Wood Warping and How to Prevent It

by John Niggl on 2 Dec 2023 | 48 Comments
Products made of wood can play tricks on you. While they might look fine at first, wood warping can distort what was once a perfectly fine item. But by knowing how wood warping is caused, you can take steps to make sure wood doesn't become disfigured and useless.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

3 Types of Quality Defects for Defect Classification

by AQF Team on 28 Nov 2023 | 5 Comments
Defect classification is a vital step for determining if goods should pass or fail inspection. Check out these 3 types of quality defects for your different product types.

Topics: Consumer Electronics, Industrial Goods, Product Inspection, Textile Products, Acceptable Quality Level (AQL)

Chinese New Year Factory Shutdown 2024: Tips for Importers

by AQF Team on 22 Nov 2023 | 0 Comments

Tips for Importers During Chinese New Year Factory Shutdown 2024

The Chinese New Year is an annual event that carries significant implications for businesses that rely on inventory from China. Understanding and preparing for the potential disruptions caused by the 2024 Chinese New Year is crucial for maintaining the quality and efficiency of your supply chain. In this blog, we'll explore the impact of the Chinese New Year on businesses and provide tips to help you navigate these challenges effectively.

How To Prepare Your Supply Chain For Chinese New Year 2024

by Polly Chen on 20 Nov 2023 | 0 Comments

If you are a business owner who sources from China, you must have heard about the Chinese New Year (CNY), also called Spring Festival and Luanr New Year, and the factory shutdowns related to this festival. Click on our post to find out the details of Chinese New Year 2024, and tips to prepare your supply chain for it.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Prepare Your Supply Chain for Lunar New Year 2024

by AQF Team on 9 Nov 2023 | 0 Comments

Sourcing from China? Prepare Your Supply Chain for Lunar New Year 2024

If you source your brand’s products from Chinese manufacturers, it's important to be aware of the Lunar New Year (also called Chinese New Year) and how it will affect your supply chain. During the 2024 Lunar New Year, which falls on February 9-15, 2024, factories will shut down, shipping will slow, and product defects may increase. Not only does that create difficulty around the Lunar New Year, but it can also make it more difficult for you to get the inventory you need in the period immediately before the holiday, when some facilities may limit production, and after the holiday, when it takes time for many factories to ramp back up to full production.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Quality Control Service to A Trusted Third Party

by AQF Blog on 26 Oct 2023 | 0 Comments

Quality control services ensure products meet predefined standards of quality – and in any industry, maintaining high-quality standards is paramount for success. Many businesses initially prefer internal quality control teams for several reasons, including proximity and availability. However, many factors, like budgeting, talent availability, and others, may soon make outsourcing appealing.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

3 Holiday Decor Trends for 2023

by AQF Team on 25 Oct 2023 | 0 Comments

It’s no secret that the holiday decor industry is thriving; in 2022 alone, the global market for Christmas decorations was estimated to be worth more than $7 billion (U.S.). With the 2023 holiday season approaching, home decor brands have a golden opportunity to enhance their customers' festivities and secure their spot in this multi-billion dollar industry by producing on-trend home decor products.

Holiday Decoration Safety Standards for U.S. Importers

by AQF Team on 11 Oct 2023 | 0 Comments

The last thing you want as a U.S. holiday decoration importer is to find out your products have been denied by customs, rejected by Amazon, or recalled by regulatory agencies because they didn’t meet the relevant product safety standards. Implementing a robust home decor quality control and testing program can help protect you from these negative outcomes — but how do you know which product safety standards to check for in the first place?

Manufacturing LED Lights: Important Stats You Need To Know

by AQF Team on 21 Sep 2023 | 0 Comments

In 2019, approximately half of all light sources in the world were LEDs. That number is expected to climb to 87% by the year 2030.

11 Injection Molding Defects and How to Prevent Them

by AQF Team on 13 Sep 2023 | 17 Comments
Injection molding is a common manufacturing process used to make components made of metals, polymers, glasses, confections and other materials. Pellets of material are melted and then injected at high pressure into a mold that will set to form the desired component. Here are 11 common injection molding defects to watch out for when inspecting injection-molded products, what the causes are and how you can avoid them.

Topics: Product Inspection, Injection Molding

4 Critical Quality Controls For Cosmetics Packaging