QualityInspection.org

Quality Assurance, Product Development, and Purchasing Strategies in China

Traceability in Manufacturing: Do your Chinese Suppliers Do it Right?

I see buyers who spend a lot of time pushing their suppliers to do QC inspections on incoming components, to keep the production area clean, to give clear instructions to operators, and other basics. But I seldom hear them push for traceability in manufacturing, despite how important it is. I thought I should write about it again.   … [Read more...]

100% Inspection in a Third Party Facility in China: The How-To

I am guessing that about 96% of quality inspections done in China, on behalf of overseas buyers, are conducted in the supplier's facility on a set of randomly-picked samples. About 3% are done at the supplier's facility, on 100% of the pieces (typically, high-value items). And maybe 1% is done in a facility controlled by the buyer or a service provider engaged by the buyer. And it makes sense. In most cases, a random inspection (or a series of such inspections along the manufacturing cycle) … [Read more...]

How Much Does a Quality Inspection in China cost?

Understanding the cost of quality inspections in China I am always surprised by the expectations of some importers regarding the cost of quality inspections in a Chinese factory. Some importers get to talk about their project for some time, see where we would help them, and finally (almost as an afterthought) ask: "How much does a quality inspection in China cost?" I say "299 USD per day of work", and I can nearly hear them thinking “wow these guys are cheap”. They compare this fee to … [Read more...]

The Special Inspection Levels in the AQL Tables

A few years ago I wrote about the inspection levels, but I regularly notice that some people are confused about the "special" levels (S1, S2, S3, and S4). Here is what the ISO 2859-1 standard says (emphasis is mine): The inspection level designates the relative amount of inspection. Three inspection levels, I, II and III, are given in Table 1 for general use. Unless otherwise specified, level II shall be used. Level I may be used when less discrimination is needed or level III when greater … [Read more...]

When To Do a Random AQL Inspection vs. Check 100% of the Goods

First, let me get one thing out of the way: not all batches need to be checked. If a manufacturer has great systems and processes, and if they have a history of complying with your quality standard, there is usually no reason to send quality inspectors to their facility. Similarly, if you can easily return the whole batch and it can be reworked quickly, you probably don't want to spend resources on checking whether they did as promised. Now, let's assume you do want confirmation of … [Read more...]

QC Basics: What is a Quality Inspection? Context, Tools & Template

This article describes what a quality inspection is, and when it typically takes place (before, during, and after production). We will cover the types of inspections most widely used by buyers in international trade. They should be performed by 3rd party QC providers (appointed by the buyer), or by the buyer's own inspectors, if you buy from China, Vietnam, India, or another low-cost country. … [Read more...]

Some Problems Can’t Be Detected During Apparel QC Inspections

A few years ago, I wrote about the limits of random quality inspections. My focus in that article was on the random elements, on human mistakes, and on the tricks that manufacturers can play. Today I'd like to write about issues that simply can't be detected during inspections, even if 100% of the goods are checked and inspectors do a perfect job. I will write about a product line that I know well: apparel. … [Read more...]

Avoiding Mold on Imported Products Shipped in Ocean Containers

Several clients asked me recently about a way to avoid mold on imported products shipped from a Chinese, Vietnamese, or Indian factory. This is a serious problem. The reason is usually a combination of these 5 factors: The products are contaminated while in the factory, and/or The products are too wet when packed, and/or They are packed with wet packing materials, and/or There is a lot of air in the packaging and that air is very wet, and/or The air in the container is or … [Read more...]

What Certifications are Necessary for a Given Product & Country?

If you are buying products from China, you probably asked the following questions: What type of certification is needed? How to be compliant? What is mandatory and what is only advised? Getting the right information immediately is difficult. I just discovered an easy-to-navigate and very useful website from UL: https://ul-certification.com The process is simple: Select the geographical area(s) Select the product category Click on a mark (e.g. UL Listing, CE...) Read … [Read more...]