Powered consumer goods sourced from China usually fail in one of two ways: the unit does not work as intended, or it is not safe to place on the market. Both problems can be found before shipment, but they are not found in the same place. Our electronics inspection services cover consumer small appliances and powered consumer goods - fans, humidifiers, LED lighting and comparable items within your sourcing categories - not industrial electronics. The inspection plan separates the function and workmanship checks that the executing inspector runs on site from the safety and EMC testing that belongs in an accredited laboratory, and it is agreed when the order is placed, with standards, AQL level and checkpoints written into the order terms.
Function and workmanship checks on site
Inspectors draw units from the batch according to the agreed sampling plan and test them as a user would. Checks sit inside the wider QC chain - IQC on incoming materials, IPQC in process, PQC on the first piece, FQC on finished goods and OQC before shipment - with a pre-production sample confirmed and at least two in-production checks ahead of the final pre-shipment inspection.
- Power-on and basic operation on each sampled unit: start-up, running stability, stated modes and speed settings, and behaviour under continuous running.
- Controls, switches and moving parts: fan oscillation and guard fit, humidifier mist output and tank sealing, LED switching, dimming and colour consistency.
- Appearance and assembly: surface finish, sink marks, flash, uneven seams, gaps between housing parts, loose hardware and fittings.
- Box contents: accessories, correct plug and adapter types, remote controls, manuals and cards present and matching the approved specification.
- Rating and warning labels: voltage, wattage, model number, importer details and destination-market warnings, legible and correctly positioned.
- Quantity, assortment and packaging: packing accuracy against the purchase order, carton strength, inner protective fit and a drop test to confirm the unit arrives undamaged.
Safety screening and laboratory testing
On-site screening flags visible electrical hazards: damaged or pinched insulation, loose or poorly routed wiring, signs of short-circuiting, inadequate earthing and heat damage around terminals. Screening catches what can be seen and handled. It is not a substitute for formal testing.
Formal safety and EMC testing is coordinated with accredited (ISO 17025) laboratories through our compliance testing coordination, arranged per product, per destination market and per batch. Typical scope for powered consumer goods includes CE testing (LVD, EMC, and RED for radio products) and FCC Part 15 for the United States. Battery-powered items additionally require UN38.3 transport testing and MSDS/SDS, which we coordinate alongside the safety file.
We match the requirement to the product, prepare the documentation package and follow the samples through the laboratory. Reports are issued by the laboratory and carry its report number; we are not a testing laboratory and do not issue certificates or test reports in our own name. Laboratory fees are paid by you directly to the laboratory, and reports typically take 15-45 days. Our coordination and document-preparation fee is CNY 500-2,000 per order. Legal responsibility for compliance rests with the manufacturer and importer; we can also introduce an EU authorised representative where the destination market requires one. Certificates available upon request.
Sampling and acceptance
Inspections follow ISO 2859-1 / ANSI/ASQ Z1.4. Default levels are AQL Major 2.5 / Minor 4.0; stricter levels such as 0.65 or 1.0 are available on request and are recommended for powered products. Our AQL sampling plan is agreed in writing before the first check.
An electrical safety defect is treated as critical: it is not accepted, the shipment stops and the batch is quarantined. Major defects are reworked or replaced and re-inspected before release. Minor defects are fixed on site, repacked or relabelled. Critical findings trigger a root-cause review (8D, 5 Whys, CAPA) and, where needed, a re-make or a change of supplier.
Reporting
Within 24 hours of the inspection you receive photos, video and a defect list. The full PDF report follows, containing high-resolution images, function test video, the defect list, corrective recommendations and re-inspection records. It is sent for your confirmation at least 3 days before shipment, leaving time to hold, rework or release the order. You may also follow the inspection by live video.
Containment and a correction plan follow the first report; 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, and a before/after comparison closes the case. Samples and records for every batch are retained for at least 12 months.
To plan electronics inspection services for an upcoming order, write to [email protected] with the product type, destination market and shipment date.