When selling children’s products and toys online, it’s crucial to ensure that your products meet all local regulatory requirements. The first step in selling children’s products and toys is to accurately classify your products. This classification helps determine the specific local regulations that apply. Once you understand the regulatory requirements, the next step is to send your products for testing to verify compliance. Obtaining a Children’s Product Certificate is essential. For more information about the Children’s Product Certificate, you can refer to this post – Children Product Certificate.
To ensure that your mass-produced items consistently meet local requirements, it’s important to perform quality control inspections before shipment. KOL Quality’s product inspection services cover every aspect of quality assurance, from initial production to final shipment.
Factory Situation: Our inspectors evaluate the manufacturing environment before starting the inspection. Key aspects include cleanliness, organization, adherence to production protocols, equipment maintenance, employee practices, and environmental control.
Warehouse Situation: Inspectors also assess storage conditions that can directly impact product quality, such as temperature control, humidity management, organization, security measures, safety compliance, and pest control.
Production Quantity Status: We verify that the actual quantity of the product matches the quantity stated on the order or packing list.
Verification of the Assortment: We check that the correct mix and quantity of each item are present in shipments containing a variety of items.
Carton and Packaging Status: We inspect shipping cartons for any damage and performing drop tests to confirm they can withstand the delivery process.
Packaging Check: The packaging check is crucial for children product as it may impose safety issue to kid. The thickness of packaging bag shall exceed certain level.
Shipping Mark: We ensure that shipping labels on the packages are accurate and displayed for easy identification.
Logo and Labeling: We check that branding elements such as logos and labels are correctly affixed and aligned with the brand’s guidelines. We will also identify the correctness of label according to the local regulatory requirement of market sold.
Comparison with Approved Sample: We ensure that product’s color and material match the approved sample and are consistent across all units.
Size & Measurement: We check that the dimensions of the products are accurate and consistent with the specifications.
Weight: We weigh the product to see if it is within the specified range, which is critical for shipping costs and regulatory compliance.
Product Appearance: We inspecting for any visual defects, such as scratches, dents, sharp edge, excessive threads or inconsistent finishing that could impose safety issues or affect customer satisfaction.
Performance, Safety & Function Tests: We conduct function test to confirm that the product operates correctly and is safe for use. We also perform some safety related test like metal detection testing and potential small part pull test.
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. |
Firstly you will be contacted by a quality facilitator to discuss your product and the quality checking criteria. Once you place order to 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% product is finished produced and 80% is packaged.
A pre-shipment inspection shall be conducted when 100% product is finished produced and 80% is packaged. For first inspection, you are advised to contact us 5 working days in advanced as our quality facilitator will tailor made a 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 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 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 in the communication.
