Quality Control and Product Inspections
We inspect the goods against a standard agreed in writing before packing, and report what we find, including the results you'd rather not read.
What an inspection looks like
Who this service is for
Anyone paying the balance before the goods leave China. Inspection is the last point at which a problem still belongs to the factory instead of to you.
When we inspect
Before production
We check materials, components and the approved sample against the spec before the line starts, while changes are still cheap.
During production
A check on the line, usually once enough units exist to assess consistency. Issues get caught while production can still be corrected.
Before shipment
The finished, packed goods: appearance, function, dimensions, quantity, labeling, packaging and carton markings.
How we inspect
The inspection scope is put in writing before the visit: what gets measured, how, how many units are sampled, and which defects count as critical, major or minor. If a sampling plan is used, the report states the plan and the accepted defect levels. Without a written standard, an inspection is just an opinion.
An inspection is a sampling check at one point in time. It substantially reduces risk, but it doesn't make a shipment defect-free, and no honest inspector will claim otherwise. We don't offer a quality guarantee, because we don't manufacture the goods.
What you get
- An inspection report: scope, sample size, measurements, results and a defect list by severity.
- Photos of the goods, the packaging and the carton markings.
- A short video when movement or function matters more than a photo can show.
- A clear conclusion — pass, pass with conditions, or fail — and, if it fails, what the factory needs to fix.
What stays your responsibility
Where our responsibility ends. We coordinate and document. The factory is responsible for its own production and for complying with the laws of its country. You are the importer: you decide the technical, safety, labeling and certification requirements for your destination market, and we inspect against the standard you define. Your customs broker handles classification, duties and clearance; damage in transit is a matter for cargo insurance. This is set out in the terms and conditions.
Inspection questions
What happens if the goods fail?
You get the report before the balance payment is due; that's the whole point. Depending on your contract with the factory, you can withhold payment, demand corrections, request a re-inspection, or cancel.
Do you run tests for certifications like CE?
No. Lab testing and certifications require an accredited laboratory. We can arrange samples for that lab and inspect against the standard once it's defined.
Can you inspect a shipment from a supplier you didn't source?
Yes. Most of our inspections are for existing supplier relationships.
Inspect before you pay the balance
Tell us the product, quantity and shipping date. We'll propose an inspection scope you can approve in writing.
Or email info@aecglobalsourcing.com.