Product inspection services are not a generic checklist applied to every shipment. The inspection is defined by the product, its materials, its destination market and the defects that matter to your order. A toy, a garment, a bag, a tool and a kitchenware item share a common inspection core, but each category adds checks that a general visual review cannot cover. The purpose is to verify your goods against the approved sample, the purchase specification and the agreed AQL before shipment. Quality Inspection China, the inspection and compliance coordination service of Mutual in Yiwu, coordinates product quality inspection through this China inspection service for overseas importers, wholesalers, brand owners and e-commerce sellers. In-process and pre-shipment checks are performed by the executing inspection party as part of a sourcing order, and we coordinate buyer-designated third-party agencies and accredited (ISO 17025) laboratories where testing is required. We are not a testing laboratory and do not issue certificates or test reports in our own name. Product inspection services can be arranged for household goods, kitchen and bathroom items, hardware and tools, stationery, holiday gifts and crafts, toys, textiles and apparel, bags, jewellery and accessories, small appliances, and agricultural parts and accessories. The inspection plan is agreed when the order is placed: standards, AQL level and checkpoints are written into the order terms. Requirement confirmation takes 1-3 days.
What every product inspection covers
Across categories, the constant core of China product inspection covers:
- Appearance: workmanship, surface defects, colour and finish as agreed in the approved sample.
- 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 and drop tests.
- Quantity and assortment accuracy: packed quantities, SKU mix and order configuration.
- Packaging and labelling: retail packaging, carton marks, labels and warnings as specified.
- Accessories and documents: included parts, manuals and required paperwork.
- Safety and compliance marks: marks and warnings against the agreed destination-market requirements.
The control rhythm follows IQC (incoming materials) to IPQC (in-process) to PQC (first-piece) to FQC (finished goods) to OQC (outgoing/pre-shipment). Standard control includes pre-production sample (PPS) confirmation, at least two in-production checks and final OQC before shipment.
Checks by product category
Category-specific checks are added to the constant core. They are selected per product, per order and per destination market.
- Toys: small-parts checks and EN71 checks.
- Textiles and garments: colourfastness, pH, formaldehyde and azo dyes.
- Hardware and tools: hardness, coating thickness and torque.
- Bags: handle load tests and stitching strength checks.
- Kitchenware: food-contact migration checks.
- Household goods and holiday items: general function checks and safety marks.
Sampling and acceptance
Sampling follows ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 / ISO 2859-1. The standard AQL for China product inspection orders is Major 2.5 / Minor 4.0. Stricter levels such as 0.65 or 1.0 are available on request for high-risk products. Critical defects, including safety hazards and regulatory violations, are not accepted: shipment stops.
| Defect class | Typical action |
|---|---|
| Minor | Fix on site, repack or relabel. |
| Major | Rework, replacement of shortfalls, re-inspection before release. |
| Critical | Stop shipment, quarantine the batch, root-cause review (8D, 5 Whys, CAPA), re-make or change supplier if needed. |
See our AQL inspection approach for how sampling levels are written into the order terms.
What you receive
After each inspection you receive a PDF report shared digitally. It contains 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. You may also follow inspections by live video.
The response loop is defined as 24-48-7: 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. Samples and records for every batch are retained at least 12 months.
Where testing is required, we coordinate product compliance testing with buyer-designated agencies such as SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV or Intertek, and with accredited (ISO 17025) laboratories. Laboratory reports are issued by the laboratory and carry its report number. Testing and documents are arranged per product, per destination market, per batch. Testing 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. Legal responsibility for compliance rests with the manufacturer or importer; we coordinate and match requirements and can introduce an EU authorised representative.
To plan product inspection services for your next order, contact [email protected]. Certificates available upon request.