QualityInspection.org

Quality Assurance, Product Development, and Purchasing Strategies in China

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...]

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...]

3 Common Ways Factories Try to Cheat Inspectors/Auditors

Every day in China, in Vietnam, in Bangladesh, and in India, thousands of inspectors and auditors take a bus or a car to a factory. And, in some of those factories, managers are plotting how to cheat those unwelcome visitors. Let's look at 3 very common ways this is done, so you are warned and ready to avoid unscrupulous suppliers like this... … [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...]

The Different Types Of Sampling Plans For QC Inspections

1. What is a sampling plan? A sampling plan allows an auditor or a researcher to study a group (e.g. a batch of products, a segment of the population) by observing only a part of that group, and to reach conclusions with a pre-defined level of certainty. In this article I cover these cases in depth (hit the links below to skip to the relevant section): The buyer wants to follow the most common plan to inspect a supplier's batch of products The manufacturer implements a continuous … [Read more...]

How to prepare your QC inspection report template

A few months back, we drew an infographic to show how a random inspection works, but we didn't get into all the specifics. I regularly get questions from readers who ask me how to report the results. There are many ways to prepare a QC inspection report. But here are a few guidelines to prepare a document that suits your needs. A report is usually composed of the following parts: Conformity to specifications You probably want the inspector to look at the following aspects of the … [Read more...]