Inspect at the right moment
The useful inspection happens when production is finished and packed but the balance is unpaid, usually at 80 to 100 percent of the run. Earlier and you inspect an intention; later and you have lost your leverage.
The five checks that matter
- Quantity: count cartons and units against the packing list
- Specification: material, dimensions, weight and colour against your written spec
- Function: switch it on, load it, open and close it the number of times the standard requires
- Packaging: retail box, barcode, labelling and drop resistance
- Documentation: markings, manuals and certification present in the carton
Agree the standard in advance
Inspections turn into arguments when 'acceptable' was never defined. Agree the sampling level and the number of tolerated defects with the supplier before production starts, in writing, and attach photos of what a defect looks like.
Decide what a failure triggers
A failed inspection is only useful if something follows: rework at the factory's cost, a re-inspection, a discount, or cancellation. Write that consequence into the order confirmation, and the first inspection will usually be the only difficult one.