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. A good inspection program for toys covers every stage, from initial production to final shipment. Here is what inspectors check.
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Factory Situation: 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: Inspectors verify that the actual quantity of the product matches the quantity stated on the order or packing list.
Verification of the Assortment: Inspectors check that the correct mix and quantity of each item are present in shipments containing a variety of items.
Carton and Packaging Status: Inspectors 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: Inspectors ensure that shipping labels on the packages are accurate and displayed for easy identification.
Logo and Labeling: Inspectors check that branding elements such as logos and labels are correctly affixed and aligned with the brand’s guidelines. Inspectors will also identify the correctness of label according to the local regulatory requirement of market sold.
Comparison with Approved Sample: Inspectors ensure that product’s color and material match the approved sample and are consistent across all units.
Size & Measurement: Inspectors check that the dimensions of the products are accurate and consistent with the specifications.
Weight: Inspectors weigh the product to see if it is within the specified range, which is critical for shipping costs and regulatory compliance.
Product Appearance: Inspectors inspect 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: Inspectors conduct function test to confirm that the product operates correctly and is safe for use. Inspectors 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. |
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.
