Ensuring the very best standards in product quality, factory environments, packaging, and other factors – a thorough inspection will help you deliver eCommerce products that exceed your customers’ expectations.
Best-practice product inspections and quality checks include:
Inspectors will first assess the factory and manufacturing environment. This assessment will include an overview of the factory situation and environmental controls. The inspection methodology includes checking factory cleanliness, equipment maintenance, employee practices, and organization to ensure you are working with a reliable supplier.
Delving deep into the details, inspectors will also assess the storage practices and whether they will impact your product quality. To do this, inspectors evaluate humidity management, temperature control, safety and security measures, and pest control practices.
Good inspections ensure that your cosmetic and beauty products are being delivered in the required quantity and assortments. A pre-shipment inspection will check that the cartons being delivered match the packing list and verify the weight and dimensions of the cartons. The inspection procedures also include checking the weight and unit dimensions of each of your cosmetic and beauty products.
Third-party quality inspections for beauty and cosmetic products include:
General Product Appearance: The inspection process will check for any color issues, stains or dirt, scratches and marks or other appearance issues. Inspectors will also ensure that your products
Inspectors will test how your product is affected by the conditions it may face during the handling and shipping process. These handling and shipment inspections include dropping products from heights and assessing whether the packaging is protective enough for your product to withstand the impact.
Inspectors will ensure that your product barcodes are printed correctly and can be easily scanned by barcode readers. This inspection criteria will help to ensure that both the inventory management and sales processes are accurate and efficient.
Inspectors will check each component of your packaging, making sure that each part is assembled correctly and fulfils its function. This will help to ensure both the integrity and usability of your products.
These checks assess how durable the painted or coated surfaces of your products are. Inspectors will also check for any peeling and chips that may appear after normal use.
Tell me about your product and what’s worrying you. I’ll reply personally with practical next steps, and you’ll also receive my free buyer’s quality guidebook.
As well as general cosmetic and beauty product inspections, inspectors can also use special inspection checklists designed to ensure that each item meets specific quality, safety, and performance standards.
These tests will check how your product performs in extreme temperature conditions and whether it remains functional and stable. Inspectors will assess factors such as the color and texture of your products and whether there are any changes you need to know about.
Inspectors will flip your beauty and cosmetic products and assess whether this affects their appearance and function. These checks will ensure your liquid and powdered products remain securely sealed and won’t leak during handling and shipping.
Testers will assess the packaging of your products, making sure that your creams and liquids do not escape. These inspection guideline checks will help you ensure that product quality and safety are not compromised.
Product density checks will measure how dense your products are and that the quality and form of your products are consistent and non-compromised. This will help ensure that your cosmetic products meet your required standards.
Inspectors ensure that the pH level of your products is safe for contact with the skin. This ensures your products are safe to use and properly functional.
Inspectors ensure that the pH level of your products is safe for contact with the skin. This ensures your products are safe to use and properly functional.
Good inspections ensure that your cosmetic products match your specified shades and that the color remains consistent across several different batches of hair colour or makeup.
Inspectors check that the stated volume and weight of the packaging are correct so that your customers are buying the correct amount of your product.
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 cost of product in pre-shipment inspection. The benefits of pre-shipment inspection include but not limited to the following:
There are several parties 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 lesser 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 lot 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 the knowledge site of Hazel Kwong, a manufacturing and quality expert who has worked in Shanghai, mainland China, Malaysia and now Hong Kong. Hazel shares practical advice for buyers and always stands on the buyer’s side. When a buyer needs work on the ground, she coordinates it through a trusted quality service company and partner laboratories in China.
First, agree the product requirements and checking criteria, ideally with an approved golden sample. When you place the order, share your supplier’s contact and production schedule with your inspector so they can follow up and book the inspection at the right time. A pre-shipment inspection should be done when 100% of the goods are produced and at least 80% are packed. If you’d like help setting this up, ask me.
A pre-shipment inspection should be done when 100% of the goods are produced and at least 80% are packed. For a first inspection, allow about 5 working days to plan the checking criteria and book the inspector.
Inspection companies have standard checklists for most product categories, but every product and brand is different. The best criteria combine a standard checklist with your own requirements, your approved sample and the issues your customers care about. I’m always happy to review your checklist with you.
You will normally get the pre-shipment inspection report within 24 hours in working days (Monday to Friday).
You’ll usually hear about a failed result on the day of the inspection. Don’t panic, and don’t ship. Review the defects, then agree a resolution or rework plan with your supplier, followed by a re-inspection. If you need help talking to the factory, ask me. I’ve had these conversations many times.
