Best Quality Control Agent in China

Why so many clients choose us?

• With reliable testing and certification, supervision and approval can be speeded up
• Enter almost any market in the world in a fast and efficient way
• Provide overall quality assurance throughout the supply chain
• Innovative leadership through meeting social responsibility standards
• Reduce costs to minimize health, safety and safety risks

Quality Control in China: The Definitive Guide

Lately, I’ve been getting so many questions on quality control in China, that’s why I decided to write this guide.

Here, I hope to address all your concerns regarding the quality control industry in China.

By reading it, I hope that you’ll be able to understand what the quality control process in China entails.

As well, I hope you get to understand why quality control is essential for your import from China business to succeed.

So read on.

Chapter 1: What is Quality Control in China?

Well, quality control in China is a process that’s designed to ensure a certain level of quality for products.

Quality control

This control includes the actions necessary to verify and control the quality of output by Chinese manufacturers.

The overall goal of quality control is to meet your requirements as the customer.

It also aims at ensuring product satisfaction, as well as fiscally sound and dependable production.

When sourcing from China, quality control is vital to determine the product you’re getting is of overall top quality.

For the manufacturer, quality control is essential for liability purposes, branding and well, maintaining a competitive edge in the industry.

Aspects of quality control

The good thing is that although complicated, there are many ways to implement quality control.

Regardless of how you do it, a good strategy and quality control techniques can help you minimize/eliminate product quality issues.

Meaning, QC monitors the overall product quality by comparing it with the given requirements.

So making sure that your products meet or exceed these set requirements allows more success for your business.

It is important to note that quality control does not only consist of the quality of products.

But, it also consists of the internal as well as the external performance of the manufacturer.

This means that you need to execute a strategy that ensures both product quality and proper ethics within and without the factory.

Doing this can help your business become and remain a success.

Remember, quality is an ongoing effort.

Thus, it has to be consistent and improving every day.

Quality helmet visors by WeeTect

Now, I hope that as we’re talking about quality control, you’re not thinking that we’re talking about quality assurance.

Because although similar in many ways, quality assurance is a whole different matter from quality control.

Read on to find out what I mean.

Chapter 2: Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control in China: What is the Difference?

When it comes to matters of quality when importing from China, most people often confuse these two terms.

Actually, it is not even confusion.

People just use the terms ‘quality control’ and ‘quality assurance’ interchangeably.

Quality assurance – Photo courtesy: i4 Group

You need to that know although relative, these two terms are different in meaning as well as purpose.

By definition:

· Quality control (QC)

It is a system of maintaining quality in production processes.

· Quality assurance (QA)

Quality assurance (QA) on the other hand is a system of assuring that products meet the required quality standards.

Sounds similar, right?

Well, yes but here’s is the catch:

You see, quality control is a system focuses more on initiating the evaluation process.

Whereas, Quality assurance, focuses more on managing the process to ensure quality standards are met.

This is particularly true when it comes to the internal operations of a factory.

And, how the operations result in the production of goods that meet set standards.

https://youtu.be/2R7CrUARHAs

Think of QA and QC as logical phases in the general process of ensuring quality output.

Please note:

In China, QA starts with the definition of procedures, rules, and policies that generally govern the selection and use of raw materials for the manufacturing process.

The phase also enlists a plan that ensures the production of goods at every step is timely and meets quality requirements.

For quality control, it is just a process that ensures products meet a certain set level of excellence.

In other words, QC ensures production output meets the set requirements.

And, is reliable, satisfactory, and economically sound.

Basically, the process involves the examination of a product for specific minimum levels of grades of excellence.

Inspecting imports – Photo courtesy: Washington Examiner

The primary role of a QC team is to identify any products that don’t meet the set requirements of quality.

Should the team identify a problem, they can temporarily halt production until corrections are made.

During QC, note, it is not the responsibility of the QC team to correct substandard issues that may arise.

The teams work is just to identify the issues, and the relevant personnel will see to it that corrections are made.

Of course, corrective measures must be taken for production to continue.

So what quality control does is to ensure the utilization of processes that were implemented during QA.

Meaning, QC will include checking the handling and use of raw materials.

Including, identification of potential points of contamination or some other hitch in the process that could compromise product value and superiority.

The primary goal is to ensure that production is done within the set order to ensure the manufacture of quality products.

This completes the overall mission that both quality control and quality assurance are meant to accomplish.

As you can see, there are clear-marked differences between quality assurance and quality control.

Summarily, these are the differences between quality control and quality assurance.

Generally, QC is concerned with checking that production is done correctly and is compliant.

Its primary concern is ensuring little to no defects after production.

Bottom line?

Both quality control and quality assurance have the same goal only that they achieve this goal following different approaches and style.

Also, both processes are strongly interdependent making it difficult to pinpoint the differences.

But hey, our focus today is on quality control

So let’s find out what benefits it offers when importing goods from China.

Chapter 3: Benefits of Quality Control when Importing from China

Keeping quality in check is a must for any business importing from China.

Besides, quality control offers a lot of benefits which include:

• Quality consciousness
• Consumer satisfaction
• Cost reduction, just to name a few.

Let’s shed more light on these benefits.

Quality

1. Quality consciousness

Most people when importing from China never really know what quality entails.

Let alone the degree of importance that quality carries.

As a matter of fact, being quality conscious is very important.

If you’re quality conscious, your manufacturer will try their level best to deliver quality products to you.

2. Consumer satisfaction

It is your customers that benefit the most when you import quality products from China.

In other words, they know they’re getting quality products from you.

Thus, they stay loyal to you.

3. Cost reduction

Insisting on quality control when importing from China helps to reduce the cost of production significantly.

Besides, QC in China also helps to avoid wastage during production aside from ensuring quality products.

4. Utilization of resources

Quality control in China ensures that all the resources available are used to their fullest.

Again, it safeguards against inefficiencies and wastage of resources in manufacturing.

5. Reduction in inspection costs

Another benefit of quality control is that it can help you reduce the cost of additional inspections.

When importing from China, shipments may need to undergo quality inspections in China and also upon arrival at destination.

If you fail the inspections, customs may reject the departure or entry of your goods resulting in loss.

So to avoid this, you should conduct QC during and immediately after production.

Make sure that you also get written confirmation to prove that the necessary tests have been performed and passed.

6. Increases your goodwill

If you import quality products from China, your customer will always remain satisfied and loyal.

As a result, your goodwill as a business goes up which is advantageous for startup and SMEs.

How?

Getting financing becomes easy-whether it is from banks, microfinance institutions or individual financiers.

7. Increased sales margins

The market, whichever one it is, loves quality products.

If you can maintain supplying quality products, the market will love you.

This means that they will also spread the word about it making more people interested in your products.

Realize that the more people buying your products, the more your sales and profits margin increase.

Well, these are the few benefits of quality control that you can enjoy when importing from China.

Hopefully, now you have a better understanding of the importance of quality product importation.

Let’s move on.

Chapter 4: Entities Charged with Ensuring Quality Control in China

Quality control is essential and very necessary when importing from China.

The problem, however, is deciding on how to go about the quality control process.

There are several options for quality control in China. Actually, there are four options.

Among these, are those that require you to travel to China and some that don’t need your presence in China.

Some are more convenient while others are costlier.

Generally, each of the options on who does quality control has its pros and cons.

As such, it is important to understand in more detail what these options entail.

This way, you’re able to make a more informed decision on who performs quality control on your products.

a) Manufacturer in-house review

Usually, the first option of ensuring quality control is to rely on the manufacturer’s in-house review of the production process.

Quality control during manufacturing process – Photo courtesy: SYNCONTROL

This will be less costly on you and actually more convenient as you won’t have to travel to China (it’s costly you know).

But, there is one problem with this:

Many Chinese manufacturers focus more on their interest rather than ensuring the quality of their products.

I understand that lots of verified and dependable factories in China usually have a QC team at their disposal.

Usually, a team of staff that the factory employs to oversee their quality assurance and control processes.

Now, while the team might be experienced and dedicated in matters of quality control, this dedication may not really favor you.

To them, the bottom line is to ensure that they manufacture and deliver your product as quickly and cheaply as possible.

You, on the other hand, want to ensure quality.

And you see, this requires an input both in time and money.

Unfortunately, the latter conflicts with the manufacturer’s desire to process and deliver your order as fast as they can.

So what does this mean?

You may never get a quality control report, at all.

And if you do, the report may not be accurate enough.

You can trust that it will not address the quality issues in your order.

Besides, the factory QC might also lack the tools and necessary skills to conduct QC on your kind of product.

Consequently, even if the team performs product quality inspection, it won’t be as accurate if they fail to use the right tools.

In other words?

Sign an agreement for QC monitoring with the factory, but also be involved in the process.

You can do this by either auditing the quality control of the factory in question- to verify how the factory operates its production process.

Or, you can be involved through any of the next three options.

b) Visit the factory in China

If you don’t trust that the factory staff will reliably put your interest first, traveling to China is an option you can consider.

You can be the one traveling to China or send a member of your staff to act as your representative.

Customers visit SaintyCo – a Pharmaceutical Equipment Manufacturer

Traveling to the factory in China is a good option if you don’t trust that the factory staff understands your requirements.

After all, you’re the one that sets the quality standards.

Thus you’re better placed to perform the QC.

Besides, if you’re considering a long term relationship with the manufacturer, it is a good idea to make an initial visit to the factory.

Note, however, that in as much you set the quality standards, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you know the best way to inspect the goods.

An inspection is often done following many approaches and techniques and using a variety of tools.

For a complicated product, you may have to undergo training before you can inspect the product reliably.

So basically, traveling to China to do the inspection yourself is doable, but only if you have the necessary tools and skills.

Also, if you’re ordering large volumes at less-frequent intervals, this option may be viable.

Otherwise, the traveling costs and other logistics may overwhelm you.

If this is the case, you can consider the next option.

c) Trading or sourcing partner

Hiring a trading or sourcing partner might be a good idea if you don’t trust the first option and can’t make the second one.

The partner while helping you source for products from China can also help safeguard their quality.

Sourcing agent

So when hiring them, you’ll have to specify that they also add QC to the services they’re offering you.

The problem with trading/sourcing partners is that as the factories; they won’t always have your best interest in mind.

Remember like you, they are also in business and are earning an income from the services they offer.

So when you hire them, they are expecting compensation in the form of commissions.

And, due to their trade of negotiating deals, a majority of them share good business relationships with Chinese manufacturers.

As a result, some of them tend to accept hidden commissions from the manufacturers anytime they bring a customer.

Thus you cannot guarantee that they will provide a neutral opinion when it comes to the quality of products.

But don’t lose hope though as you still have other options.

d) Inspection team

You’ve crossed out option 1, 2 and 3?

Well fine.

How about getting your own quality inspection team to conduct the QC?

Focus on quality – Photo courtesy – Creaform

I mean, a team that works for you will always have the interest of your business at heart.

They will ensure that all the necessary quality control measures are implemented.

Now, I know that this sound too good, but hey, there are challenges to hiring a full-time inspection team.

You see, to ascertain great quality control results, you have to ensure the quality and experience of the team you’re hiring.

Especially, for the product, you’re sourcing.

You’ll also need to ensure that the team stays close to the factory for easy monitoring.

So the training, accommodation plus travel expenses may add up on your importation costs.

Apart from this, local inspectors tend to work throughout the country.

Possibly, they’ve also worked for your supplier or will work for them at some point.

Meaning, there are high chances for them to develop a friendship with the supplier.

And when this happens, they may be willing to compromise their integrity and that of the quality inspection report in exchange for financial gains.

Another thing, if you choose to hire a full-time inspection team, you may have also to set up an office in China.

This will bring you additional costs of rent, licensing and labor compliance certification which just makes it the more complicated.

So if you can’t deal with all these complications, then maybe you can explore the next and last option.

e) Third party inspection company or quality control agencies in China

Well, as you can see none of the above options is 100% reliable.

Not to mean that this one is either, but at least you can rely on it 70% if not 80%.

You just need to find a reputable third party inspection company/agency who will perform the QC on your behalf in China.

Third party inspection

These companies/agency’s note is hired to protect your business by inspecting goods quality based on your requirements.

Since they don’t work for the supplier, they usually have a neutral relationship with them.

Thus you can rest easy knowing that they will at least provide a neutral opinion regarding the quality of the products.

The good thing with third-party inspection services is that they can be offered anywhere in China.

It doesn’t matter if you’re ordering goods from two suppliers in different cities.

The agent/company will ensure timely quality control in both factories.

Besides, the cost of third-party inspection companies are usually pretty cost effective.

So yes, considering this option may add expense on your importation costs.

But at least, you won’t have to deal with the losses that a low-quality shipment can cause.

Also, with third-party inspection companies/agents, you don’t need to establish any long term commitments.

Sample quality inspection process – Photo courtesy: Clinical Chemistry

You don’t need an office in China or compliance with any Chinese laws on employment like when you hire a full-time inspection team.

With third-party inspectors, you pick and choose a company to work with you when you want to conduct a quality inspection.

If you want to establish a long term relationship with one company, then that’s up to you.

All you need is to maintain a good business relationship, not pay monthly fees or anything of the sort.

Also, I’ve told you that these companies are very affordable.

They will work with your budget such as quoting rates based on one man-one day job.

Bottom line?

Hiring a third party inspection company is the way to go for quality control in China.

The fact that they are independent from the factory/supplier makes them the more unbiased and able to provide an accurate inspection report.

This does not mean that now you should leave everything for them to handle.

No!

It is important that you work with them to save on time and effort.

And, to be absolutely sure that things are being the done the way you want them to.

So as the person setting the quality standards, you can ensure a smooth quality control process by;

• Communicating your requirements to the supplier and the inspection company in a clear

You should do this before the production and inspection of goods respectively.

• Arranging inspections and informing the manufacturer/supplier of the same at the right time.
• Reviewing the inspection report and making the necessary recommendations

As I’ve said countless times, you’re the one setting the standards.

As such, you’re the one calling the shots.

It is, therefore, your responsibility to ensure that the supplier makes the products according to your requirements.

In case of defects, it is you to arrange for next steps and push the supplier to take the necessary actions.

The inspection company doesn’t have this power, only you do.

So make sure that you use it to your advantage.

And, when choosing an inspection company, go for a licensed and certified company.

It’ll save you lots of hassles.

I will tell you more about choosing an inspection company in China later in the guide.

I’ll also recommend a reliable company to work with towards the end of the guide.

For now, lets us look into the quality control processes.

Chapter 5: Quality Control in China Processes

Honestly, the quality control process in China is quite detailed.

Quality inspection procedure – Photo courtesy: NGC Software

The process includes all of the measures that are needed to verify and control the quality of products.

The goal has to be ensuring that the product meets your requirements.

The production process also has to be financially sound and the production levels consistent.

To ensure this, the following processes are often conducted during quality control in China;

i. Pre-production inspections (PPI)

You’ve found a manufacturer/supplier that you work with and are ready to place your order and also have quality control in mind.

That’s good.

But before you do that, you have to confirm the manufacturer’s overall capability to handle your order requirements.

Quality control for raw materials

The supplier should have viable machinery, staff, and in-house practices for quality control.

Trust me, not everything you see on a supplier’s website is as it is.

In most cases, the detail on the website is a far cry from the daily workings at the factory.

Apart from this, PPI also allows your insight into the kind of raw materials (components) that’ll be used.

You see, some suppliers tend to lower production costs by using substandard materials.

This, to be honest, can be disastrous for you.

Thus, a pre-production inspection helps to ensure that the right raw materials are purchased.

And, that the materials are handled properly.

ii. On-line inspections

The next process in quality control in China is the online inspection also known as during production inspection (DUPRO).

An online inspection enables you to have a rough idea of the product quality early in the production cycle.

Quality control

It is conducted on the first set of output.

This way, defects are identified early allowing for corrections to be made on the first batch of products and on the final output.

An on-line inspection is critical as it helps you to plan ahead of time and avoid production delays.

Unfortunately, importers tend to ignore it a lot.

They don’t know that DUPRO can help save on importation time.

Unlike a final inspection (that most of you rely on) where repairs and re-inspections take a lot of time.

Generally, DUPRO helps to identify when production has reached a critical point and needs to be stopped and corrected.

iii. Pre-shipment inspection (PSI)

When you’ve gone through steps one and two, a PSI is your last opportunity to verify product quality.

It is at this stage that you can identify any quality issues before their delivery.

Inspecting shipping container

Remember that in most cases, order payments are made when processing is complete.

Meaning, before the supplier can release products from their facility, you’ll have to pay all remaining balances.

And trust me, you don’t want to pay the final balance only to end up receiving a low-quality shipment.

This is why you have to do a PSI to confirm the shipment’s quality before shipping to the final destination.

It will be easier for the supplier to make the necessary corrections for faults found at this point without playing games.

Unlike when you’ve already finished payment and goods are just a few miles from getting to final destination.

In the latter’s case, negotiating with a supplier on faulty or substandard products can be very difficult.

The time delay and direct cost to rectify product issues identified during a PSI will also be much less when done in China.

This is even if the recommendations are to remanufacture the entire batch of goods.

Taking corrective measures in the final destination can be pretty difficult since options here are much more limited.

A comprehensive DUPRO inspection thus will help to eliminate the risk of defective products reaching your doorstep.

It will also provide you with the confidence and necessary grounds to reject a shipment.

And, possibly negotiate appropriate corrective action-should issues be identified during the PSI.

iv. Loading supervision

Container loading supervision is not commonly done on shipments from China, but it is necessary.

Loading container ship

It helps you to oversee the careful loading of goods into the shipping container.

I mean, with all the time, effort and money that you’ve spent to this point, it is critical to ensure the delivery of goods in pristine condition.

For instance, if your shipment includes fragile items, you can ensure that these are not loaded at the bottom to avoid damages.

A container loading supervision may also be necessary when you’re shipping LCL.

Remember that in LCL shipping several shippers bring their cargo for consolidation.

In this case, you would want to ensure that your cargo is shipped correctly and with minimal risk of damage or loss.

Well, these are the four main types of quality control services.

You can choose to perform all the four inspections if you want to ensure absolute quality control.

Especially, if you’re importing sensitive products that may require all the four inspection services.

If not, you can just conduct one or two depending on the risks that you identify.

It is also essential to note that these quality inspection processes are used mostly for consumer goods.

The ones that involve little to no customization.

For industrial goods, however, different quality control strategies and approaches are used.

Mainly for these, more attention is put on their early development of production than it is put on consumer goods.

Chapter 6: Checklist to Quality Control in China

Now, proper quality control is one that is specific to your requirements.

Remember, you set the quality standards.

As such, you should oversee the inspection process.

You can do this by providing detailed requirements of what you need to be done and how they should be done.

These requirements in written form is what we refer to as “quality control checklist.”

6.1. What is it?

As I’ve said, when importing from China, you want to ensure better quality control.

Sample checklist

And to do this, you have to set standards that specify your requirements to a supplier/manufacturer.

This set of standards, note, is what your inspection team/third-party inspector will use to verify final product quality.

And for this purpose, ‘the set of standards’ is known as a ‘quality control (QC) checklist.’

By definition:

A QC checklist is just a document written to clarify your product requirements to a manufacturer/supplier.

The checklist may clarify your product contents, packaging, color, bar codes, appearance, and possible defects among other things.

Thus, you have to tailor it to your specific requirements.

6.2. Why do you need a quality control checklist?

Again, for better quality control, you need to specify your product requirements to your product supplier.

Failure to which may result in you receiving a low-quality shipment or one that doesn’t meet yours or your customers’ expectations.

You need to provide this checklist for production along with clear inspection criteria to your QC team/inspection agent.

The list, please note, should address all your quality control requirements and inspection criteria by:

• outlining standards for product quality that the manufacturer/supplier has to meet
• providing objective criteria for inspecting the product to ensure it meets the set quality standards

For example:

If you’re importing ladies jeans from a supplier in Guangzhou.

That supplier can probably guess that an uncut buttonhole is not such a big deal as long as the button hole is sewn.

You may have a problem with this, but they may not know until you specify in the checklist that you want the button holes cut open.

Meaning, the supplier will just produce the order number of jeans with the uncut button holes and ship them as they’re.

You on the other hand upon receiving the order will not be happy because you wanted the holes cut open.

As such, you might have to cut the holes open after receiving the shipment which is costly and could delay distribution.

The same issues may arise when the inspection team doesn’t have clear criteria for checking your product.

Either way, you can prevent such issues by providing both the supplier and inspection team with a clear QC checklist.

Apart from the above, a QC checklist can also help you develop a good business relationship with your supplier.

Quality control in production process

You see, some products can be really complicated.

Thus, you may need to collaborate with your supplier on developing the QC checklist.

When you do this, you help show the manufacturer/supplier that you value their feedback.

This way, they’re able to suggest ideas that you may not have considered for improving product quality.

6.3. Essentials of a quality control checklist

Since your checklist needs to communicate your requirements to both the supplier and the inspectors, it needs to be;

· Bilingual

Most importers forget this, but a majority of Chinese suppliers are not fluent in English.

So please, write out the requirements in a language that you understand.

And also, have it written in a language the other parties can understand.

For instance, you can have one copy in English and have it also translated to Cantonese/Mandarin.

· Clear

Your QC checklist has to set your requirements in entirely unambiguous terms.

· Easy to use

Effective implementation can only come about if everyone can use the documents to support the process.

Apart from these, an effective QC checklist must also address the following elements;

· Product requirements

The product requirements are a must-be in a quality control checklist.

Product requirements – Photo courtesy: ULINE

So apart from ensuring that the products requirements are clearly stated, they must also address;

• Product weight and dimensions
• Material and construction
• Product color
• Markings and labeling

By addressing the above elements, a QC checklist will help clear any confusion regarding your product requirements.

· Packaging requirements

Along with the product requirements, it is vital that you also clarify how you want the products to be packaged.

Note that packaging is not just a way to ensure the safe shipping of the product to the final destination.

It also accentuates the appearance of the product and also influences the customer’s perception of the product.

Shipping box marking

Besides, in many industries, packaging requirements are important for regulatory compliance.

So you have to specify precisely how the product should be packaged by addressing the following areas;

• Packaging specification
• Labeling and marking
• Packaging materials
• Packing method

Please, it is important that your product packaging requirements include all these.

This will not only help prevent undue damage to your product but will also protect your brand and customers as well.

· On-site product tests

Another element that an effective QC checklist should address is the onsite product tests.

For quality control, products must undergo certain tests and checks during and after production.

As such, you have to clarify what these tests are, who will perform them and how they should be done.

Also, remember that certain tests and checks require specialized equipment such a hi-pot tester and environmental chamber.

You, therefore, have to clarify who provides this equipment as your inspection team/third party inspector may not be able to get them.

So if you need the manufacturer/supplier to provide them, please specify this in the QC checklist.

Along with these, you should also clarify the criteria for the inspection.

The manufacturer needs to know the criteria for pass or fail.

Quality test certificate

They also need to know any related intolerances that you may have.

If there are, include them in the QC checklist.

· Defect classification

The last but not least area to cover in your QC checklist is defect classification.

Unfortunately, not many people understand how to classify defects for quality control.

You see, you might point to specific quality defects and other issues and even point out which ones you can and can’t accept.

You can even go ahead and provide a visual illustration of these issues.

But then, if you don’t include a section about these in your QC checklist, it might not be as effective.

You have to provide objective tolerances for quality defects by including a section in your QC checklist.

This way, you’re able to pinpoint any possible defects and classify each according to severity.

And also, communicate to the supplier about any tolerances for possible product defects.

Please note that clarifying product defects in a QC checklist ensure that everyone is using the same standard.

Starting from you, the supplier, inspection team to the third party inspector you’re using.

Damaged shipping box

Well,

These are the four main elements that your quality control checklist must cover.

How do you create one for you?

There’s an 80% chance that you have your own set of quality expectations.

So just let your QC checklist reflect that. Simple!

You can choose to collaborate with your supplier, the factory QC manager, and staff to ensure an effective QC checklist.

But at the end of the day, the list has to reflect your requirements for quality (based on your product type and target market).

Therefore, as you create your list, remember not to brush off any issue.

Because the moment you do this, then the supplier, QC staff and even the inspecting personnel will also think it’s not important enough to verify.

And this leads us to our next topic of the discussion-the inspection report.

Chapter 7: Quality Control in China Report

A quality control report is issued after a QC inspection has been conducted on products.

It documents the inspector’s findings about the following;

Quality test report

· Presented product quantity

During final inspection, the factory will provide the inspector with all the finished products.

The inspector will count the products as packaged to ensure that the whole quantity as per your order is presented.

From the presented cartons, the inspector will randomly pick a few to verify the quality of products.

Note that for the product quantity, the inspector will include in the report the exact findings as per the inspection.

For instance, if the supplier presents them with 500 cartons, the report will read 500 cartons presented, not more not less.

It’ll also show the product pieces per carton presented.

· Visual defects

Visual defect findings are generally imperfections on the product or its packaging.

The tolerance level of defect on your QC checklist will determine the maximum number of acceptable defects.

If it exceeds the acceptable limit, then the inspection will indicate a fail.

For this, the report will show pictures along with illustrations of the defects.

· Conformity to requirements

These are the findings given after checking and verifying that goods correspond to the QC requirements.

For example:

Let’s say you’re importing an electrical appliance like a blender.

The inspector will have to check all the relevant aspects of the product for compliance with product specifications.

So if a section of your report reads ‘power cord length only 1 meter not 1.8 meters as PSS requires.”

This means that in your checklist, you’d specified the power cord for the blender to be no less or more than 1.8 meters.

Thus according to the inspection, this is a defect that has to be shown in written form and accompanied by pictures.

Ideally, inspection on conformity requirements is done based on what your (importers) checklist constitutes.

The inspector will use your specification as the checklist for inspection.

If they find anything that is contrary to your requirements, they will report it in the final inspection report.

· On-site tests and checks

Depending on the product you’re importing, tests have to be done to ascertain conformity to your QC requirements.

For example, a product construction check on the wire terminals if they’re correctly peeled and crimpled, and no projecting elementary wires (if not, the test is failed)

Generally, after inspection, the inspector will issue you with a report covering all these areas.

When you receive the report and evaluate the findings, you can choose to either accept or refuse the shipment.

It will depend on how bad the situation is and if any corrective measures can be implemented.

Chapter 8: How to choose a Quality Control Company in China

Selecting a quality control company can be as simple as looking for companies on the internet and randomly picking one.

But then, do you want to entrust an important process such as QC to a company you just picked at random?

I guess not.

Here is what you should be looking for in a suitable quality control company.

Quality control assurance and management

1) Proper certification

Quality control companies have to be certified.

When choosing a company to handle your quality control in China, check if they have ISO 9001 certification.

And also, if they have the AQSIQ license for providing QC services in China.

2) Capability to provide professional and clear reports

A suitable quality control company should be able to provide clear and comprehensive reports.

You don’t want to spend time trying to understand complex messages or struggling through bad English.

Choosing a company that provides reports that are accurate and easy to understand can save you lots of time and effort.

3) Variety of quality control services

A reliable QC company should offer a wide range of quality control services.

This way you’re guaranteed of finding all the solutions that you need to secure the quality of your imports from China.

Also, to guarantee the liability of your manufacturer/supplier.

As mentioned earlier in the guide, the most common QC services in China are:

• pre-production inspection
• on-line inspection
• pre-shipment inspection
• Container loading supervision and more.

Auditing services usually range from factory, social to environmental auditing.

4) Expertise

This is another important factor to consider when choosing a quality control company.

The company you choose should have the relevant experience and knowledge when it comes to your product type.

This is very important.

If you’re importing garments, there is no point choosing a company that only has experience in electronics and vice versa.

You QC company should know the product you’re importing.

This will enable them to make the best-informed decisions on your behalf regarding quality control.

5) Understanding of your quality requirements

When importing from China, you expect certain standards in product quality.

Therefore, you have to be sure that the company you’re hiring understands those standards.

And that they will take the relevant steps to ensure that the standards are adhered to.

If you’re outsourcing your manufacturing to a Chinese factory to cut on costs,

you need to be sure that the product will be sent to you as you imagined.

This will enable you to sell it on and grow your business in the long run.

6) Easy booking of services

For convenience, you should opt for a company that has a reliable online booking system.

This way, you can book QC services easily and on time without having to worry about your calls going unanswered.

Apart from convenience, a reliable online booking system in place speaks volumes about a company’s size, experience, and dependability.

7) Pricing

Always look for companies that offer transparent pricing for their quality inspection services.

So while you’re seeking for an affordable company, ensure that the company also makes its pricing very clear.

This will allow you to estimate your spending well in advance allowing you to adjust your budget accordingly.

As we conclude,

The duties of a quality inspection company are to ensure that all your specifications are meet in product manufacturing.

This includes speaking to manufacturers and suppliers to ensure they understand what you are looking for.

And, auditing the factories to ensure that they pay close attention to detail.

In addition to this, your QC agency should send inspectors to the factory once the first set of production is complete.

This is to ascertain that production conforms to all the specifications that you provided to them.

So when looking for a QC company in China, find one that has only your best interest in mind.

This way you can rest easy knowing that the products you import will be of the highest quality.

And as your confidence grows, you also grow to trust the company and use them for all your China-import needs.

That said and as I promised, below is a company that you can trust with all your quality control needs in China.

Chapter 9: BanSar – Your Quality Control Agent in China

I hope that all you’ve read up to this point has taught you a bit about quality control in China.

Bansar China

Just a word of advice though; when choosing a quality control company in China, remember that most of the companies will provide just as shoddy services as the factories they purport to check.

Thus, you have to be sure that the QC company you work with is truly qualified and reliable.

And for this, I recommended that you look BanSar’s way.

Why?

Because BanSar is a professional certified and licensed quality control service provider in China.

We have our offices in China and a great website that allows you easy access to all our services.

At BanSar we cater to a wide range of importers’ quality control needs including product inspections and factory auditing.

We understand clearly the importance of ensuring the absolute quality of goods when sourcing from China.

Thus, our range of services guarantee to meet all your demands for quality control when importing from China.

Our inspectors have over 20 years’ experience in about every manufacturing sector.

And, can conduct detailed inspections of your specification.

To avoid under-table handling and to gain your trust, we record the entire quality control process for you.

Note that as BanSar, we have a considerable amount of knowledge and experience in “QCing” a wide range of products.

From electrical home appliances, consumer electronics, beauty products, home, healthcare and pet products, lighting and ceiling to toys and games.

So no matter your product type, you can be sure that we will handle their quality control to the best of our ability.

To cooperate with us, simply send us a detailed quality control checklist and lets us work things out.

We will perform the QC following every detail in the checklist and issue you with an accurate and comprehensive report on the same.

So contact us now for bookings.

Chapter 10: FAQs for Quality Control in China

At this point, if you still have pressing questions that you’d like to get answers to, don’t worry.

In this final chapter, I have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions regarding quality control in China.

So keep reading to find answers to your questions.

Quality process – Photo courtesy: Qualtrax

1. If Chinese factories have their own internal quality control measures, why not trust them?

As I mentioned earlier, the factories in China will not always have the interest of the buyer in mind.

Theirs is to make sure that they manufacture and deliver your order as quickly as possible.

While doing this, they also hope to reduce on the cost of production.

In this case, your interest in ensuring quality will not always be at the top of their priority list.

2. When working with a supplier that speaks English, do I still need third-party QC assistance?

Yes, you do.

The fact that your supplier speaks English doesn’t mean that they’ll ensure proper quality control of products.

Well, their understanding of English may allow them to understand your requirements better.

But this doesn’t guarantee that they’ll adhere to those specifications.

So you’ll still need third-party quality control assurance.

3. If I am importing simple products that my supplier has worked on before, do I still need third-party QC services?

Again, yes.

You see, business in China works a bit differently from other regions.

Finding a reliable manufacturer/supplier in China can be a challenge.

Unforeseen problems may also arise even when you’re working with the best manufacturer.

Therefore when importing from China, it is recommended that you seek assistance from an independent third-party; especially with regards to quality-controlled manufacturing.

In other words, if you want to ensure the quality of your product imports from China, you need to keep an eye on production.

This is irrespective of the product you’re importing or the manufacturer you’re working with.

And if you can’t do this yourself, then yes, enlist the help of a third-party professional.

4. How will a third party QC company help me avoid defective goods and delayed deliveries?

By prevention!

An experienced third party QC company will always keep an eye on your products at every stage of the production process.

This will help ensure that quality standards as dictated in your checklist are adhered to at each of the stages.

5. What standards are used for quality control in China?

The recognized quality control standards in China are AQL and ISO 2859-1.

6. What is AQL?

AQL, as I’ve said, is a universally recognized quality control standard.

The standard definition of the AQL is “the maximum defective percent (or the maximum number of defects per hundred units) that, for sampling inspection, can be considered satisfactory as a process average.”

Here, defects are first classified into critical, major and minor.

Secondly, an AQL sampling size is chosen appropriately to the product and by the client’s requirements.

According to the number of defects found for each defect criteria under the AQL standard; as the buyer, you can either choose to accept or reject the shipment.

7. What is defect classification?

Product defects are classified as critical, major or minor.

A critical defect is one that poses the possibility of causing injury or harm to, or otherwise endangering the life or safety of the end user and others near its use.

A major defect is a condition found that adversely affects the marketability and sale-ability of the product.

Or, that adversely affects it required form, fit or function.

A minor defect, on the other hand, refers to any condition that is less than desirable to the end user of the product.

A defect is also considered minor when it doesn’t seem to adversely affect a product’s marketability, sale-ability, form, fit, or function.

And, if it’s unlikely to result in the return the products to the source from which it was purchased.

8. How do I choose the right AQL limit for my product?

There is no standard way of determining the appropriate AQL tolerance for products as it all depends on your supply chain.

So just set the limit basing on the market you’re selling to.

You can also factor in the risk that users can run to when using, consuming or getting close to your product.

Note that your supplier can refuse AQL limits they estimate as too tight.

9. What is social responsibility in factory auditing?

Social responsibility refers to the concept where factories integrate social concerns in their operations.

A factory that integrates this concept will showcase ethics and contribution to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families, as well as of the local community and society at large.

10. How much does a factory audit cost?

The charges vary depending on the company conducting the audit and the auditing service.

It, however, ranges from USD 150 to USD 300.

11. How can you pay for quality control services?

Well, the same way you pay for products and freight forwarding services.

You can opt to pay using online payment systems such as PayPal.

Or pay in cash, via cheque, using a credit card or direct bank transfer.

12. What is the average turnaround time for product quality testing as a service?

Well, this depends on the product and test type.

It, however, ranges from 48 hrs. to 2 weeks.

13. How long will it take for me to get the inspection report?

The duration depends on who conducts quality inspection.

It could range from a few hours to a few days after the inspection.

Remember that during the inspection, the inspector creates a draft report.

The draft is reviewed after inspection, and a clean copy is created and sent to you as the final report.

Conclusion

No doubt, importing from China can help you reduce costs and boost your profit margins.

However, it is not as easy as it sounds.

You have to invest a lot of your time, effort and money in getting your import from China business off the ground.

You also have to develop a viable business plan, analyze the market and choose a product and a supplier for the business to kick off.

It would be unfair to you if you let QC hinder you from achieving the success that you so much deserve.

So for those of you that have been wanting to learn about quality control in China, I hope this guide serves its purpose.

With the information herein, you should be able to ensure proper quality control for your product imports from China.