Top 50 Third Party Inspection Company in China List

Many buyers are fed up with overlooked quality issues that end up being shipped, and they know something needs to change.

An obvious way to control the problem is to find an inspection company in China to check the quality before shipping.

At the same time, they fear shocking manufacturers by giving the impression of distrust. They were afraid that everything would go downhill from then on. Is this the case for you? Then this article is for you. 

How Much Does a China Inspection Service Cost?

The cost of a China inspection service can vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of inspection, the complexity of the product, and the location of the factory.

However, as a general rule of thumb, you can expect to pay between USD 180 and USD 300 per man-day for product inspection services in China.

Here is a breakdown of the typical costs for different types of inspections:

• Pre-production inspection (PPI): USD 198 per man-day
• During production inspection (DPI): USD 228 per man-day
• Final inspection (FI): USD 200 – 248 per man-day
• Factory audits: the cost of factory audits is also similar, ranging from USD 188 to USD 268 per man-day.

In addition to the man-day rates, there may be additional fees for travel, accommodation, and meals. You should also factor in the cost of any laboratory testing that may be required.

Breaking Down the Cost of QA:

So why is $250 /day /person (which is more than enough for a lot of random inspections)? As we outline in this article, a 1 working day typically includes the following activities:

What a “working day” includes?

• Research client documents and checklists – 15-30 minutes

• It takes an average of 1-2 hours to go to the factory.

• Introduction, opening meeting, going to warehouse – 10 minutes.

• It takes an average of 30-45 minutes to count the numbers, takes appropriate sampling, and deliver the picked samples to the inspection area. It varies from 10 minutes at best to half a day at worst. I explain all of this in “Sampling is an essential part of random inspection.”

• Inspecting the outer packaging, inner packaging, and single packs (if any), as well as the product, including time-consuming testing and visual inspection – about 4 hours of efficient, focused work

• Eat and wait during the factory lunch break – which is easily 90 minutes, during which they don’t want inspectors working alone without “supervision.”

• While taking notes, explain findings to factory reps and defend their logic – about 15 minutes.

• Return from the factory, 1-2 hours on average

• Prepare a draft report with explicit comments and many photos, a 1-hour average.

All in all, it’s a 12-hour job that involves a lot more than one typically thinks (often just a visual inspection). In addition to labor costs, travel expenses may also apply if the factory is far from the nearest importer. 

How Many Pieces to Inspect?

The number of pieces inspected during a China inspection service can vary based on several factors, including the agreement between the buyer and the inspection service provider, the type of inspection, and the specific requirements of the buyer. Typically, the inspection service will specify a sampling plan, which determines the number of units or pieces to be inspected from the total production lot.

Common sampling plans include:

• AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) Sampling: This is a widely used method where a specific number of randomly selected units from the production batch are inspected based on the AQL standard. The AQL level, ranging from strict to lenient, determines the sample size.
• Random Sampling: A random selection of units is inspected from the entire production lot, providing a representative sample for quality evaluation.
• 100% Inspection: In some cases, particularly for critical or high-value items, buyers may opt for a 100% inspection, where every piece in the production lot is examined.

The specific number of pieces inspected will depend on factors such as the lot size, product type, quality requirements, and the level of inspection chosen. It’s crucial for buyers to communicate their quality standards and expectations to the inspection service provider to ensure the inspection aligns with their needs.

What If Your Budget is Low?

What can you do if the $250 budget is too high (maybe your entire order is worth $500)?

Here Are Some Alternatives:

• Ask the supplier for many photos and possibly a live video showing many photos (easy for WeChat).

• Ask the supplier to send you some production samples.

• Maybe you can’t buy “Chinese products” directly while keeping the risk low. You need to work with wholesalers.

• You can negotiate the price with the agent: if your product is simple and does not require a lot of time to communicate.

• Send goods to a third-party consolidation warehouse, such as us, to help you do a random spot check before shipping.

How Does QC Inspection Service Generally Work in Practice?

Choosing the right China inspection service is crucial for ensuring the quality of your products and protecting your business interests.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision. Different types of inspections serve specific purposes at various stages of the manufacturing process. Identify the type of inspection you require based on your needs:

An Achievable Approach to Product Inspection:

We recently started to adopt a different approach with the help of our clients to do the quality control in China:

• They start with a piece by piece inspection in China (paid by the manufacturer)
• They see what defects come up most often.
• They advise the manufacturer to decrease the most frequent defects.
• If the proportion of defectives goes below a certain target, they switch to random inspections (paid by the importer)
• If the proportion of defectives goes back up, they switch back to full inspection/piece-by-piece inspection (paid by the manufacturer)

In the mid-to-long run, it decreases the costs for the importer by forcing the factory to solve the real issues.

If this is your first time doing quality inspection in China, it is recommended that you watch the following video so that you can have a basic understanding of the product quality inspection process.

How to Arrange/Set Up a China Quality Inspection Service?

Suppose you want to arrange for a quality inspection service of your product in China.

What you need to tell quality inspection company?

• Supplier contact information, factory address (otherwise, they will ask for it from the supplier)

• Product description, photos, maybe a short video

• Description of packaging

• State your quality standards and what you can/can’t accept.

• Quantity classification (for example, if there are multiple models, sizes, or colors, they need to know)

• Also, if possible, make sure they have physical samples on hand. It’s helpful because some aspects of touch and feel don’t communicate well, even in the video…

Approved 50 Best Inspection Companies in China List:

There are many companies that carry out unified online operations. I personally think that we should try to choose an inspection company that is willing to listen to your voice and carefully sort out your needs.

I have compiled some top third party inspection companies. We choose third party quality control companies not only for high-quality prices, good service, but more importantly, to provide you with some flexibility in each inspection list.

How To Work with an Inspection Company in China Without Ticking Suppliers Off？

I have collected advice I would normally give to our new clients.

1. Choose a China Inspection Agent that Understands Your Specifications and Standards 

– if you need help with your products, they may be able to help you define some product specifications. If you can’t exchange emails (or talk about) your requirements with someone who can provide thoughtful feedback, your Supplier will feel that the newcomer is pulling them away from you. This is not your goal…

2. Make Sure the People Working in the Factory Know What You Can’t Accept 

– what types of defects are acceptable, what problems must be kept to a tiny number, and what is an absolute disaster. (This is part of a good spec.)

If you don’t do that, you need to reassure your Supplier: “We’ll review the report together, and if an alleged major or critical issue is reported, please don’t hesitate to send us some samples immediately.”

3. Develop a Proper Inspection Plan 

It may include inspection of major components, the first finished product, or final sampling. The goal is to cover the main risks identified.

4. Communicate in the Right Way

Don’t say, “We will send a third party QC company,” as this may scare some suppliers. Instead, it should say, “We are working with China inspection agents to confirm the quality of the goods prior to dispatch.”

5. Agree on Who Should Pay and How Much. 

There are two corners here. If your order is over $10,000, you may be able to get your Supplier to agree in writing that they will reimburse you for re-inspections in case serious quality issues are discovered.

I suggest simple wording like this:

[Buyer] reserves the right to perform the following quality control activities and any other activities not described below.

China Quality Control Inspection Services: Random inspection of products according to ISO2859-1 standard (single-stage, normal severity, level depends on the situation). The Acceptance Quality Limit (AQL) is 0% critical defects, 2.5% major defects, and 4.0% minor defects.

If product inspection is rejected, [Buyer] has the right to request a re-inspection, the cost of which will be re-invoiced to [Supplier]. And so on until [Buyer] accepts inspection.

If found defective or out of specification, [Supplier] will inspect the entire quantity and sort it from the bulk quantity. If re-production is not possible, [Supplier] shall notify [Buyer] immediately.

On the other hand, if your order is very low, the opposite may result in you may have to pay the Supplier $20-$50 for extra (someone to help unpack and repack the shipment, coordinate dates with the QA agent, etc.).

6. Provide Feedback on the QC Report

An easy way is to print the report, write some comments by hand, scan it and email it to the Supplier. Indicate what needs to be sorted and reworked and what is good work for the production.

If inspectors are too lax or too strict, make sure their standards are adjusted appropriately in the future. We often see QA as a facilitator of communication if done well. Feedback is immediately passed on to all employees in the plant.

7. Be Firm when They Fight Back. 

Tell them it’s your company policy, a request from a big client, or that the company boss got upset and implemented it across the workforce…anything that shows there’s no room for negotiation.

Deciphering the Cost Dynamics of Quality Inspections for Chinese Services.

I am consistently astounded by the expectations some importers harbor regarding the expenses associated with quality inspections in Chinese factories.

Certain importers engage in extensive project discussions, exploring avenues where we can assist them, only to casually inquire, almost as an afterthought, “What is the cost of conducting a quality check in China?”

When it comes to the costs of third-party quality inspections, buyers generally fall into two distinct categories:

1. Varied Perceptions of Costs:

• Positive View ($250/day): Some buyers perceive the cost of $250 per day as remarkably affordable. They draw comparisons with the expenses of obtaining professional services in their home country, the overall order value, or the alternative of personally traveling to China. To them, this fee seems reasonable.
• Negative View: On the flip side, others view $100 as exorbitant. They calculate it against the monthly salary of a typical English-speaking Chinese employee (6000RMB, divided by 30 days), concluding that it represents an excessive profit. These Critics often overlook significant operational costs such as training, supervision, internal control, travel, communication, taxes, and social security.

2. Diverse Buyer Mentalities:

• Buyer 1 – Willing to Invest for Quality: This group, often consisting of mid-sized or large companies with proprietary products, is prepared to pay more for superior service and enhanced reliability. They prioritize market competitiveness, seeking convenience, reliability, and efficiency over mass production.
• Buyer 2 – Risk-Taker Seeking the Best Deal: The second category of buyers, characterized as seeking the “best deal,” is unwilling to pay market prices for quality control inspections unless compelled to do so. They may opt to forego inspections altogether and relocate production, potentially exposing themselves to higher risks.

3. Are They Worse Off?:

• Mixed Outcomes: While this approach may be rational in certain instances, especially when dealing with purely decorative off-the-shelf products or those intended for marketing campaigns, it does not consistently yield favorable results.

In essence, the dichotomy between buyers willing to invest for quality assurance and those seeking the best deal highlights the complex landscape of expectations and perceptions surrounding the cost of quality inspections in the Chinese manufacturing sector.

China Inspection Service Conclusion

Developing a basic quality control plan with inspection company in China for every new supplier is a matter of little time that can save a lot of time and money.

It can be standardized and sent to every supplier with minor modifications. Buyers are advised to discuss with the manager of the supplier company and sign/stamp a contract. 

As for how to choose a good Chinese product inspection company, I think their reply speed and patiently straighten out your needs are the most important. An important flaw of a too large inspection company is that it is not flexible enough, and always uses a layer of unchanging industry standards to implement inspection steps.

If you need some practical experience in quality control, you can definitely discuss with us. As a Chinese inspection company, we can provide supplier audit, factory on-site inspection, warehouse full inspection… If you need it, you can get the most suitable quotation from us.

Pre-shipment inspection Report Example

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