| Factory Identity and Legal Status |
Registered manufacturing entity with a consistent legal name, address, and business scope. |
Business license, registered address, factory address, production photos, and recent utility or lease evidence. |
Compare the documents with the company registration record and the address shown during a live video or third-party audit. |
All details match |
Trading address differs from the production address without a clear explanation. |
| Production Capacity |
Capacity plan should cover the forecast order volume plus a 20–30% peak-season buffer. |
Monthly production report, equipment list, shift schedule, workforce count, and recent shipment records with confidential values removed if necessary. |
Check whether the stated equipment, labor, working hours, and output are logically consistent. |
Capacity is supported by records |
Only showroom photos are provided; no production or shipment evidence is available. |
| Metal Processing Capability |
Suitable equipment for cutting, forming, welding, machining, grinding, and surface preparation of the specified weight-set components. |
Equipment list, process flow chart, maintenance records, welding procedure, and operator training records. |
Request a live production walk-through and inspect at least one complete production route. |
Key processes are performed in-house or controlled by approved subcontractors |
Critical processes are outsourced without supplier qualification or incoming inspection records. |
| Raw Material Traceability |
Each production lot can be linked to material certificates, purchase records, and an internal batch code. |
Material certificates, supplier invoices, batch labels, warehouse records, and traceability procedure. |
Select one finished product and trace it backward to the material batch and receiving inspection record. |
Backward trace completed within one working day |
Materials are stored without lot identification or inspection status. |
| Surface Finish |
Uniform coating or plating with no exposed metal, blistering, peeling, sharp edges, visible rust, or unacceptable color variation. |
Approved color sample, coating specification, adhesion test records, salt-spray reports where applicable, and visual inspection standard. |
Inspect samples under consistent lighting and perform agreed coating adhesion and corrosion checks. |
Meets approved sample and written cosmetic limit |
Acceptance depends on verbal judgment rather than an approved visual standard. |
| Product Weight Accuracy |
Set a written tolerance by SKU; a practical starting point for individual cast-iron or steel pieces is often ±2%, subject to product design and contract approval. |
Calibrated scale certificate, weight inspection procedure, sample measurement records, and SKU tolerance sheet. |
Measure randomly selected pieces from different cartons and compare them with the approved tolerance. |
All tested pieces meet the contractual tolerance |
Nominal weight is printed on the product, but no actual weight records are retained. |
| Dimensional Consistency |
Handle diameter, plate thickness, hole diameter, locking interface, and packaging dimensions match approved drawings. |
Engineering drawings, control plan, gauge list, first-article report, and inspection records. |
Use calibrated calipers, gauges, and go/no-go fixtures on samples from multiple production lots. |
Critical dimensions meet drawing tolerances |
No controlled drawings or revision history is available. |
| Safety and Structural Testing |
Products must withstand the agreed load, drop, torque, and repeated-use tests based on the design and intended home use. |
Test plan, test equipment calibration, test results, failure records, and corrective-action reports. |
Approve a test protocol before mass production and repeat key tests during pre-shipment inspection. |
Test method and acceptance limits are documented |
A generic certificate is presented without product-specific test results. |
| Quality Management System |
ISO 9001 certification is useful for process control, but it does not replace product testing or shipment inspection. |
Valid ISO 9001 certificate, certification body details, scope, expiry date, and internal quality procedures. |
Verify the certificate with the issuing certification body and confirm that manufacturing activities are within scope. |
Certificate is valid and scope is relevant |
Certificate is expired, unverifiable, or unrelated to the factory's actual activities. |
| Material and Chemical Compliance |
Confirm applicable requirements such as REACH, restricted substances, packaging regulations, and market-specific chemical rules. |
Material declarations, supplier declarations, laboratory reports, coating composition information, and current compliance files. |
Check that reports identify the tested material, product model, test date, and laboratory; test high-risk coatings or plastics separately. |
Requirements are matched to the destination market |
A report covers a different model, material, or unrelated product category. |
| Sample Development |
Typical sample lead time: 7–14 calendar days for standard products; longer for new molds, custom finishes, or complex packaging. |
Sample quotation, development schedule, drawing approval record, and sample revision number. |
Request a pre-production sample made with the intended materials, finish, accessories, and packaging method. |
Sample matches the approved specification |
Only a showroom sample is offered and production materials cannot be confirmed. |
| Sample Evaluation |
Evaluate weight, dimensions, finish, grip comfort, locking security, noise, packaging protection, and user instructions. |
Signed sample approval sheet, measurement report, defect photos, and approved reference sample retained by both parties. |
Use a checklist and record both acceptable and unacceptable defects before placing the order. |
A signed golden sample exists |
The purchase order refers only to photos or general product descriptions. |
| Incoming Quality Control |
Incoming inspection covers metal parts, coatings, plastics, packaging materials, labels, and purchased accessories. |
Incoming inspection records, sampling plan, supplier rating list, quarantine procedure, and nonconformance reports. |
Review records from at least three recent incoming batches and verify that rejected materials are controlled. |
Rejected materials are identified and segregated |
Materials enter production without documented acceptance status. |
| In-Process Quality Control |
Critical checks are completed at defined process stages rather than only at final packing. |
Process control plan, workstation checklists, first-piece approval, welding inspection, coating inspection, and rework records. |
Observe operators performing checks and compare the actual practice with the written procedure. |
Records are complete and traceable to operators and batches |
Inspection forms are completed in bulk at the end of production. |
| Final Inspection and AQL |
A common starting point is zero critical defects, AQL 2.5 for major defects, and AQL 4.0 for minor defects, subject to buyer approval. |
Inspection standard, sampling level, defect classification, inspection report, photos, and corrective-action process. |
Use an independent pre-shipment inspection and ensure the agreed AQL plan is written in the purchase contract. |
Shipment meets the agreed sampling and defect limits |
The factory uses its own undefined sampling standard. |
| Packaging and Drop Protection |
Packaging should protect edges, handles, locking parts, and coated surfaces during normal international transport. |
Packaging specification, carton compression or drop-test results, pallet plan, carton markings, and packing photos. |
Perform a filled-carton drop or vibration test according to the agreed transport risk and packaging method. |
No functional or cosmetic damage after the agreed test |
Packaging is approved while empty or tested only with a different product weight. |
| Production Lead Time |
Typical standard-product production target: 30–45 calendar days after sample, artwork, and deposit approval; custom tooling may add time. |
Production schedule, capacity loading plan, material procurement plan, and historical on-time delivery data. |
Compare the committed schedule with material lead times, factory workload, and inspection dates. |
Milestones and delay responsibilities are written into the order |
The supplier promises an unusually short lead time without material or capacity evidence. |
| Corrective Action Capability |
Nonconformities should have root-cause analysis, containment, corrective action, responsible person, and completion date. |
Recent 8D or corrective-action reports with sensitive commercial data removed. |
Review one closed case and verify that the corrective action changed the relevant process or control point. |
Actions are verified for effectiveness |
The same defect repeatedly appears without documented preventive action. |
| Pre-Shipment Verification |
Inspection takes place when production is substantially complete and at least 80% of goods are packed or ready for inspection. |
Inspection booking, quantity report, inspection photos, carton list, and final inspection report. |
Use an independent inspection company or a trained buyer representative before balance payment. |
Quantity, specifications, function, packaging, and documents all pass |
The supplier requests full payment before inspection or refuses a reasonable inspection. |
| Supplier Scorecard |
Use a weighted score: factory capacity 20%, quality system 20%, product quality 25%, compliance 15%, delivery 10%, communication 10%. |
Completed assessment form, supporting documents, sample results, inspection results, and commercial references where permitted. |
Require a minimum overall score of 80/100 and no critical failure in safety, legality, or traceability. |
Score reaches the threshold with no critical failure |
A low price compensates for failed safety, compliance, or quality controls. |
