QualityInspection.org

Quality Assurance, Product Development, and Purchasing Strategies in China

How to Check Material Quality To Ensure Product Safety

We recently published a guest article written by Brad Pritts, one of the most experienced quality professionals I know, on the Sofeast Blog -- that article is Can I trust Chinese steel products? It is a great case study. Unfortunately, I can't write anything similar about our clients' projects because of strict NDAs, and there aren't many good studies publicly available on the internet. So I'll share some of his points from that post here and add some of my own comments... … [Read more...]

Final Inspections: Crucial For Checking Product Quality Before Shipment [Podcast]

In this episode… Renaud dives deep into the reasons why importers from China should be performing final inspections before their products are shipped. Final inspections done at random represent a unique chance to check the quantity, quality of finished products, and packaging and labelling before shipment. Unlike inspections during production, they're performed quite near the shipment date after production is finished. So, let's see what their benefits are right here...   Just hit … [Read more...]

7 Reasons Why Ignoring Factory Audits Will Hurt Your Business

If you start working with a new supplier that you haven't visited or audited on-site, do you feel safe about your decision? I have talked to many people in that situation, and they usually haven't fully realized what they might be missing. So, that's what I am going to cover in this article. (I am discussing only audits of a factory's quality system and processes, in the context of a company buying from a supplier located in China, Vietnam, India, and other low-cost countries.) Here are … [Read more...]

Can QC Inspectors Also Audit Manufacturing Processes?

Let's say you send a QC inspector to one of your supplier's factories. His objective is clear: report on the status of production, on the conformity and safety of the products made for you, and on the number of defects he finds. However, it falls short of its potential in helping you reach your objectives. If there is continuous or near-continuous production of your orders in the factory, there is certainly more you want to know. … [Read more...]

Your Cost of Poor Quality Is Higher Than You Think

When one studies the literature around the Cost of Quality, the traditional breakdown of the costs is presented as follows: Source: ASQ TR2:2018. ISO 10014 and ASQ TR 2, two standards that provide guidelines (in other words, advice, rather than a set of requirements like ISO 9001), follow this logic. The problem is, it leaves a lot of extra costs unaccounted for.   What makes up the cost of poor quality, in the traditional view? If something cannot be … [Read more...]

Harsh Realities of Managing a Quality Control Team in China

A few years ago, I suggested 6 tips to avoid bribery in a QC team. And two of them are particularly important when managing a quality control team in China: Rotate inspectors among factories, as professional relationships very quickly become personal, too. And there is a strong, very strong expectation of reciprocity -- "I gave you a nice lunch, you should overlook this tiny imperfection". Have a manager, or a regional supervisor, who does a good job of being a leader -- technically … [Read more...]

How To Push Key Suppliers To Reduce Defects? [Podcast]

In this episode… Renaud is joined by manufacturing industry experts Clive Greenwood and Max Phythian to discuss what it takes to drive your key suppliers to cut out defects. You'll hear their opinions on the Cost Of Quality, the value of building a solid partnership with a supplier rather than having a purely transactional relationship, what buyers need to do in order to support this initiative with their suppliers, a number of really interesting real-world examples from their decades of … [Read more...]

A Few Tips To Avoid Quality Fade in China

When Paul Midler wrote ‘Quality Fade’: China’s Great Business Challenge in 2007, I remember it struck a nerve and that article was widely quoted. And, nearly 14 years later, the term 'quality fade' is rather well known among importers. As Midler described it: One of the problems facing China is that manufacturers continue to engage in a practice I call “quality fade.” This is the deliberate and secret habit of widening profit margins through a reduction in the quality of materials. Importers … [Read more...]