Guides / Supplier
Preparing a Shop Profile That Gets You Shortlisted
September 26, 2026
A shop profile exists to get you matched with the RFQs your machines and skills actually fit, not the widest possible range of requests. A specific, honest profile gets fewer but better-matched RFQs than a broad, vague one, and better-matched RFQs convert to orders more often.
Be specific about machines, not just capability
“5-axis simultaneous machining” describes a category. “DMG Mori DMU 50, one machine, 500 mm table” describes a fact that lets an RFQ get matched correctly. List brand, model, count, table size and whether each machine is simultaneous or 3+2 capable.
State materials you actually run, not ones you could
A material list that includes everything a shop could theoretically machine, rather than what it runs regularly, leads to mismatched RFQs. If a material is possible but uncommon for your shop, say so, since it sets the right expectation on lead time and price.
Tolerance and finish, as a realistic range
State the tolerance you hold as standard work, not the tightest number your best machine achieved once under ideal conditions. A buyer matched to your profile expecting your best-case number and getting your typical number starts the relationship with a mismatch.
Certifications, with real scope
List certifications you actually hold, with the scope they cover, rather than ones “in progress” presented as current. A buyer who needs AS9100 for their part and finds out later your certificate does not cover that process loses trust fast.
Photos that show real work
Photos of your actual floor, machines in operation and finished parts, even if not professionally shot, do more for credibility than stock imagery. A photo of a part similar to what a buyer is asking about is especially useful, since it answers “have you made something like this” before they ask.
Capacity, honestly stated
Whether you have spare capacity, some, or are booked out, matters as much to matching as machine specs. A shop that always claims open capacity, even when actually full, ends up with RFQs it cannot service promptly, which hurts the relationship more than declining upfront would have.
What to leave out
Avoid unverifiable claims: years in business framed as a guarantee of quality, client counts, or superlatives about being the best or fastest. None of these help a matching process, and they read as marketing rather than the specific facts a buyer is actually checking.
The short version
A shop profile is a matching tool, not an advertisement. Specific machines, honest materials and tolerance ranges, real certification scope and photos of actual work get you matched to RFQs you can actually win and deliver, which is worth more than being matched to everything.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need professional photography for my shop profile?
No. Clear, well-lit photos taken on a phone of real machines and parts work better than polished stock imagery, since buyers are checking for authenticity, not production value.
Should I list every material I can theoretically cut?
List the materials you actually run regularly, with honest notes on ones you handle less often. An RFQ matched against a material you rarely touch wastes both sides' time.
How often should I update my profile?
Whenever your machine list, capacity or certifications change. A profile that shows a machine you sold two years ago will get you matched to work you can no longer take.
Run 5-axis machines?
Run 5-axis machines? See each RFQ before you take it and quote the buyer directly.
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