One batch of poor-quality products can ruin your brand. Delivering consistent high quality is the key to positive reviews. Here's everything you need to know about product inspection.
This ensures your product meets your design and quality expectations. One batch of poor-quality products can ruin your products and brand. Delivering consistent high quality is the key to positive reviews and customer experience.
The 3 Main Types of Inspection
๐ Types of Inspection
Most Amazon sellers choose Pre-Shipment inspection in China. However, not every product needs a Pre-Shipment test. For some products, an inspection before packing or during manufacturing is better โ especially when the product is delicate, when faults can only be identified at preliminary stages, when you need to verify certain production steps weren't skipped, or when the product is manufactured across several factories.
99% of factories approve inspection during production. If a factory does not allow this type of quality check, do not work with them โ they probably have something to hide.
Why is Factory Audit Important?
A factory audit checks the plant itself, not just the product. Here's a real example: we joined an inspection for a customer, and after long walking and searching, found the "factory." A $22,000 order โ and there was no trace of the merchandise. The customer was devastated.
โ ๏ธ Alibaba Trade Assurance โ The Truth
Trade Assurance does protect you if you have stones instead of products or units are missing. However, when you're dissatisfied with quality, your supplier knows that most chances are he has nothing to worry about. To determine an inspection failed, you must issue another inspection using an Alibaba-approved company that uses the AQL standard. And 90% of complaints are not dealt with.
What is AQL?
AQL (Acceptance Quality Limit) is defined as "quality level that is the worst tolerable." It is the well-proven ISO 2859 international standard. The higher the level, the lower the probability of problems. For Amazon, your quality standard should be strict โ Amazon's clients are less forgiving.
What to Do If the Inspection Failed?
The DROP TEST
90% of factories do not approve this test โ which is exactly why you should request it. The test checks the durability of packaging to make sure the carton will withstand pressures during the logistics chain. Each carton has a breaking point. If your supplier doesn't pack products properly according to weight and volume, light blows can sabotage your whole shipment.
Drop Test Equipment ยท Wrong Packaging ยท Carton damaged during transportation
๐ก๏ธ Never Skip Inspection
Never give up on inspection just to make a shipment deadline or to save a few dollars. Always perform an inspection, even if it's a factory you've worked with 1,000 times before. There is no reason to work with a factory that refuses inspection โ it definitely has something to hide.
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