The Relationship Between Factory Audits, Product Inspections, & Lab Testing

This episode focuses on factory audits, product inspections, and testing in laboratories, are really important for importers, and how they fit together! It's a must-hear if you're buying from China!

We discuss the elements in order:

1. Factory Audits - We cover popular types of factory audit, what's included in them, and why they're helpful, especially when working with new suppliers. Without auditing supplier's factories, it's very hard to know if they're reliable and capable of providing you with conforming products. We also share tips on how often to audit and how to handle regular auditing in China if you have a buying office there, for example. (Start to 13:55)
   
   
2. Product Inspections - We'll talk about why inspections provide a safety net before your products are shipped, as they allow you to head off quality issues before they become serious or you receive defective products. I explain why inspections during production and before shipment are two of the most popular product inspections, and what you need to think about when deciding to conduct inspections in order to get best results for a reasonable budget, such as using correct sampling. (14:00 to 27:00)
   
   
   
3. Lab Testing - 3 occasions where lab testing should happen. First, when a manufacturer is developing its own product and needs to guarantee its compliance before production. Second, when a buyer wants to check if a new supplier's product reaches their country's certification requirements before placing an order. Third, a buyer who has an order being produced sends some random samples for lab testing before shipment.
   I also share some tips on choosing the right testing lab and working with suppliers to get the testing done to prove product safety to your satisfaction, and deciding which tests to carry out. (27:00 to end)

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