required before drawings. Approximate part size is 300 mm x 180 mm x 90 mm, target alloy is A356-T6 or equivalent, annual volume may be 3,000-6,000 pcs, and the part needs CNC machining on sealing faces and bores. Please confirm whether this is within your process range and what information you need for NDA review.

That message gives a supplier enough to respond intelligently without exposing the drawing.

Questions to ask the supplier before NDA

Use the pre-NDA stage to screen fit:

• •Which casting processes would you consider for this part family?
• •What size and weight range can your process support?
• •Can you coordinate casting plus CNC machining if required?
• •What inspection records can you provide for sample approval?
• •Can you support NDA before full drawing review?
• •What file formats do you prefer after NDA?
• •What information do you need before deciding whether the project fits?
• •Can you review process route before formal quotation?

The goal is not to get a final price. The goal is to decide whether the supplier deserves the drawing package.

What the supplier should not promise before drawings

Be careful if a supplier promises:

• •final price
• •guaranteed lead time
• •guaranteed tooling cost
• •exact MOQ
• •process route certainty
• •quality outcome
• •defect-free production

Before drawings, these answers can only be preliminary. A responsible supplier will explain assumptions and ask for the drawing package before committing.

After NDA: what to send for real quotation

Once NDA is in place, send a complete RFQ package:

• •2D PDF drawing with revision
• •3D STEP or IGES model
• •alloy and temper requirement or acceptable equivalents
• •annual volume and first-order quantity
• •machining scope and datums
• •sealing, pressure, leak-test, or surface requirements
• •inspection documents needed
• •packaging and Incoterm assumptions
• •target launch timing
• •whether process selection is open to supplier recommendation

For a structured package, use the formal RFQ page or review the RFQ checklist.

How Bohua handles NDA-first inquiries

Bohua can start with a pre-NDA supplier fit discussion, then move to drawing-based review after the buyer is ready. The first message can describe the part family, approximate size, alloy target, annual volume, machining scope, and inspection needs without naming the end customer or sharing the drawing.

Useful next steps:

• •Use Contact for NDA-first pre-RFQ communication.
• •Use Request Quote after the drawing package is ready.
• •Review the A356 casting plus CNC RFQ package if machining is part of the program.
• •Review the existing tool transfer checklist if the project is a supplier-change or backup-source program.
• •Review the Supplier capability sheet for early prequalification.

FAQ

Can Bohua review a project before drawings are released?

Yes for an early fit screen. Bohua can review general part family, size range, alloy target, annual volume, process expectation, and inspection needs before receiving confidential drawings.

Can a supplier quote without drawings?

Only a rough discussion is possible. Accurate tooling, part price, machining, inspection, and lead-time assumptions require drawing and model review.

What should I write in the first NDA-first email?

State the part family, approximate size and weight, target alloy, annual volume range, machining or inspection needs, destination market, and that NDA is required before drawing release.

Should I hide current supplier problems before NDA?

You can describe the problem category without naming the supplier. For example, say "current issue is porosity near a sealing face" or "current supplier cannot support CMM documentation" rather than disclosing supplier names or confidential commercial details.