Found a supplier online but not sure if they’re everything they claim to be? Factory inspections, which can easily be booked online, can quickly put boots on the ground and verify what’s actually going on behind the factory gates.
In this article, you will learn everything importers and Amazon sellers should know about factory inspections:
- What is a factory inspection?
- What is not covered in a factory inspection?
- How can a factory inspection or audit help my business?
- At what stage should we book a factory audit?
- How much does a factory audit cost?
- Can we visit the factory ourselves?
- How long in advance do we need to book the inspection?
- What is the difference between a quality inspection and a factory inspection?
- Should we always book a factory inspection before deciding on a supplier?
Bonus Content
- List of Factory Audit Companies
- Factory Inspection Sample Report (PDF)
What is a factory inspection?
A factory inspection, as the name implies, take places in a manufacturing facility to assess its internal quality management procedures and understand its production capabilities. Normally, the factory is scored from 1 to 100, with 1 being the lowest score and 100 the highest.
A supplier with a higher score is less likely to have severe quality issues. That is, of course, not a guarantee, but at least better than guessing.
Essentially, a factory inspection is meant to answer these questions.
- Is this factory specialized in making the right type of products?
- Do they have acceptable quality control procedures?
- What types of machines do they have?
In addition, a factory inspection report may also include this information:
- Major customers
- Total employees
- Number of quality staff
- Operating time
- Shifts
- Peak production months
- Main products
- Subcontractors
- Production process
- List of machines
Factory inspections tend to follow this process:
- Incoming materials warehouse inspection
- Assembly lines inspection
- Internal quality control station inspection
- Product packing inspection
- Defective units storage and repair inspection
- Finished goods warehouse inspection
What is not covered in a factory inspection?
Unlike a quality control, a factory inspection doesn’t assess product quality, as it generally takes place before a buyer places an order with the factory. Hence, there are no products to inspect.
Further, factory inspections typically don’t take social compliance and environmental practices into consideration, as the audit focuses entirely on the quality management processes and production capabilities.
That said, there are other types of factory audits that do take both environmental standards and working conditions into consideration.
How can a factory inspection or audit help my business?
A factory inspection is meant to assess a supplier before you commit to buying product samples or placing a larger order. As such, the factory inspection can help you filter out ‘bad suppliers’ or help you select one with higher standards.
At what stage should we book a factory audit?
You should book the factory audit before you order product samples or place an order. However, I recommend that you should wait until you have contacted the supplier to request a quotation.
How much does a factory audit cost?
A factory inspection normally costs around $300. This price is based on a one-day inspection, which is sufficient for most factories. But, keep in mind that an inspector can only visit one factory per day. Hence, you have to pay (around) $300 per supplier you want to audit.
Can we visit the factory ourselves?
Yes, you can visit the factory on your own, something that I strongly recommend that you do at some point.
That said, evaluating a factory takes a strict protocol in the hands of an experienced professional. I’ve visited hundreds of factories in Asia, but struggle to confidently score a supplier in a precise manner.
As a buyer, your factory visit should be for the following reasons:
- Confirm materials, colors and other product details
- Confirm order terms
- Negotiate prices
But, strict factory evaluations are best left in the hands of professionals.
How long in advance do we need to book the inspection?
I recommend that you book the factory inspection at least a week in advance. Further, the factory inspection should not come as a surprise to the supplier.
What is the difference between a quality inspection and a factory inspection?
A factory inspection is focused on evaluating the suppliers internal quality processes and production capabilities. But, there are no products involved.
A quality inspection, on the other hand, doesn’t evaluate the factory itself – but only focuses on the quality of the products.
Should we always book a factory inspection before deciding on a supplier?
While I always argue that pre-shipment quality inspection is mandatory, no matter how long you’ve worked with the supplier – I don’t consider factory inspections are nearly as critical.
The reason being that there are other ways to assess a supplier’s capabilities:
- ISO 9001 certification
- Product certification
- Existing factory audit reports
- Registered capital
Further, the cost of one factory audit multiplied on 10 suppliers, which is a common number at a supplier sourcing stage, is quite significant for a small business. Meanwhile, a quality inspection generally only involves one single supplier.
List of Factory Audit Companies
Below follows an overview of companies offering factory inspections in China and other Asian countries:
- Sofeast.com
- InTouch Manufacturing Services
- QIMA.com
- Bureau Veritas
- Asia Quality Focus
- V-Trust
- SGS
- Intertek
Factory Inspection Sample Report
Totally agree with you when stated that “pre-shipment quality inspection is mandatory, no matter how long you’ve worked with the supplier”. I had a supplier which I’ve been working with since 2006 and every time I visit them they thank me and V-Trust, which is the inspection company I use, for helping them to achieve the quality they have now. We were very strict back in the day and though now quality is way better, we still keep an eye on the products before loading.
Yes, never let your guard down!
HI
I would like to get quote for QC before the container left the factory to verify the QYT & the goods per my order
pls advise details & prices
Do u have office near Shanghai ?
pls send to Haim.peretz@avnet.com
thx
Hello Haim,
We can help you with this. I suggest you request a free quote here: https://www.chinaimportal.com/book-lab-testing/
Thanks Fredrik for the mention. Good overview!
There are different approaches to auditing a factory on a technical level:
1. Sticking to the quality system (what info do they confirm at the start, what do they check, how do they treat non-conformities, how do their improve over time…) — that’s the idea in the report sample above. It can go much more in depth, too.
2. Looking at the production processes, wondering what can go wrong, and checking if the factory has the right controls in place. The objective is the same (ensuring the factory is not likely to ship bad quality), but it looks more at the fundamentals. Good process controls ensure few issues come up, which also means fewer delays and lower costs. Good equipment maintenance is also often included here, since it has a direct impact on process controls.
3. In addition to No. 1 (quality system) and No. 2 (process), the most comprehensive audits also look at other fundamentals of the factory: staff training, new product introduction, production planning, and so on. Any serious failure in one of these areas can have a severe impact on a buyer.
4. In addition to all the above, think of the whole supply chain and have the suppliers of critical/sensitive components audited, too…