Choosing the right inspection partner
Your inspection company holds your reputation — and your money — in its hands. A weak inspector can pass a bad batch; an over-strict one can block a good shipment. Here are the 7 questions we believe every importer should ask before appointing an inspection company in China.
1. Are you truly independent?
Does the company have any relationship with the factories it inspects? True independence means the inspector is paid by the client and has no incentive to please the factory.
2. Who are your inspectors, really?
Are they full-time, trained employees — or part-time freelancers with little supervision? Ask about training, experience and how inspector quality is measured.
3. What standards do you follow?
A professional company follows international sampling standards (ISO 2859-1 / AQL), has written SOPs, and can explain how defects are classified. Vague answers are a red flag.
4. What does the report look like?
Ask for a sample report. It should include photos, defect descriptions, AQL data and a clear pass/fail conclusion — delivered within a defined timeframe.
5. How do you control integrity?
Does the company have a written code of conduct for inspectors? What happens when an inspector is offered a bribe? Integrity policies tell you a lot about report reliability.
6. Do you have coverage where my suppliers are?
China's factories are spread across many provinces. Check that the company has real coverage in the regions where your suppliers are located.
7. Can you handle the full quality journey?
Ideally, the same partner can do initial production checks, DUPRO, pre-shipment inspection, container loading supervision and factory audits — so quality is managed consistently across the order.
QCANT — Independent quality inspection & auditing in China. Contact us: cs@QCANT.com.