From: "Saved by Internet Explorer 11" Subject: How to check 100% of a small production batch before shipment Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2016 08:58:23 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0023_01D23A67.6D370310" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0023_01D23A67.6D370310 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.globalsources.com/NEWS/SIC-how-to-check-100-of-a-small-production-batch-before-shipment.HTM =EF=BB=BF
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Path: Sourcing News & = Advice=20 >> Smart=20 Sourcing >> How=20 to check 100% of a small production batch before shipment
By Renaud Anjoran
As=20 more and more companies purchase goods in China and sell them under the=20 =E2=80=9CFulfilment By Amazon=E2=80=9D model, we get more request for = checking 100% of a=20 production batch. And, to a certain extent, it does make = sense.
As=20 I wrote before, FBA sellers get booted out if many = customers complain=20 about their products=E2=80=99 poor quality. And, from what I hear, = Amazon is going to=20 become stricter as time passes. A random inspection is more = cost-effective but=20 is a scary thing to many importers (what if they are not = lucky?).
There=20 are three important conditions to reap the full benefits of a 100%=20 inspection:
=E2=80=A2 = Don=E2=80=99t pay in full=20 before the inspection (or you no longer have any leverage),
=E2=80=A2 = Give defective=20 products back to the supplier,
=E2=80=A2 Be = ready to ship the=20 goods immediately if they are acceptable.
We=20 have done a few trials & errors and we now have a clear way of = handling it.=20 I wrote it down below. If you have an office in China, you can try to do = the=20 same if it makes sense for your situation.
1. Payment = of 30% to=20 supplier;
2. = Components are=20 ordered, production starts;
3. Random = inspection=20 during production (to ensure average quality is not very bad) =E2=80=94 = this step is=20 often skipped for small orders;
4. = Production is 100%=20 finished and supplier sends photos;
5. Payment = of 50% (now=20 up to 80% total);
6. Supplier = sends the=20 goods to the office;
7. We check = 100% and=20 sort out the bad pieces, which are sent back to the factory;
8. Factory = sends=20 replacements (or reworked pieces);
9. We check = those=20 replacements;
10. Once all = is good,=20 payment of 20% is sent to supplier;
11. We ship = the goods=20 out and handle logistics.
By=20 the way, I wrote before about QC inspections on a platform and = their pros=20 & cons. The approach is rather similar, but typical platform = inspections are=20 a good fit for large orders while what I described above (100% = production check)=20 is a better fit for small batches.
Maybe=20 some readers have extra tips for making sure a batch is 99%+=20 acceptable?
Renaud=20 Anjoran has been managing his quality assurance agency (Sofeast Ltd) = since 2006.=20 In addition, a passion for improving the way people work has pushed him = to=20 launch a consultancy to improve factories and a web application to = manage the=20 purchasing process. He writes advice for importers on qualityinspection.org.
Want=20 to know how to work with factories to produce your unique products? Join = the=20 Global Sources Summit to learn sourcing best practices, October 17-19, = 2016.=20 Co-located with Global Sources 3,000-booth trade show in Hong Kong. = Learn more=20 at http://www.GlobalSources.com= /summit
Keep=20 updated on sourcing best practices and the Summit. Join the Smart China = Sourcing=20 Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/SmartChinaSourcing= SPAN>
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