Many buyers are fed up with quality issues that went unnoticed and ended up being shipped out, and they know something needs to change. One obvious way to contain issues is to check quality before shipment. At same time, they are afraid of shocking the manufacturer with a mark of distrust. They are afraid everything goes downhill from there. Are you in this situation? Then this article is for you. I collected the tips I usually offer to the new clients of our quality assurance … [Read more...]

As you look at the products you manufacture in China, you need to evaluate the risks that something goes wrong. When it comes to electrical products, one of the major risks is that the supplier uses substandard components in order to earn more profit. From experience, the risk is particularly high with batteries. The product might work fine during an open-the-box-and-turn-the-product-on inspection, but might have a very small capacity. There are basically 4 options to check the battery … [Read more...]

I listened to an interesting podcast on Global From Asia. It is entitled Amazon FBA Trends in 2018 with Danny MCmillan and Will Tjernlund. These two guests shared their experiences and insights on the 'Fulfilment By Amazon' platform. I took a few notes that are outlined below. Amazon is now a huge platform Outside of China, Amazon often represents more than 80% of sales for e-commerce companies. Many companies depend excessively on Amazon and have been trying to develop other channels … [Read more...]

I wrote a detailed guide on quality inspection software for buying offices, on the SynControl website. It has become a hot topic for buying offices and trading companies. Top management is looking for savings in support functions, and the quality department is fist in line. These types of questions are asked more and more often: Do we really need 4 people in the office to manage quality? Couldn't we be more efficient? Would it make a difference if we had fewer inspectors? Does quality … [Read more...]

When investigating quality problems, we are often faced with the same issue: lack of traceability. Let's say some metal pieces don't fit well and this is found at the assembly stage. It typically unfolds as follows: We look at the faulty parts. They are off-tolerance in some critical-to-quality dimensions. We go to the preceding process, for example CNC milling. Unfortunately, the faulty parts were processed 6 days ago and since then they have done a new setup and are working on … [Read more...]

Once the products hit your dock and once you have paid 100% of the order, there is little you can do in case products are not up to your specifications. Chances are, you have already paid the supplier in full. And the supplier will certainly not give your money back, or re-produce for free. (It does happen, but very seldom.) That’s why professional importers generally have every order inspected before shipment. (Chinese factories are famous for cheapening the product when the buyer starts … [Read more...]

I’ll assume you have found and audited a good manufacturer. They have communicated well up until now, and you feel confident about them. But should you feel confident? Several things can go wrong: They might be too busy, and farm your job out to another factory – without telling you. They might receive substandard components from their suppliers, and decide to use them anyway. Your product might be new to them in a way you did not anticipate or forecast. Fortunately, there is a … [Read more...]

I have stated several times that you need to describe your product in detail. I know this is obvious, but most buyers don’t do is well… and often regret it later. There are two ways of formalizing your requirements: A written specification sheet, which contains all your expectations regarding the product and its packaging. Pre-production samples, which are supposed to represent what cannot easily be described in written form: the look & feel, the quality of the finishing, … [Read more...]

A few days I wrote about the trend toward more supplier self-inspections. In certain cases, it makes a lot of sense to stop sending employees to check if a supplier has done a good job. However, it is not just a case of saying "oh by the way, starting next month we'll only check 20% of your shipments", or "good job -- we'll trust you entirely from now on". Don't play Santa Claus. They VERY MUCH want you to stop sending inspectors to their facility, and in exchange you can extract a few … [Read more...]

In 2005, when an importer asked their best manufacturer for a report that shows their own inspection findings, they seldom received a document. They were usually told "no problems were found". Getting a few digital photos by email was already an accomplishment. Things have changed. In most industries, the best manufacturers are used to producing QC inspection reports for their internal use. There are several reasons for this: It is a management tool -- quality keeps production honest, … [Read more...]