This small guide comes from M1L05 on the EmuELEC Discord:

How to filter MAME ROMS and how to remove non working ones.

I have used several tools in the past for this but now I do everything via exports from Arcade database - http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/lista_mame.php

I go there and make a search applying several filters (additional filters) here I filter all non working MAME games plus some other categories (like mechanical, device and screeen-less)- I leave all working and imperfect games

Example: A typical filter setup to eliminate non-working games based on Mame 2010 (0.139). https://freeimage.host/i/GVwLF4

After I get the list, I export it to Detailed (csv) and import it into Excel (Google sheets works as well) I use Excel to further trim-down ROM list by excluding all categories which I don't need (e.g. console, handhelds, mahjong, mature, casino, cards etc...)

After I am done, my list has less than 4000 games which is great reduction compared to original 12000

First column has header "name" and it lists all ROMS that you need to copy from a full set, you can make script to do this but I use this tool - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/17255/arcade-manager-install-overlays-and-manage-roms-in-a-user-friendly-fast-and-cross-platform-gui

I export first column from Excel in a csv file and copy ROMS using this tool, at the end, I have only working games without clones and stuff I don't want.