Manufacturing and Quality Control blog

Should I hire a 3rd-party to inspect my products? This is a common question among buyers. And it helps to understand the basic functions of a product inspection company in order to answer this question. In this article, I’ll give you a rundown of the main functions – and a couple limitations – of a 3rd-party inspection company.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

What are the best ways for a Western company to monitor quality at a contract Chinese manufacturer? What groundwork should you lay before working with a Chinese supplier? You'll learn the answers to these questions and more in this bulletin article.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Most importers have heard a supplier complain about an inspector asking for special treatment or maybe even a bribe. And while this is unfortunate – and maybe even true – importers need to be cautious when evaluating such claims.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Can you remember a time when you were really disorganized? Now imagine the effect poor organization can have on the factory that’s manufacturing your product. Finally, consider the negative consequences that disorder can have on your QC partner when they’re carrying out a product inspection.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

What tools does your QC company use during product inspection? How can you be sure that your inspection company is using the right tools? So what is one way you can assess whether or not your inspection company is delivering accurate reports? Take a look at the tools they're using to conduct inspection.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice, product inspection tools

As a buyer of imported goods, have you considered the possibility of corruption making its way into your supply chain? Corruption can take many forms, but it’s often during product inspections where buyers show real concern.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Do you rely on product inspect to verify quality? Are you rushing to inspect your product before the shipping deadline? How much notice do you provide your inspection company before inspection is booked?

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Finding a Chinese supplier to manufacture a product is easy nowadays. Current technology allows you to find hundreds of factories, in a moment’s notice, that are very eager to earn your business. The hard part is getting the actual products you order. Here are three issues you will want to avoid when sourcing in China.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Have you ever worked with a supplier that just didn’t seem to have your best interests at heart? Maybe there was poor communication between you and the factory. Or, maybe your supplier hit you with one excuse after another to explain poor product quality or a delayed shipment. If you’ve had experience with either situation, you probably wish you’d known how to avoid it. So how do you avoid working with a bad supplier?

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

When should you get your 3rd-party QC partner involved? This is a commonly asked question among importers and manufacturers. The answer largely depends on what you expect your QC partner to provide and what you can afford. If you already have a team that can inspect and develop checklists, then it may be fine to involve your QC partner 1-2 weeks in advance. However, getting a QC team involved earlier can help you improve your supply chain. Here are three reasons to involve your QC partner early:

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice