Quality control is an important step in the process of sourcing products from China that can’t be ignored and the reasons behind it are obvious when you think about it. Why would you want to order more than one batch of items, if one has failed? In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about quality control before placing your first order so that you’re never faced with this dilemma again. We’ll also explore the different types of quality control services and what they can do for you before looking at why quality control matters when sourcing products from China.
Even minor mistakes can cost you everything
The most important thing when it comes to importing your product is quality control. If you don’t test every aspect of your product and make sure that everything is working perfectly, there’s a high chance that you won’t be able to sell it. Of course, there are certain risks involved in choosing overseas suppliers.
The fact is, these people may not take their jobs as seriously as you might like them to, but that doesn’t mean you should change your strategy if what they are producing isn’t up to standard. What matters in business is results.
What works for one entrepreneur might not work for another – which means that quality control china strategies need to be figured out specifically for each person and each product category they handle.
Define your requirements clearly
It’s important to ensure you have written down all your requirements for sourcing a product. For example, are you looking for someone who can manufacture it exactly as per your requirements or do you want to give yourself some margin for customisation? Once you’ve established your needs, it is important to hire a company that can provide a quality product at an affordable cost.
This includes both design and material cost. Don’t look at just one factor but make sure that they fit into what you need before going ahead with them. If your supplier does not meet certain specifications then it could end up costing you more money than what was initially planned for.
Always send samples before production
To avoid costly mistakes, we recommend sending samples before production. This will allow you to verify that all aspects of your product are as they should be. However, it’s important to remember that sample costs must be factored into your manufacturing budget—so if you’re on a tight schedule, then use discretion and make sure that you know what your budgets are beforehand.
Always research potential manufacturers thoroughly: Do extensive research on each potential manufacturer and ask them detailed questions about their capabilities and how they produce their products. In order to receive accurate answers (and not end up with more questions than answers), we recommend asking these questions via email instead of in-person meetings or phone calls; there is little room for misinterpretation over email.
Ask Questions if Something Seems Off
If you’re buying products in bulk, it’s important to be sure that you’re ordering from a reliable source. Is a factory able to meet quality control services? What types of certifications does it have? Has it made any public commitments to improving conditions for its workers or cutting down on pollution? Do vendors always ship your orders by their due date?
A reliable supplier will show that they can consistently handle orders on time and with high-quality standards. The best way to tell if a vendor is doing business ethically is by asking questions – there are lots of platforms available online where you can see what other people have said about different suppliers and sources.
There Are No Shortcuts
Many companies will tell you they can provide products at a lower cost than your current suppliers. While that may be true, these claims are often based on very low profit margins that do not include anything for quality control.
The bottom line is that cutting corners to reduce your costs only adds to your overall risk—and could negatively impact your business in ways you don’t even realize until it’s too late. When choosing a new vendor, look for someone who can offer long-term value through improved quality and consistency; those vendors will deliver higher profitability to you over time.
Keep it Realistic
Any time you’re making purchases from overseas, it’s important to keep in mind that there will be additional delays. While domestic manufacturers can usually deliver products to retailers within a few weeks, international shipping times vary widely—from a few days for air-shipped items to three or four months for sea-shipped shipments.
Make sure that you have enough product on hand for launch and orders beyond that so you don’t lose sales because your customers can’t find what they want. You might consider building in extra time or planning to work with several different suppliers so you have options should one run into delays. And while international sourcing may initially seem cheaper, remember that shipping and import fees will eat up a lot of those savings over time.
Wrapping up
While there are certainly downsides to buying from China, there’s no doubt that Chinese manufacturing is still a viable and incredibly cost-effective option for many companies. After all, price isn’t everything: The presence or absence of quality control procedures at a certain factory may not affect your bottom line if you’re only selling a small number of products.
However, when sourcing large volumes of products, even minor flaws can result in significant losses—not to mention customer dissatisfaction. Before importing products made in Asia, do your research and make sure you choose a supplier that adheres to both domestic and international standards.
If you can find a reliable manufacturer with solid QC practices, you should feel confident about your ability to keep costs down while maintaining product quality.
