The document discusses the importance of quality control inspections when sourcing products from Asia. It notes that poor quality or delays can cost importers money and customers. The solution is to have inspections done at the factory before shipping to check for defects, ensure specifications are met, and allow issues to be addressed. Inspectors randomly sample products and check visual quality, functionality, packaging, and safety compliance. Relying on sourcing agents alone for inspections is not recommended as they may not be objective or thorough. The document provides tips for importers to implement inspections, such as specifying them in purchase orders and withholding final payment until accepting inspection reports.

1. Quality Control ? Are you importing or sourcing in Asia? PAGE ONE of NINE MAIN CONTROL BACK NEXT EXIT

4. The solution: checking quality If you receive defective goods in your country, it is too late. You usually cannot send it back to the factory, especially if it is in China. And the supplier is not likely to re-produce it for free, or even to refund your order. The solution is to check product quality and production status in the factory. This way, the factory can be asked to do the right thing (sorting and repairing). Not only are they repairing their own mistakes, but these corrective actions probably cost much less than they would upon delivery in your country. Another benefit is that the factory technicians see what you accept and what you reject. Pre-shipment quality inspections strongly encourage them to take more care of your orders. PAGE FOUR of NINE MAIN CONTROL BACK NEXT EXIT

5. What does an inspector check? The main check points are listed below: 1. Quantity of products presented, and status of production 2. Visual aspect of the products and their packaging 3. Conformity to your requirements, based on the documents sent to the inspection firm 4. Tests related to your product’s functionality and your country’s safety regulations You are advised to ask a quality inspection firm for an example of a report. It will clarify what they check and how they do it. PAGE FIVE of NINE MAIN CONTROL BACK NEXT EXIT

6. Why do only random sampling? Checking 100% of the order quantity, one piece at a time, would be very time consuming. A much more cost-effective method is to draw samples at random and to inspect them carefully. Fortunately, all professional inspectors follow the same statistical rules (to ensure that the samples they draw are representative of the whole order quantity). It is also possible to send an inspector when the first finished products are ready, rather than waiting until the whole order is completed. This way, you will be aware of potential issues early in the manufacturing cycle. It means the factory can take preventive actions for the rest of production, and you can adjust your shipment planning if needed. PAGE SIX of NINE MAIN CONTROL BACK NEXT EXIT

7. Why you should not count on a sourcing agent for QC Agents can be very helpful for finding new factories. They can also help you with communication, thanks to their cultural understanding and their on-the-ground presence. However, you should not rely on them for confirming product quality. There are mainly two reasons for this. First, most agents work for the supplier as much as they work for the buyer. More than 80% of them get some commission from the factory, whether or not the buyer pays them. As a result, they will never refuse quality even if it is disastrous. Second, sourcing agents tend to be unprofessional in their approach to quality inspection (if they do inspections at all). Very few of them follow the proper statistics for random sampling. They seldom even send a report and a few photos to the buyer! PAGE SEVEN of NINE MAIN CONTROL BACK NEXT EXIT

8. The first few steps to start doing quality inspections If you decide to start working with a third-party inspection firm, here are a few steps to follow: 1. Write “QC inspection prior to shipment” on your purchase orders; 2. If you pay by letter of credit (L/C),require a certificate of passed inspection from your nominated inspection firm; 3. If pay by bank wire (T/T), do not transfer the balance until you accept the inspection report. It is even better if you take a little time to describe what you expect in written form, with your tolerances when applicable. Sending a perfect sample to the inspector (or leaving a sample that you signed in the factory) is also very helpful. PAGE EIGHT of NINE MAIN CONTROL BACK NEXT EXIT

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