From our many years of experience let us tell you how to create an integral tool for managing your sourcing: The QC Checklist.



Developing a QC Checklist will have an immediate and dramatic effect on your product quality and the understanding level of your Chinese suppliers.  The QC Checklist is basically a written guide for your product’s: contents, packaging, color, barcodes, appearance, possible defects, functions, and special requirements.  Such a checklist is generally developed with the assistance of a 3rd party quality control company, but by following the points below you can create a simple and effective one your own.  The KEY to making your QC Checklist effective is providing it to the factory in a bi-lingual format that includes Chinese.  So, once you have written the checklist based on the below suggestions, make sure you have it translated.  Here we go…start with a blank excel spreadsheet and clearly organize the following:




1. Contents – write out the exact contents of the package.  For example, if your product is an MP3 player this may read: 1pc MP3 player, 1pc headphones, 1pc instruction manual, 1pc carrying case.




2. Packaging – now describe in detail how the item is packaged.  This includes both individual packaging and bulk packaging such as the master carton.  So for your MP3 player this may read: Each component in an individual plastic bag, then packed in the color box.  20pcs color box packed into one master carton.




3. Color – If you require that the item or packaging meet specific pantone (PMS) colors, use this section to write in your color requirements.




4. Barcodes – Write down the barcode type and number for any barcodes on the item or packaging




5. Appearance – Separate this section into 3 categories: Master (Shipper) Carton, Retail (Individual) Packaging, and Individual Item.  In this section you will describe what types of appearance issues for each category you would consider unacceptable.  Also, for each possible defect you will classify it as either Major, Minor or Critical.  More below about to classify the defects below.  Here are some defect examples for each category:




a) Master (Shipper) Carton:



i. Wrong barcode printed on the carton (Critical)



ii. Tear or break in the carton that exposes the retail box (Major)



iii. Shipping mark on carton is not legible (Minor)



b) Retail Packaging:



i. Incorrect wording or image on the packaging (Critical)



ii. Tear or break in the packaging that exposes the product (Major)



iii. Scuffing or scratching on the packaging (Minor)



c) Individual Item



i. Item has sharp edge protruding or potentially dangerous condition (Critical)



ii. Power button will not function properly (Major)



iii. Scratch or scuff on the product (Minor)




NOW REMEMBER, THESE ARE JUST SUGGESTIONS.  YOU’LL WANT TO TRY TO CREATE 10-20 POSSIBLE DEFECTS FOR EACH CATEGORY, DEPENDING ON THE COMPLEXITY OF YOUR PRODUCT.




CLASSIFYING DEFECTS: So, how should you classify an issue as Major, Minor or Critical?  Here’s how:



Major:  The end customer will definitely notice this issue and will be disappointed because if it.  The end user is likely to return the item to the seller due to this issue.  The issue affects the function of the item.



Minor:  The end customer may not notice this issue, and if he/she does they will most likely not return the item to the seller because of it.  The issue does not affect the function of the item.



Critical:  The issue poses a safety hazard to a handler or end user.  The issue represents a serious lapse in the QC processes of the manufacturer.




Ok, let’s keep going on building the QC Checklist…




6. Function and Function Checking:



Write out each function of the item, and how that function can be checked.  For example, for an MP3 player one of your functions may read: Alarm Feature – Alarm and snooze functions should work correctly as per the instruction manual.  If your item is a stapler, one function may be: Staple Function – Item staples cleanly, does not stick or have any malfunction during stapling.




7. Special Requirements



Similar to #6 above, write down any requirement that you have for the product that is not part of normal function.  For example, perhaps you require that your MP3 player can function even after being dropped from 3 feet onto a cement floor.  In this case you would write in: Function after impact – normal function after being dropped from 3 feet onto a cement floor.  For the stapler, suppose there is a logo on it and you want to ensure that the logo can not be rubbed off easily, you may include: Logo – logo should not be able to be rubbed off with water and cloth




8. Photos



Now include photos of the:



i. Master (Shipper) Carton



ii. Retail (Individual) Carton



iii. Item and Components




And you’re done!  Make sure you have this document professionally translated into Chinese, and make the QC Checklist the starting point for discussing production and quality with your supplier.  At first your supplier may seem surprised at such a formal documentation of the item, however after some initial hesitation you’ll be amazed at how Chinese suppliers are both engaged and encouraged by it.

This post is written by a quality control expert in China.  For more information, please see our Alibaba Company Profile.

Mr.QualityGuru !

It is ever amazing how many companies can share one address !
Offices, a factory and even simple company addresses all in two rooms !

Company Name: InTouch Services, Ltd.
Office Address: Rooms 1318-20, Hollywood Plaza, 610 Nathan Road

Company Name: Gainscha (Hong Kong) International Limited
Office Address: Room 1318-20, 13/F, Hollywood Plaza, 610 Nathan Road:

Company Name: DITIS HONG KONG LIMITED
Office Address: Rooms 1318-20, Hollywood Plaza, 610 Nathan Road

Company Name: Bluesea Wireless Technology Co., Limited
Address. Rooms 1318-20, 13F, Hollywood Plaza, 610 Nathan Road

Company Name: Autosky Science and Technology Co., Ltd
Street Address: Rooms 1318-20, 13/F, Hollywood Plaza, 610 Nathan Road

Company Name: Shenzhen Shente Industrial gases Co.,Ltd
Rooms 1318-20,13/F,Hollywood Plaza,610 Nathan Road

Company Name: Kolen Technologies Ltd
Factory Address: Rooms 1318-20,13/F, Hollywood Plaza,610 Nathan Road

SIENCO HONGKONG LIMITED
Rooms 1318-20, 13/F, Hollywood Plaza 610 Nathan Road

If you search Google for this address, you find a lot more.

Why a company who want sell a trustworthy service, has the need to reside under a PO Box or Registry Office address ? Something to hide ?

Wilhelm

Hi Wilhelm - Thanks for your comment. Actually, our office in HK is only a registered address. This is quite common not only in Hong Kong, but also in cities like New York and London. Our main operations take place out of our Shenzhen office. That address for our HK company is that of our accountant who set up the company in that territory. He has set up thousands of companies, and so that is why you can find so many companies under that address. - Andrew

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