How We Assess Manufacturers

The Six Gates

Each gate represents a principle we apply to every manufacturer assessment. A manufacturer doesn't “pass” or “fail” individual gates — the gates shape how we gather, evaluate, and present information.

1. Evidence

Claims must be backed by documentation, not marketing copy. We look for FDA registration numbers, certification documents, third-party audit reports, and publicly available compliance records. If a manufacturer claims a certification but we can't find supporting documentation, we note it as “self-reported.”

What disqualifies: Manufacturers who refuse to provide any verifiable documentation or whose claims directly contradict public records.

2. Freshness

Information must be reviewed and dated within the last 12 months. The supplement manufacturing landscape changes — facilities expand, certifications lapse, ownership transfers. Every listing shows a “last reviewed” date so you know how current our assessment is.

What disqualifies: We remove listings where we can no longer confirm basic operational status (active facility, current registrations).

3. Provenance

Sources are cited for every key claim. Each vendor listing includes a sources section that links to the documentation backing our assessment. You can check our work.

What disqualifies: Claims we cannot trace to any source are either removed or clearly labeled as unverifiable.

4. Challenge

Inconsistencies are flagged, not hidden. If a manufacturer's website claims one thing but public records show another, we note the discrepancy. If online reviews consistently mention issues, we acknowledge them. We're not advocates for the manufacturers we list.

What disqualifies: Patterns of misrepresentation — where public claims consistently contradict verifiable records.

5. Disclosure

Material connections are stated on every listing. If a manufacturer has any business relationship with Inventory Ready beyond a free directory listing, it's disclosed directly on their profile. Revenue details are on our How We Get Paid page.

What disqualifies: Nothing — disclosure is about us, not the manufacturer. But undisclosed conflicts on our end would violate our own methodology.

6. Abstention

When we can't assess something, we say so explicitly. Every listing includes a “What We Couldn't Verify” section. We don't fill gaps with assumptions or omit inconvenient limitations.

What disqualifies: Nothing — abstention means we acknowledge our limits rather than pretending we don't have them.