China Factory Inspection: What Western Buyers Should Check

A factory inspection should have a clear purpose. Depending on the project, the focus may include production capability, materials, equipment, quality systems, packaging, storage or the manufacturer's ability to meet your specifications.

For finished goods, quality control can include pre-production, in-process and pre-shipment checkpoints. The earlier a problem is identified, the more options there are for correction.

Inspection is therefore most effective when it is integrated with supplier selection and manufacturer management rather than treated as a last-minute event.

A practical way to evaluate the project

• Define the product and quality requirements.
• Assess supplier capability and commercial fit.
• Agree samples and specifications before production.
• Use appropriate production and quality checkpoints.
• Coordinate packaging, documentation and export.

Discuss your China project