Quality inspections in China: in-production and pre-shipment
Inspection is not a final gate — it is a control loop. We check while the parts are being made, stop the batch before it becomes scrap, and verify what actually goes into the container.
Why pre-shipment alone is not enough
A pre-shipment inspection tells you what is wrong when the goods are already made: the only remaining lever is a discount or a rework you cannot supervise. In-production inspection catches the drift while the machine is still set up.
On machined and forged parts the drift is measurable: tool wear, die wear, thermal growth. Sampling during the run, not after it, is what keeps a lot inside tolerance.
- First-off approval before the run starts
- In-process sampling at agreed intervals
- Dimensional report on the agreed CTQs
- Visual and functional checks against the specification
- Packing and labelling verification
- Container loading supervision with photo sequence
Inspection types
Scope, sampling plan and acceptance criteria agreed in writing before the visit.
During production
First-off plus sampling during the run: the defect is caught while it can still be corrected at the machine.
Plan in-production checksPre-shipment (AQL)
Random sample from the finished lot, inspected to the agreed AQL level, with accept/reject decision and photo evidence.
Book pre-shipment100% sorting
Every piece checked on the critical characteristic when the lot is suspect or the application is safety-related.
Request sortingLoading supervision
Quantity, packing, labelling and container condition verified at loading, with a photo sequence of the operation.
Supervise loadingHow an inspection is set up
Four steps from request to report.
Specification
Drawing, CTQs, acceptance criteria, sampling level and the documents you want to see.
Booking
Date agreed with the supplier, inspector assigned, travel planned.
On site
Measurements, visual checks, functional tests, photos of the actual lot and of the records.
Report
Result per characteristic, defect classification, photo annex and a clear recommendation: ship, rework, reject.
What the report contains
Every inspection produces a document you can attach to a claim or to your customer's quality file: lot identification, sample size, measured values against tolerance, defect photos with a scale reference, and the inspector's conclusion.
Defects are classified as critical, major or minor so that the accept/reject decision is not a matter of opinion.
Working on repeat production
The third and fourth shipments are where attention drops. For repeat production we agree a permanent inspection plan: which characteristics are checked every lot, which every tenth lot, and what triggers a full re-qualification.
Non-conformities are logged with the supplier's corrective action, and the next inspection verifies whether the action worked.
Questions about inspections
What is AQL and which level do you use?
AQL is the acceptance quality limit used to size the sample and decide accept/reject. The level depends on the product and the customer: we use the level stated in your specification, or propose one based on the criticality of the defect.
How quickly can an inspection be arranged?
Usually within three to five working days, depending on the location and the supplier's readiness. Urgent bookings are possible when the lot is already packed.
Do you inspect in factories that are not your clients?
We inspect at any plant in China, including suppliers we did not select. The inspection is independent of the commercial relationship.
Can you check material certificates?
Yes: mill certificates, heat numbers and, when needed, third-party chemical or mechanical testing through accredited laboratories.
What happens if the lot is rejected?
We document the defects, agree the rework or sorting plan with the supplier, and re-inspect the corrected lot before shipment.
Related services
Inspect before you ship.
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宁波贝琳达进出口有限公司
Room 426, Building 3, No. 2 XinJian Road, Beilun District, Ningbo, Zhejiang