Field notes
How to Read a Taiwan Factory Capability Sheet
A capability sheet is often the first document a Taiwan plant sends after an inquiry. It looks official, but it is a marketing summary, not an audit. Treat every claim as a hypothesis you will test against samples, references, and a visit when the order size justifies it.
Start with process ownership. If the sheet lists stamping, plating, and assembly, ask which steps stay in-house and which move to subcontractors. Export delays frequently appear where the plant loses control of a finishing step during peak season.
Next, look at machine lists and floor space. A long list of presses means little without tonnage ranges and shift patterns. Ask for the machines that would run your part, not the show floor equipment reserved for brochure photos.
Export experience belongs in writing. Request recent HS codes they have shipped, typical Incoterms they accept, and whether they prepare commercial invoices in English without your freight forwarder rewriting every line. Small gaps here become expensive at the pier.
Finally, map sample policy against your timeline. Plants that quote free samples with eight-week lead times may still be viable, but only if your merchandising calendar can absorb that wait. Build that constraint into your shortlist before you fall in love with a unit price.