A structured process, from brief to qualified partner.
We follow a defined six-phase methodology for every mandate. Transparency, rigour, and discipline are not optional — they are the foundation of every engagement.
01
Understand the brief
Every mandate begins with listening. We take time to understand not just what you are looking for, but why — the project context, the commercial stakes, the decision-making timeline, and the criteria that matter most to you.
We conduct a structured intake conversation with the relevant stakeholders. Technical requirements are documented, but so are operational expectations, brand standards, previous sourcing experience, and any constraints that will shape the search.
This phase is not a formality. The quality of what follows depends directly on the quality of the brief we build at this stage.
Phase outputs
- Detailed sourcing brief
- Mandate scope definition
- Timeline and milestone alignment
02
Define technical and operational criteria
Before any research begins, we establish the specific criteria against which all potential partners will be assessed. This transforms a qualitative need into a structured evaluation framework.
Criteria may include technical capabilities (materials, processes, certifications), production capacity, minimum order quantities, quality management standards, geographic location, export experience, communication standards, and commercial terms.
These criteria become the objective filter applied throughout the identification and pre-selection phases. Nothing advances without meeting the defined threshold.
Phase outputs
- Supplier criteria matrix
- Qualification scorecard
- Go/no-go decision framework
03
Identify relevant companies
With criteria defined, we conduct targeted research across the relevant segments of the Asian industrial landscape. This is active research — not directory browsing.
We combine market knowledge, network activation, primary research, and on-the-ground intelligence to build an initial pool of candidate companies. We look for relevance — companies that could realistically serve your brief — rather than volume.
This phase produces an initial pool of candidates, which is then filtered against the criteria framework established in Phase 02.
Phase outputs
- Initial candidate pool
- Market landscape overview
- Preliminary company profiles
04
Pre-select the most suitable partners
The pre-selection phase is where rigour is applied. Each candidate in the research pool is assessed against the criteria framework and only those that genuinely qualify are advanced.
This process may include direct outreach to candidate companies, capability verification, reference checks, review of relevant portfolios or certifications, and in some cases site visits or third-party verification.
The output is a curated shortlist of pre-qualified candidates — typically between two and five companies — presented with structured profiles that make comparison straightforward.
Phase outputs
- Pre-qualified shortlist
- Comparative company profiles
- Qualification assessment report
05
Connect and frame the first exchanges
Once the shortlist is validated with the client, TIGEC facilitates structured introductions. Both parties enter the relationship with aligned expectations and a clear context for the engagement.
We do not simply forward contact details. We manage the introduction process with care — preparing both the client and the candidate companies for the initial conversation, ensuring that technical information is shared appropriately, and that the context of the search is communicated clearly.
Where needed, we provide translation support and cultural mediation to ensure that the early exchanges are productive and free from avoidable misunderstandings.
Phase outputs
- Structured introductions
- Initial meeting facilitation
- Communication framework
06
Support alignment and next steps
An introduction does not mark the end of our involvement. We remain available to support alignment as the relationship begins to take shape.
In the period that follows, questions emerge, expectations are tested, and the practical contours of the working relationship begin to take shape. TIGEC supports this phase by helping both sides communicate clearly and deal with early friction before it hardens into difficulty.
Our involvement is proportionate to the complexity of the mandate and the needs of the client. We stay useful, without becoming intrusive.
Phase outputs
- Alignment support
- Issue escalation pathway
- Mandate close-out summary
Structure protects your time and reduces risk.
An unstructured sourcing process creates avoidable risk. Companies are approached before they have been properly qualified, expectations diverge from the outset, and the client is left to make sense of a mass of unfiltered information.
TIGEC's process is designed to prevent that. Every phase has a defined purpose, clear inputs and clear outputs, so you always know where the engagement stands and what comes next.
Every mandate starts with a structured brief — not an assumption.
Criteria are defined before research begins — not after.
Only pre-qualified companies are presented — never unfiltered lists.
Introductions are managed — not simply forwarded.
Post-introduction support is available as standard.
Ready to start a structured conversation?
Share your brief. We will assess the mandate and outline how the process would apply to your specific requirements.
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