Guide: Product Inspection in Asia - Ensuring Product Quality for Your Business

August 07, 2023
Table of Contents

Asia has always been a powerhouse for manufacturing. With its vast technical workforce and lower production cost, it’s no wonder that so many companies have outsourced their production to countries like China, India, Vietnam, and more.

However, sourcing from overseas suppliers has its risks. In this post, we discuss how to reduce the risk and guarantee the quality of your products from Asia.

 

Product Inspection in Asia

 

What are the Potential Risks of Sourcing and Manufacturing in Asia?

B2B marketplaces such as Alibaba have made it easier than ever for businesses and entrepreneurs to find suppliers. But sourcing from overseas suppliers has its risks, for example:

  • When your products are manufactured in Asia, it can be difficult and expensive to physically visit factories and verify that they meet your quality standards.
  • Communication difficulties can lead to problems, such as instructions and expectations being misunderstood. They can easily cause errors during production.
  • Quality management practices in different local factories can vary extensively. It might result in a noticeable difference in product quality.

 

Do I Need a Third-Party Inspection Company for My Orders in Asia?

A third-party inspection company can help you build trust with your supplier by verifying the product quality and providing an unbiased assessment. It can give you the peace of mind that the products you are receiving meet your expectations.

Inspec product inspection asia

There are many benefits of product inspection in Asia, including:

1. Sustain your business in the long run

According to a survey, 21% of the order value is lost each time a product is returned. High volumes of returns can slow business growth or worst yet, kill your business. Some product categories such as such as the apparel, have more product returns than others. Having product inspection in the supply chain process is an excellent strategy to reduce your risk. While product inspection does cost money upfront, it contributes to the long-term profitability of your business.

2. Avoid costly mistakes

By having someone inspect your products before they leave the factory, you can catch any defects or problems early.

Some inspection services, such as During Production Check and Initial Production Check, can help businesses catch errors early in the manufacturing process. Companies can fix the problem before it becomes expensive.

3. Process improvement

Third-party inspection company can act as a liaison between you and your suppliers. It ensures your products are up to your requirement. All of the inspection findings and results will be reflected in an inspection report, revealing the quality issues. You can use the findings to review your supplier performance and your product design. Eventually, to improve your product quality and reduce defects in the future.

4. Protect your brand reputation

With product inspection, you can be sure that the products you're selling meet your high standards and protect your brand reputation from negative feedback or reviews.

 

Book product inspection in Asia fast and easy with InSpec by Bureau Veritas

InSpec by BV is the go-to third-party inspection digital solution for product inspection in Asia. The digital solution is trusted by top brands and retailers. You can easily book product inspection online for your products and get world-class support from specialists from Bureau Veritas.

The benefits of using InSpec by BV:

  • Service coverage and customer support in Asia
    Get world-class support from our on-the-ground global service team with over 1200 fully qualified specialists in over 85 countries across 5 continents.
  • World-leading expertise in quality control and quality assurance
    Get support from our world-leading expertise and decades of experience assessing millions of products and factories for top brands and retailers worldwide.
  • Fast service delivery and reliability
    Our inspection specialists can visit your factory the next working day in most Asian countries. You can get your inspection report on the same day of the inspection. It also allows you to cancel booking up to the day before the inspection.
  • Easy-to-use digital platform
    Book your inspection and audit services online in just a few steps. Manage all your bookings and reports in one place.
  • Real-time quotation
    View the inspection quotation online with no hidden cost.
     

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What products are commonly inspected in Asia?

There are a variety of products that are commonly inspected in Asia. These include but are not limited to the following:

  • Electrical and Electronics
  • Clothing
  • Footwear
  • Handbags and luggage
  • Housewares
  • Furniture
  • Sports goods
  • Outdoor products
  • Toys
  • and many more

Each product has its own distinct set of requirements that must be dealt with before launching to market. For example, electronic products will need to meet specific standards for safety and functionality, and clothing will need to meet quality and sizing standards. Infant products such as toys must be aware of small parts, sharp edges, etc. For comprehensive compliance, it requires lab testing. Contact us for further details.

 

What is the scope of the inspection service?

Bureau Veritas’ product inspection protocols are based on our best practices and decades of experience from assessing millions of factories and products. All our protocols are optimized to meet today’s requirements. So you avoid any potential pitfalls.

BV customer support team and inspectors will inspect your product based on your product category, covering product function, appearance, dimensions, and more.

We encourage you to let us know if you have special inspection requirements or issues that you want the inspector to pay attention to. We can combine them into one tailored checklist for reference during inspections.

A typical inspection scope:

  • Inspection Conditions
    • Production status
    • Carton stacking
    • Shipment quantity
  • Packing & Assortment
    • Export carton packing
    • Inner carton packing
    • Product packaging
    • Assortment (Color/style/size)
  • Product Conformity
    • Style
    • Materials
    • Color
  • On-site Tests
    • Barcode Verification
    • Measurement
    • Weight
    • Assembly
    • Functionality and more
  • Shipping Marks
    • Shipping marks
    • Printings
    • Warnings
    • Symbols
  • Labeling
    • Labeling
    • Printed Materials
    • Markings
  • Workmanship
    • General appearance
    • Basic function
    • Check by visual, hand feel, smell, sound

 

Conclusion

Overall, product inspection in Asia is a process that requires time and effort to ensure that products are up to standard. But with the right third-party inspection company and tools, businesses can save time and money while ensuring that their products meet the requirements.

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