Some importers tend to mix “product inspection” with “product testing”. But how do “quality control” and “inspection” vary? Don’t these procedures all include inspecting and testing the product?
Can testing and quality inspection be done simultaneously and in the same place? Do you need to manage either of these processes independently, or can your supplier handle both for you? How many units must be inspected to provide a trustworthy assessment of the product’s quality?
Product testing and product inspection are two different processes of a larger quality control plan. Let’s examine how these two quality management methods compare and how they might work with your quality control strategy.
How Are Quality Inspection And Testing Different?
Product inspection and product testing address several quality issues that importers consider while assessing their products. Does your tablet computer’s screen have any scratches? Does your woven garment has skipped stitches? These are the kinds of questions concerning your products that product inspection can aid in resolving.
Is it necessary to know the paint’s chemical composition that your suppliers use to coat your furniture? Or if your children’s toy complies with requirements set forth by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission standard? Product testing is the most suitable method for addressing these questions.
Product testing, also called lab testing, usually entails comparing a product to a certain standard or regulations in a licensed laboratory. In contrast, product inspection frequently entails assessing the conformity to the needs and specifications of a buyer of a random sample of an order.
Overview of Product Inspection
Product inspection can be defined as the process of inspecting products for compliance with your requirements and specifications. The process of product inspection is often carried out at the manufacturing facility where your product is made, and it largely focuses on inspecting the product’s design, construction, and basic functionality.
Before your products reach buyers, you may use product inspection to identify and correct quality issues. When inspecting a representative sample of the entire order quantity, inspectors frequently employ an acceptance sampling technique like AQL. The inspector can often assign a clear “pass” or “fail” rating for the order using AQL based on the severity of the quality defects.
Who Is Legally Authorized To Carry Out Product Inspection?
It’s easy for factory workers in foreign countries to misinterpret your specifications and requirements and produce goods that don’t adhere to them. Because of this, many importers discover that depending on their factory to perform product inspections is only sometimes a reliable strategy to control product quality.
Hardly do factories’ internal QC staff give importers a thorough report of the product inspection process required to evaluate an order. Instead, importers who are serious about controlling product quality typically choose one of the alternative techniques listed below:
- A Third-Party Inspection Company Like EC Global Inspection
At a fair price, independent inspection companies may often inspect various products and offer a thorough report. They should adhere to tight integrity regulations and routine inspection procedures to ensure accurate results.
- Full-Time Inspectors
These are local workers that your company has engaged and paid a salary to inspect your goods. You often need the funds to open an office abroad to hire local personnel legally.
- Send an Employee Overseas To Do an Inspection, Or Do It Yourself
You could feel that you can inspect things more effectively using your requirements and standards. However, if you need regular inspections for huge order volumes, this approach may not be practicable due to high time and travel costs.
The methods mentioned above for product inspection are well-known to most Asian suppliers. When placing your order, inform your supplier of your inspection needs, including who will do the inspection and when it must happen. By doing this, your supplier will be better able to prepare for the inspection and reduce any pushback prior to shipment.
When Should You Carry Out Product Inspection?
When your supplier has finalized 80% or more of your order, a final inspection, also known as a pre-shipment inspection (PSI), takes place. The most common period to inspect is during production, which is the choice quality control experts usually advise as the absolute minimum for consumer products.
The main disadvantage of PSI is that it frequently takes place after it is too late to rectify any quality problems or difficulties the inspector discovers in the shipment. There might not be enough time to repair or fix the affected units, depending on the issues discovered and how quickly the products must leave the factory. Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) also doesn’t do much to stop order defects.
At various phases of the production process, product inspection can provide numerous benefits. You can detect any quality problems earlier in the production process before they affect most of an order.
Overview of Product Testing
Product and lab testing are frequently used interchangeably in the quality control sector. This is because product quality testing can usually be done outside your supplier’s facility at a qualified third-party laboratory. On-site product testing is not a substitute for certified lab testing but can support third-party inspection.
Herein lies the main difference between product inspection and product testing processes. To inspect products, you normally need to go to your supplier’s factory or send an inspector on your behalf, while samples for lab testing must often be sent from your supplier’s factory to a lab for more precise testing.
When To Carry Out Product Testing
Importers frequently conduct tests on two distinct types of samples at two distinct stages. This could be before mass manufacturing starts when the supplier provides pre-production samples. It can also be carried out on units of manufacturing after mass production has begun
Like product inspection, testing a product earlier in the production process, or even before it begins, might help you avoid problems affecting most of your order.
Conclusion
Several quality control phrases with the same meaning are frequently used to confuse importers new to the overseas manufacturing and quality control inspection world. You now better understand the distinctions between product testing, product inspection, and quality inspection and testing. If you have further questions, consult EC Global Inspection. We assist you in keeping track of core aspects of your manufacturing process.
