KOL Quality has a general checklist for furniture products, and it includes the following checkpoints:
Factory Situation: Evaluate the overall condition and management of the furniture manufacturing facility. This includes cleanliness, organization, adherence to production protocols, equipment maintenance, employee practices, and environmental controls specific to furniture production.
Warehouse Situation: Assess the warehouse’s overall condition, focusing on temperature and humidity control, security measures, safety compliance, and pest control to ensure the integrity of furniture products.
Production Quantity Status: Monitor the actual production volume to ensure it aligns with order quantities for furniture items.
Verification of the Assortment: Check that the product mix matches the purchase order specifications, including variations in style, color, size, and model of furniture pieces.
Carton and Packaging Status: Inspect shipping cartons for any damage and conduct drop tests to confirm they can withstand delivery processes without compromising the furniture inside.
Packaging Check: Ensure that packaging is correct, including verifying that printing is accurate, barcodes are scannable, and that products are securely packaged as designed for furniture items.
Shipping Mark: Verify that shipping labels on packages are accurate and clearly displayed for easy identification during transit.
Logo and Labeling: Check that branding elements such as logos and labels are correctly affixed and aligned according to brand guidelines.
Size & Measurement: Measure dimensions of furniture pieces to confirm they meet specified requirements.
Weight: Verify that each piece of furniture weighs within specified ranges to ensure compliance with shipping costs and regulations.
Product Appearance: Inspect for visual defects such as scratches, dents, or inconsistent finishes that could affect customer satisfaction with the furniture.
Performance, Safety & Function Tests: Conduct tests from a user perspective to confirm that all furniture operates correctly (e.g., drawers open smoothly) and is safe for use.
Assembly: For assembled products (e.g., tables or chairs), check that all parts fit together properly and that the final product is stable and functional.
These checkpoints are designed to ensure that the product meets quality standards and is ready for distribution to consumers. Each step is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the product from the manufacturing floor to the end-user.
Categories | Common defects | Critical defects | Major defects | Minor defects |
Functionality and Performance | · Cannot function · Function is not satisfying · Noise · Wobble · Poor assembly · Smelly | X | X X X X X | |
Safety | · Fail small part test · Fail pull test · Tip test · Formaldehyde testing report · Hi Pot test, CDF test, earthing test (if got electrical components) | X X X X X | ||
Carton, packaging and labels | · Failed drop test · Barcode unscannable · Extra space in carton · Wrong printing · Wrong color · Wrong material | X X | X X X X X X | X X X X |
Quantities and assortment | · Not enough quantities · More quantities · Wrong assortment | X X | X | |
Approved sample/Specification Comparison | · Wrong color · Wrong material · Inconsistent | X X X | X X X | |
Cosmetic | · Mold · Rusty · Sharp edge · Scratch/Dent/Mark | X X X | X | X |
Size, measurement and weight | · Out of tolerance | X | X |
Pre-shipment inspection is the best practice to manage the quality of production if you are buying a significant quantity of products. Normally buyers spend 3-5% of the cost of the product on pre-shipment inspection. The benefits of pre-shipment inspection include but are not limited to the following:
There are several parties that can help to perform pre-shipment inspection, and the pros and cons are illustrated as below:
| Pros | Cons | Best Practice |
Third party inspection company | – Impartial – Only represent you – Resourceful – Professional – Good after sales service – Systematic – Clear whistle blower channel | – Not worth for low shipment value
| If your shipment is worth more than USD 4,000 or if you have faced quality problem before, it is worth to buy inspection service from third party inspection company |
Sourcing/Trading Company | – Can be focus – Resourceful – Good after sales service
| – Usually, they represent both buyer and factory – Not professional in quality control | If your shipment value is less than USD 4,000, you may delegate the inspection job to sourcing/trading company by setting up a good resolution contract |
Individual/Freelancers | – Lesser cost – Can be professional – Can be flexible | – Lack of systematic approach – Vary service quality depends on the individual’s ability – Risk of no after sales service | If you have been introduced to a trustable individual/freelancer and you have done the due diligence. |
Factory self-inspection | – Save cost – Professional in product making | – Potential of negligence as no other perspective to check the quality – Conflict of Interest | If this is a continuous amount of production, there is no significant changes of production and no quality issues in first shipment. Occasional inspection by third party is advice. |
KOL Quality is a third-party inspection company in Asia, it is an alliance of companies founded by a team of quality professionals with more than 15 years of experience. KOL Quality provides pre-shipment inspection service to best-selling product categories on eCommerce platform.
Firstly, you will be contacted by a quality facilitator to discuss your product and the quality checking criteria. Once you place an order with the supplier, you are encouraged to share the contact of supplier with the quality facilitator as he/she will help you to follow up on the production schedule and arrange for the inspection once the product is ready for pre-shipment inspection. A pre-shipment inspection shall be conducted when 100% of the product is finished produced and 80% is packaged.
A pre-shipment inspection shall be conducted when 100% of the product is finished produced and 80% is packaged. For the first inspection, you are advised to contact us 5 working days in advance as our quality facilitator will make the best plan for you.
KOL Quality has built a library of checking criteria for a broad range of products. Having said that, we believe all products are unique to the brands and our quality facilitator would love to discuss the checking criteria together with you.
You will normally get the pre-shipment inspection report within 24 hours in working days (Monday to Friday).
We will inform you of the result on the same day of inspection if the result is failed and we advise you to discuss with suppliers for a resolution or rework plan. Quality facilitator from KOL Quality is always aside if you need help with communication.
