Many importers and private labellers face the setback of poor-quality products or facing Amazon's rejection due to incorrect labelling. For this reason, while importing products from China, quality control checks must be given top priority.
These inspections are actually simple and reasonably priced despite the fact that they may appear intimidating and expensive. Typically costing around $300 per shipment, they offer a cost-effective means to significantly enhance product quality and thereby increase sales.
A quality check inspector can also significantly lower the likelihood of becoming a victim of fraud, giving assurance and comfort during the importation process.
In quality control inspections, products are measured, tested, examined, or gauged in a methodical manner in accordance with established guidelines and standards. These inspections are essential to ensuring that goods fulfil the standards of quality that the business and pertinent authorities have established.
A quality control inspection company performs various tests at different stages of production to compare findings with these standards.
Identifying deviations from these standards is essential as they can indicate potential defects in products. Such flaws raise the expense of maintaining quality and may leave customers unhappy, wasting time, money, and resources.
Therefore, by identifying and resolving quality concerns early in the production process, quality control inspections carried out by a quality check inspector assist in limiting these risks. This proactive strategy improves overall customer satisfaction and operational efficiency in addition to guaranteeing that items fulfil the necessary quality parameters.
Why do you need quality inspections while importing from China?
Manufacturing is inherently variable, and quality control in China can arise despite efforts to maintain standards. Even after personally inspecting hundreds of orders, common findings include:
- Scratches
- Dirt
- Marks
- Other minor cosmetic issues.
This is always expected. However, there can also be more severe quality issues, such as:
- Loose parts
- Incorrect labels
- Poor workmanship
- Wrong colours
- Damages
- Deformation.
Quality issues are inevitable in manufacturing, similar to death and taxes, regardless of the country of production. Yet, what distinguishes China from many other Asian countries is the challenge of returning goods once quality issues are discovered upon arrival in your own country.
This underscores the critical importance of conducting thorough quality inspections as an essential step in the process.
How do quality inspections work?
1. On-site inspection
The initial stage of the inspection procedure involves an on-site visit. Its primary objective is to confirm that the products align with the specified requirements and to evaluate the packaging and labelling. During an on-site QC inspection visit, a third-party inspector will:
- Verify that the products meet your required specification.
- Assess the packaging and labelling.
- Take photos/videos of your products and packaging.
- Collect samples of your products.
- Prepare a detailed inspection report.
2. Quantity verification
During the verification of quantity, a quality inspection professional carefully examines, weighs, and confirms the quantity of finished goods contained in each carton intended for loading into the container.
3. Conformity check
Product conformity checks are critical quality control procedures designed to ensure that products adhere to pertinent safety, regulatory, and quality standards. During these checks, a quality inspector meticulously compares the product against specified requirements or criteria.
The product can be rejected or put under recall if it does not live up to these expectations. Ensuring that only safe and high-quality items are given to the market requires conducting comprehensive product conformity checks, which are essential to protecting consumers.
4. Functional and safety tests
Quality inspectors perform various functional tests to evaluate whether a product operates as intended. Conversely, safety tests are conducted to ascertain the product's safety for use. These tests collectively ensure that products meet both functional expectations and safety standards before reaching consumers.
5. Random selection
Random selection is a sampling method where samples are chosen from finished goods entirely at random. This technique is commonly employed in quality inspection to verify product standards.
The quantity of flaws that are allowed in each batch is determined by the quality control inspector using the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL). They determine whether to accept or reject the batch for additional processing or transportation based on their judgment.
Frequently asked questions about QC inspection
1. What kind of checks can the quality inspector do?
Anything that is possible with the available equipment, such as:
- Taking photos of product.
- Measuring dimensions and weight.
- Visual inspection for defects.
- Function tests.
- Packaging check.
- Drop tests for unit pack.
The objective is to ensure that the product aligns with all specified requirements and quality standards.
2. What do you get after the quality inspection?
Within one business day following the completion of the quality inspection, the agency will send you a comprehensive PDF report containing photos and other findings. This report typically includes details such as dimensions, descriptions of any defects discovered, the number of defects identified, and additional relevant information.
Upon request, you can also receive videos as part of the inspection report. It is important to note that the PDF report aligns closely with the predefined quality checklist, ensuring that the inspection process remains consistent and adheres to your specific requirements.
The inspectors do not deviate from the checklist during the inspection, ensuring that you receive accurate and reliable information about the product's quality and condition.
3. What will you do with your QC inspection report?
The report provides details on the number of defects along with accompanying images and descriptions. This information enables you to make an informed decision on whether to approve or reject the order.
It is crucial to establish an accepted defect rate prior to placing the order. This ensures clarity on whether the observed number of defects meets your standards for acceptability.
4. How do you know if your supplier accepts quality inspection?
First and foremost, never entertain the idea of working with a supplier that refuses to undergo a quality inspection. Suppliers who reject or hesitate to accept a quality inspection typically have ulterior motives. Such suppliers may aim to deceive you or subcontract your order to an unscrupulous local facility.
5. Should you let your supplier know your inspection plan in advance?
Absolutely, it is essential to notify your supplier about your intention to conduct quality control on the order as early as possible, even before placing a sample order. This early communication is crucial to impress upon the supplier that you are a buyer who takes quality assurance seriously.
6. How do you book a quality control online?
These days, many reputable quality control agencies offer online booking systems. All you need to do is log in and provide the following information:
- Supplier name
- Inspection date
- Contact details
- Factory address
- Order quantity
- Product specifications
- Quality checklist.
7. How much time in advance should you book the quality inspection?
Most quality control companies typically require bookings to be made at least 72 hours before the inspection date. However, if you need assistance from the QC company in outlining the checklist, it is advisable to book at least 2 weeks in advance for optimal preparation. Early booking is recommended for better planning and preparation.
8. How much should you pay?
Most reputable QC agencies typically charge approximately US$300 per inspection, which covers travel expenses as well. However, some sourcing agents may charge lower rates, ranging from US$150 to 250 per inspection. It is important to note that the quality of service often correlates with the price paid.
9. When should your products be inspected?
At the very least, a pre-shipment inspection must be conducted to ensure product quality before final payment. Also, a production stage inspection must be considered to catch early issues like colour or material discrepancies. For orders over US$100,000, it is advisable to perform both inspections to safeguard product quality comprehensively.
10. How will you know what kind of checks your inspector should do?
The purpose of the inspection is to provide a comprehensive overview of your products. Specify all required checks, such as product photos, dimensions, packaging review, and visual inspection. Direct the agent to scrutinize any identified quality concerns from the sampling phase to ensure thorough assessment and reporting.
11. How do you know that the inspector is qualified to inspect your products?
Most reputable QC agencies are equipped to inspect a wide range of products based on the criteria outlined in your quality control checklist. Specialization in specific product categories is common among professional inspection agencies. Focus on selecting an agency with a proven track record and ensuring your checklist is comprehensive and specific.
12. Do you need to send any samples to the inspection agency?
While not mandatory, providing reference samples can significantly help inspection agencies in accurately assessing materials like fabrics. It ensures the product's correctness, particularly in cases where visual inspection alone may not suffice.
13. Can you visit China and perform the inspection on your own?
Certainly, while you have the option to travel to China and visit the factory in person, opting for a quality check inspector can prove more beneficial. Not only does this choice save expenses on travel logistics such as hotels, flights, and visas, but it also ensures a thorough quality assessment by an experienced professional. While there are exceptions, seasoned inspectors typically excel in identifying defects compared to inexperienced buyers.
14. Should you perform quality inspection on every order?
Absolutely, it is crucial to inspect every single order before shipment. Manufacturing is not exact, and a single faulty or damaged component can spoil the entire batch. Considering that one defective batch can harm your reputation or lead to Amazon account suspension, ensuring quality inspection before shipment is imperative. Moreover, suppliers are more likely to prioritize minimizing defects if they know inspections are routine. Relaxing of standards could lead to complacency on their part as well.
15. Can your quality inspection company also check if the products are compliant with certain mandatory safety standards?
The quality check inspector can assess labels and ensure compliance with mechanical requirements (e.g., loose parts, sharp edges). However, they lack the capability for complex safety testing like electrical, EMC, or chemical and heavy metals checks.
Portable testing equipment may become available in the future, expanding inspection capabilities. For these tests, a quality check inspector can collect batch samples for testing at accredited compliance labs, which is a separate and typically more expensive service than standard quality checks.
16. What happens if they find quality issues?
If the quality check inspector identifies only minor quality issues, you can proceed to approve the order. However, if the issues are significant, it is crucial to request that the supplier either remake or repair the products before conducting a re-inspection.
Remember, direct communication with the supplier is necessary for negotiating compensation or any related matters; the inspection agent typically does not handle these aspects.
17. Why can’t you rely on the supplier to do their internal quality inspection?
You should anticipate that suppliers have a quality management system, but relying solely on their internal checks may not provide an impartial or honest quality report if issues are found. It is essential to enlist a reliable third-party with a proven track record in quality assurance to provide an unbiased assessment of your products.
Some suppliers may assert that their own inspections negate the need for third party verification. However, accepting this claim without independent verification can lead to undesired outcomes for buyers.
18. What if quality issues occur weeks or months after you started selling the product?
Post-sales quality issues can be particularly challenging because they may not be easily detectable during initial quality inspections.
The key is to find various ways and means to simulate product usage and offer stress tests to the product.
Conclusion
It is essential to carry out product quality checks to make sure that your items are free from flaws and compliant with safety and customs laws. Hiring a certified quality control inspector in China can streamline the procedure, improve future product quality, and facilitate the implementation of corrective actions as necessary.
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