Quality inspection in China
We check your finished production against AQL criteria and send you the photo report before you release the balance payment. If the batch does not comply, it is corrected in China, not in your warehouse.
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What is an AQL quality inspection?
An AQL inspection is a statistical sampling check carried out on finished production before it leaves China. A sample is drawn from the batch under the ISO 2859-1 standard, critical, major and minor defects are counted, and the result is compared against the agreed limits. If the batch does not comply it is rejected and corrected at the factory, while the goods are still in the country and the buyer keeps all the leverage over the supplier.
Service facts
- Standard applied
- ISO 2859-1 / ANSI Z1.4 (AQL)
- Common levels
- 2.5 major / 4.0 minor
- Critical defects
- Zero tolerance
- General inspection level
- II (consumer goods standard)
- Timing
- Before releasing the balance to the supplier
- Deliverable
- Report with dated photographs and a conclusion
- Can be booked on its own
- Yes, on third-party orders
Why sampling and not 100%
Checking every piece of a 20,000-unit order would cost more than the product itself. AQL sampling solves that with statistics instead of brute force: a sample of a calculated size is drawn and the whole batch is accepted or rejected on the number of defects found. It is the same method used by large importers and retail chains.
The practical consequence is that a batch which passes inspection has a known and bounded probability of containing defects. That is information, not an absolute guarantee, and anyone promising you zero defects on a mass-production order is selling you something that does not exist.
The three types of defect
Critical: can harm the user or breaches a mandatory legal standard. A cable with insufficient insulation, a toy with a part that detaches at small-parts size, an electrical product without the required certification. Tolerance is zero: a single case rejects the batch.
Major: the product cannot be sold or does not work as it should. Parts that do not fit, a button that does not respond, a finish that does not match the approved sample. Assessed against level 2.5 as standard.
Minor: does not prevent the sale but affects appearance or the perception of quality. Surface marks, loose threads, a slightly crooked label. Assessed against level 4.0.
What we check beyond the defect count
Beyond the count by category, we verify that the product matches the approved sample or specifications: actual measurements, weight, colour and finish. We check the labelling and the mandatory marking of the destination market, including language requirements. We review the individual packaging and the master carton, and run a carton drop test where the product requires it.
When the order is going to a MercadoLibre or Amazon warehouse, we add the platform-specific check: that the SKU labelling matches, that the packaging meets the declared dimensions and weight, and that the product carries no seals or stickers the platform rejects.
When to inspect
There are three possible points and each one does something different. Inspection during production catches a problem while it can still be fixed on the line, before the rest of the batch is made. Pre-shipment inspection, which is what we use by default, is done with the order finished and packed, and it is the one that conditions the balance payment. Loading supervision is done while the container is being filled, to confirm that what should go in goes in and under the agreed conditions.
For most orders, pre-shipment inspection is the control point with the best balance of cost and protection. For large orders or complex production, adding an inspection during production reduces the risk of having to re-run an entire batch.
| Before it leaves China | On arrival at your warehouse | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of resolving it | The cost of the factory correction or a partial re-run | International freight paid twice plus the lost sale |
| Leverage over the supplier | High: the goods and the balance are still in play | Low: it has been paid and the goods have left its country |
| Replacement lead time | Resolved within the same production cycle | A full new cycle, plus transit |
| Impact on your schedule | Adjustable before launch | Stock-out and lost sales |
| Defective goods | Stay in China: corrected, scrapped or resold locally | Take up space in your warehouse and have to be destroyed or liquidated |
How an inspection is run
- 01
Specifications
We agree the checklist with you: measurements, materials, finish, labelling and tolerances.
- 02
AQL levels
We set the critical, major and minor defect levels that apply to your product and category.
- 03
Inspection date
We coordinate with the factory the day the production will be finished and packed.
- 04
Inspection at the plant
The inspector travels to the site, draws the sample and runs the agreed checks.
- 05
Report
You receive dated photographs, the defect count and an explicit conclusion on the batch.
- 06
Decision
With the report in hand you decide whether to release the balance, demand a correction or reject the batch.
Frequently asked questions about quality inspection
What is an AQL inspection and what do levels 2.5 and 4.0 mean?
AQL stands for Acceptable Quality Limit and is the international standard for attribute sampling (ISO 2859-1, equivalent to ANSI/ASQ Z1.4). Instead of checking 100% of a batch, a statistically sized sample is drawn and the defects it contains are counted. Level 2.5 applies to major defects — the ones that make the product unsellable — and level 4.0 to minor defects such as surface marks. If the number of defects in the sample exceeds the limit, the entire batch is rejected.
How many pieces of my order are inspected?
The number of pieces inspected depends on the batch size and the inspection level. At general level II, which is the standard for consumer goods, a batch of 3,201 to 10,000 units is sampled with 200 pieces. A batch of 501 to 1,200 units is sampled with 80. Critical defects — the ones that can harm the user — are always assessed with zero tolerance.
Does the inspection happen before or after I pay the supplier?
The inspection happens before the balance is paid. That is precisely the reason for doing it. The sequence we use is: a deposit so the factory buys materials and produces, an inspection of the finished production, and the balance released only if the report passes. If the batch is rejected, the factory corrects it or re-runs production while the goods are still in China, which is where you have real leverage.
What happens if my order fails the inspection?
If your order fails the inspection we send you the report with photographs of the defects and a recommendation. From there the supplier can re-run production, correct the defective pieces, apply a discount on the batch or accept a return. We negotiate that outcome with you and with the factory before the goods leave the country, which is when it can still be resolved with no logistics cost.
Can I book an inspection for an order I did not buy through you?
Yes. An inspection can be booked independently on an order managed by you or by another agent. All we need is the factory address, the date the production will be finished and the specifications the inspection has to check against.
What does the inspection report include?
The inspection report records the batch number, the sample size, the count of critical, major and minor defects against the agreed AQL limits, dated photographs of the defects found and of the tests performed, verification of measurements, weight, colour and labelling, and an explicit conclusion: pass, pass with observations or fail.
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SKU labelling, packing and palletising done Full-ready before it leaves China.
Tell us what you need to buy
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