Quality inspection services in China, coordinated end to end
Quality Inspection China is the inspection and compliance coordination service of Mutual, a sourcing team based in Yiwu, China. We work with overseas importers, wholesalers, brand owners and e-commerce sellers who buy consumer goods from China and need to know what is in the carton before it leaves the country. Our model is a coordination model: when we handle a sourcing order, we arrange and coordinate the in-process checks and pre-shipment inspections that form part of the order; when you work with a buyer-designated third-party inspection agency, we schedule and coordinate it; when your destination market requires laboratory evidence, we coordinate with accredited (ISO 17025) laboratories. Every inspection is performed by the executing inspection party assigned to the order, and the inspection report is issued by that party in its own name. We do not test in our own name and we do not issue certificates or test reports, but we make sure the right inspection happens at the right stage and that the paperwork you receive is complete and traceable. The quality inspection service is built around your order, your product category and your destination market, not a generic checklist.
Five checkpoints, one standard
Checks are placed at fixed points in the production cycle, with a pre-production sample (PPS) confirmation, at least two in-production checks and a final OQC before shipment. Sampling follows ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 / ISO 2859-1, standard AQL Major 2.5 / Minor 4.0, with stricter levels such as 0.65 or 1.0 available on request. Critical defects (safety hazards, regulatory violations) are not accepted: shipment stops.
- IQC (incoming materials): materials and components verified against the PPS before production starts.
- IPQC (in-process): the running line checked against agreed standards, with at least two in-production inspections.
- PQC (first-piece): first articles reviewed for dimensions, function and finish before volume production.
- FQC (finished goods): completed units checked for appearance, function, quantity and assortment.
- OQC (outgoing/pre-shipment): final inspection and defect report before packing and release.
Inspection checks cover appearance; dimensions and weight (critical dimensions typically within +/-1-5 mm by category; gross weight deviation within +/-5%); function tests (for example zips cycled 500 times, handle load tests, drop tests); quantity and assortment accuracy; packaging and labelling; accessories and documents; and safety and compliance marks. Category add-ons include small-parts and EN71 checks for toys; colourfastness, pH, formaldehyde and azo dyes for textiles; hardness, coating thickness and torque for hardware; and food-contact migration for kitchenware.
What you receive: the inspection report
Each inspection closes with a PDF report shared digitally, containing high-resolution photos, video, a defect list, corrective recommendations and re-inspection records. The final inspection report is sent to you for confirmation at least 3 days before shipment, so the release decision is yours and not an afterthought. If you cannot be on site, you may follow inspections by live video; samples and records for every batch are retained at least 12 months.
When goods fail: the 24-48-7 loop
Defects are classified before they are handled. Minor defects are fixed on site, repacked or relabelled. Major defects are reworked, shortfalls replaced, and the goods re-inspected before release. Critical defects stop shipment: the batch is quarantined and a root-cause review follows (8D, 5 Whys, CAPA), with re-make or a supplier change if needed. The response loop is fixed: within 24 hours you receive photos, video and a defect list; containment and a correction plan follow; correction and re-inspection are targeted to complete within 48 hours to 7 days, subject to the factory's rework and the executing inspection party's re-inspection schedule; a re-inspection report with before/after comparison closes the case.
Compliance documents, coordinated per market
Testing and documents are arranged per product, per destination market, per batch. Coverage includes EN71, ASTM F963 and CPSIA, REACH (SVHC and Annex XVII), RoHS, FDA food-contact migration, CE testing (LVD/EMC/RED), FCC Part 15, Children's Product Certificate (CPC), EU/UK declarations of conformity, multilingual labels and warnings (including Choking Hazard and California Prop 65), MSDS/SDS, certificates of origin (CO / Form A / Form E), UN38.3 for batteries and OEKO-TEX for textiles. Accredited laboratories issue the reports and carry the report number; legal responsibility for compliance rests with the manufacturer or importer. We coordinate and match requirements, and can introduce an EU authorised representative. Fees are transparent: laboratory fees are paid by you directly to the laboratory (the laboratory quotes its fee against the confirmed test scope); our coordination and document-preparation service fee is CNY 500-2,000 per order. Typical laboratory reports take 15-45 days. Certificates available upon request.
How an inspection engagement starts
- Share the product, quantity, destination country and current production stage.
- Agree standards, AQL level and checkpoints in writing when the order is placed, so they form part of the order terms.
- The executing inspector runs the agreed checkpoints; where you designate a third-party agency such as SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV or Intertek, we coordinate the booking and attendance.
- You receive the final report at least 3 days before shipment and make the release, rework or hold decision with evidence in hand.
To request an inspection plan, email [email protected] with your product, quantity, destination country and stage, and we will return a proposed checkpoint schedule, sampling level and document list for your order.