Vetting runs in parallel with commercial discussion, not after it. The sequence below defers the expensive steps until the cheap ones have been passed.
| Stage | Action | Evidence you should hold |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 5 | Entity and certificate desk review against public databases | Business license, production license where applicable, 510(k) or CE certificate with verified numbers and scope |
| Days 5 to 12 | Live factory walk-through and engineering interview | Recording of the line, route card for one unit, answers on thermal design, binning, and change control |
| Days 12 to 25 | Production sample testing, third-party measurement, golden sample signing | Spectrum and irradiance data with distance, sixty-minute output curve, thermal images, signed reference unit |
| Days 25 to 30 | Contract, tooling, and inspection terms | Signed agreement covering IP, tooling ownership, change notification, warranty, penalties, and Incoterms |
If a red light therapy bed supplier cannot support the first two stages within two weeks, the timeline will not improve once money is committed. Treat delay at the diligence stage as a preview of delay at the production stage.
