Editor's note: This post was originally published in April 2021, and has been updated with new content in April 2024. You’ve placed an order, everything seems to be on track, and then the shipment arrives… only to find defects, … [Read more...]
Using the Limiting Quality Level (ISO 2859-2:2020) Instead of AQL
A reader asked me how he should do an inspection of a lot produced in isolation. In theory, he should work with the Limiting Quality Level (LQ), not the AQL, which is designed for inspections of a continuous stream of production. I shot … [Read more...]
How to optimize inspections & drive suppliers to improve quality to reduce costs & risks?
If you're placing large enough orders with your overseas manufacturers there are ways in which you can optimize the product QC inspections you're conducting in order to get better quality results for the same costs or to reduce overall … [Read more...]
Inspecting Productions with Very Few Defects: Dump the AQL
The topic of "do we really need to send inspectors to check productions" and "does that whole AQL concept even make sense" are frequently raised. In this article, I want to write about what it takes to get to a very low rate of defective … [Read more...]
Renaud Answers YOUR Manufacturing Questions [Podcast]
![Celebrating 100 Episodes By Answering YOUR Questions [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Celebrating100EpisodesByAnsweringYOURQuestionsPodcast.jpeg)
In this episode… To celebrate our 100th episode over on Sofeast's podcast Renaud called on listeners for their manufacturing-related questions and answered as many as possible! They're questions that are relevant to so many importers, … [Read more...]
Final Inspections: Crucial For Checking Product Quality Before Shipment [Podcast]
![Final Inspections: Crucial For Checking Product Quality Before Shipment [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FinalInspectionsCrucialForCheckingProductQualityBeforeShipmentPodcast.jpeg)
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, … [Read more...]
Deliverables Buyers Should Get When Developing A New Product [Podcast]
![Deliverables Buyers Should Get When Developing A New Product [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DeliverablesBuyersShouldGetWhenDevelopingANewProductPodcast.jpeg)
In this episode... When you develop a new product what deliverables should you be getting during the new product development process in order to assure that your product will make it mass production with the minimum of risks and at the … [Read more...]
Inspecting Product Quality: What Are Your Options?
If you purchase products from an overseas supplier that you don't know well, and you can't be there, you might want to contact an inspection agency to handle inspecting product quality on your behalf. But you need to give them direction … [Read more...]
Does Checking 100% of a Production Batch Make Sense? Yes, It Often Does.
Nearly 2 years ago I wrote When To Do a Random AQL Inspection vs. Check 100% of the Goods. It is a good overview of these 2 options: Send inspector(s) to your supplier's factory for checking random samples Have the manufacturer of … [Read more...]
Service Providers: Escape the Commoditization Trap
We compete with a number of other service providers, and over the years I have seen stark changes happen in some verticals. An interesting case study is the TIC (Testing, Inspection, Certification) industry. In 2005, importers were … [Read more...]