Quality control 品质

What happens at this stage

You check that what the factory makes matches what you approved. That can mean a factory audit (checking a supplier's capabilities before you commit), in-line inspection (checks during production) and pre-shipment inspection (checking a random sample of finished goods before you pay the balance and ship).

Why it matters

You're usually thousands of kilometres away. Independent checks catch problems while they can still be fixed, before goods are on a ship.

What it costs and how long

Third-party inspection is typically charged per inspector-day, often a few hundred dollars. Book a few days ahead.

Common mistakes

• No written quality standard or golden sample (the approved reference unit) to inspect against
• Paying the final balance before inspection
• Only inspecting the first order

Who helps

QC and inspection firms, many with English-speaking staff. Filter the directory by QC & inspection.