If you're purchasing goods from China, quality control and inspection are significant problems. Numerous nations are outsourcing their manufacturing to China due to the low cost and cost-effective, high-quality services.
Some companies would place orders for products from unknown manufacturers and regarding the concept of China supplier quality management, different factories have different management styles, the situation is more complicated. So it often results in significant loss.
Therefore, a China inspection company is crucial to oversee buyers. Whether it is direct procurement or customized products from China, quality inspection is required. Such inspection company will assist the buyers throughout and follow the process to meet their demands with quality.
The process of quality control in manufacturing can help companies around the globe make sure that their products are manufactured according to the standards. In China, most of factories conduct certain quality inspection services. However, it is highly recommended that buyers conduct their own inspections through a third-party QC company. This is especially important if the product needs to comply with safety standards. Usually, business owners who choose procurement service providers do not need to do testing quality themselves, because the agency service includes this. For example, the target suppliers of our company Maple sourcing, who is one of Shenzhen sourcing agents, cover all large, medium and small sizes in China, and basis of our cooperation with them is to complete quality inspections.
Quality inspection services in different types
1. Pre-production inspection
At this stage, the quality engineers check all raw materials and components, also verify the complete process of production:
- Setting up of production lines
- Parameters of manufacturing machinery
- Key components and important materials
- Implantation of working instructions.
2. During production inspection
Production inspection is generally completed after 50% of the products are produced. Quality inspectors first inspect the factory to find issues with the product, should there be any. Then, the units are selected randomly and then assessed against specifications for the product as determined by the client or the relevant inspection body.
At this stage, all the non-conformance is noticed and will be corrected. All the actual status of all non-conformance issues will be noted down and reported to the concerned department to take corrective actions for necessary improvement.
By performing such inspection, you will be able to identify any problem that arises during the production stage, and you get a chance to correct it immediately, so you can avoid any delays in clearing the product after completion.
3. Pre-shipment inspection
Pre-shipment inspection is arranged when production is completed, and at least 10% of products are packed. This involves an on-site inspection to verify that the products meet your specifications and comply with the industry's requirements and international standards. This also involves ensuring that there aren't any major defects within the products.
When performing a quality check, quality inspectors randomly select some units to inspect to see if the recommended improvement was followed. Additionally, the package and labelling quality are rigorously examined to determine whether the customer's demands are correctly met.
The quality control procedure in the manufacturing industry makes sure that the entire product is created in accordance with established specifications.
As a result, Western businesses that import items from China assess the Chinese manufacturer's capability to produce things that meet their standards for quality.
The products are evaluated or examined for variations that can be fixed throughout these checks. As a result, the items are problem-free. The objective of third-party quality control evaluations is to uncover flaws early on before it is too late, or a problem develops.
Finding problems early in the production process allows for inexpensive repairs instead of stating the problem when the products are sold.
Quality control inspectors verify that the item is in line with the client's specifications, which could be things including: Is the color identical to the sample? Do the dimensions fit the tolerance of the drawing? Are the products functional in a normal way?
Inspectors will also ensure that all of the samples taken from an entire batch are in the same range of quality. Even if some aren't right, it's preferable to be sure that they are in the same proportion because this generally means that there's a system issue in the system, and it's relatively simple to correct.
Suppose the deviations vary widely, with some being amazing and some being a disaster. In that case, there is something more to it that could signify the facility's inability to establish precise production control. In these instances, it's best to determine the root of the issue, try to solve it, and possibly consider a different factory if it persists.
When there are problems, factories are directed to alter the products and ensure the issue doesn't recur throughout the order.
Sometimes, reworking a bad batch is costly and time-consuming, and delaying delivery time. If we understand the purpose of the product, and are confident that the errors will not affect its use, we could allow the batch to go but make sure to establish a process to rectify the issue for all the future batches.
Before you finalize the order or before the beginning of production, you should communicate your specifications for the product to the supplier via the form of a QC checklist. It should include the specifications of the product and the quality standards that the supplier must adhere to, and an objective set of criteria to be inspected. Here are some guidelines you should include on your QC checklist.
1. Product specifications - Bill of materials, structure, dimensions, weight, appearance, function, and other factors.
2. Packaging and labeling - Accurate packaging and labeling are crucial to meet the requirements of various industries. Certain products must be verified and labeled by certified labs.
3. Visual inspection - This should be part of your list to inform your supplier about the aesthetical requirements.
4. Defect classification - There are three defects in QC inspections: minor, major, and critical. Always submit signed samples or approved images for reference of your quality control inspector.
5. Function test - You must clearly outline the procedures for testing the device's use or functionality.
6. Special tests - For certain kinds of products like toys, particular samples are sent to labs to assess their quality, based on the specifications of the importers.
7. Drop test of a carton - The test is conducted to determine the strength and durability of the packaging before the items are shipped.
Many QC companies offer inspection services in China, we are betting you're not going to trust them with the task of checking your products without visiting their offices in person. Some businesses are situated in living apartments, only freelancers are sitting there. They are often gone overnight. So, if you are possible to visit China, you must schedule 2 hours to visit your quality control company to be secure.
If you are not able to visit China, you need to do online background check and due diligence for the QC company which you plan to work with.
Many inspection companies boast they hold ISO9001 certification. ISO9001 is a good thing. However, it's universal for all businesses. The most crucial certification for inspection services in China is CNAS17020 in addition to AQSIQ (Chinese official government certification).
Every inspection service in China claims they provide excellent service and high-quality reliability. Maybe... However, some inspection firms are too large to care about their small (or even medium-sized) customers, you'll find it challenging to get in touch with them. Some are too small to have a good organization, due to a weak network or lack of experience in the area, they must utilize a lot of part-time inspectors, which could cause lots of problems for the purchasers.
A simple man-day price is vague, you need to verify if it includes travel expenses and any other hidden cost. Also, you need to learn the size of sample per day for each man, and the inspectors' qualifications and background.
Importing can be profitable. But to maximize profits, it is essential to ensure that you don't make mistakes due to minor quality issues. Although it's impossible to examine the product and verify its quality yourself while you are away, third-party companies can provide the inspection services.
If you are looking for a business to provide quality inspection service and control, then look for a reliable inspection service provider in China that can keep you informed about the quality of your products throughout the whole production course.
Conducting inspection will enable you to minimize your risks of importing from China, save on your production costs, and reduce delivery time. A trustworthy China direct sourcing ltd can make a lot of difference in the quality of products that you are going to import from China.
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