If you chose to hire a third-party inspection company, you did the right thing. However, it would be best if you were careful not to choose an inspection company that will not deliver quality service. There are certain factors you want to consider, which help determine if an inspection company is most suitable for you or not. These factors include the company’s size, experience, and available inspection resources.
Identify Your Brand Needs
You must understand that quality control inspection differs for different companies, depending on your needs. Thus, identify a company with relevant experience in inspecting products or services similar to yours. You also need to identify the quality standard needed by your company. By doing so, you can easily determine if a company has enough resources to work on its products.
Consider the Company’s Location
Even though there are several inspection companies you will come across on the internet, you should prioritize ones with a physical location. This is because an inspection company with a physical location will less likely be a scam. Several cyber criminals are projecting themselves as legit, and you don’t want to fall for such deceit.
You must also confirm the physical addresses being claimed by the inspection company. Ensure there are good reviews from customers, particularly those who have visited the physical location. Thus, consider inspection companies with a physical presence in several places. For instance, EC Inspection Company has service coverage across China, South America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and many other places. It also makes it easier to meet the needs of manufacturing companies in diverse locations.
Choose Companies With a Team of Experts
Typically, there should be a division of labor before a quality control process. Thus, you need to consider a third-party inspection company with full-time experienced quality inspectors. Communicating your needs and expectations with such teams will be much easier. Also, confirm whether the inspection company will work on or outsource the project. This is because companies that subcontract barely supervise the work. A poor quality control process may cost extra money and time in the long run.
Confirm the Type of Services Being Offered
Not every inspection company can cover the full quality control services. This is mostly due to a lack of experience or limitations with the available human and material resources. Also, hiring a third-party inspection company that can cover all services save you excess time and money. You can easily form a solid relationship with a particular inspection company, allowing you to reach out to solve any problem or issue easily.
A reputable third-party inspection company should be able to offer adequate services beyond the basics. This implies the work of a quality control inspector should be broadened beyond ISO9000 audits and product inspections. The inspector should be able to create a checklist following the manufacturing company’s goals and authoritative policies or standards. The quality inspection company must also be proficient enough to identify supply chain defects easily. Thus, inspection services should identify problems, records inspection progress, and recommend possible solutions.
The Turnaround Time
How long does it take for an inspection company to respond to its customers’ requests? Hiring inspectors with a low turnaround time will be unfavorable if an inspection company charges you based on the hours spent. The faster the work rate of an inspection company, the better for you. It will enhance your production process and distribution flow. A delay may slow the work, while the end consumers are denied the privilege of using the products on time. A reputable company like EC Inspection company provides real-time updates for accurate follow-up. Thus, you can expect to get next-day delivery of reports, except the large product defects must be corrected before proceeding with the quality control process.
Verify the Company’s Credentials and Reputation
Professional quality control inspectors usually have a great reputation online. Customer reviews and testimonials are among the best ways to check a company’s success rate. Check through references from previous clients, and pay attention to companies that have successfully met needs similar to yours.
A reputable company should also be verified or accredited by reputable organizations. This proves that the organization has tested the inspection company and proven efficient in meeting customers’ needs. More importantly, it would be best if you considered a company’s flexibility. Hiring inspectors that can accommodate your schedule and requirements will be best.
Consider the Price Quote
It’s expedient to work with an inspection company that fits into your financial budget. As a retailer, you want to minimize your operational cost, even as you try to outrun competitors. However, make sure you are not compromising quality for a low price. You should understand that the price quotes from quality inspection companies vary with the type of services provided. How do you know if you are getting value for the money being paid? Conduct thorough research online to give you an idea about the average market price. You may also find out how much reputable inspection companies charge for quality control services.
Communication and Responsiveness
Ensure that your inspection company is responsive and communicates well with you. A company with a high level of communication will always provide you with regular updates on the progress of the quality control process. It will also leave you less worried, so the company promptly responds to your queries. You should also ensure the inspection company’s communication style aligns with your preference.
The Quality Control Strategy
Several quality control inspection companies implement strategies based on the brand’s needs. These strategies also depend on the product type, size, and compliance requirements. Even the strategies or methods being implemented vary during the inspection phase. Below is a highlight of the common inspection type you may encounter.
• Dimensional inspection: This type largely focuses on the products’ sizes and shapes. The inspector confirms if the product’s dimensions match the specified tolerance. The end goal is to ensure the product meets the required standard. Dimensional inspection uses various tools, including gauges, calipers, and coordinate measuring machines.
• Visual inspection: The visual inspection process may seem simple, but the EC inspection company always checks the products thoroughly. This involves a detailed visual examination to identify cracks, dents, scratches, or other imperfections. Visual inspection is usually done using cameras, glasses, and microscopes.
• Sampling inspection: Sampling inspection is usually targeted at a product sample rather than the entire batch. This method is usually cost-effective, but you need a professional service, like EC inspection, to get accurate results. If the wrong samples are selected, it will affect the overall result. This is another reason to hire a neutral third-party inspection company without ties with the retailers or supply chain.
• Statistical process control: This quality control process is usually detailed and implemented from production to delivery. EC inspection company will closely monitor the production process to identify any variations or abnormalities that could lead to defects. Thus, data will be collected at every production phase using statistical methods to analyze the data.
Get the Best Services at EC Global Inspection
It’s good that EC Global Inspection meets all the requirements mentioned above, and you can be sure to get the best services. The company has up to 20 years of experience working at Li & Fung, which has boosted the staff’s familiarity with different companies. EC Global Inspection also stands out from other companies by providing defect details. This implies you aren’t just getting a yes or no report. The company will help in providing a solution to a possible problem.
EC Global Inspection’s experience working with top companies helps guarantee customers a special insight into product compliances. Whatever the regulations set by the authorities within your industry, you can rest assured EC Global Inspection will get the task done accurately. More interestingly, you wouldn’t need to worry about additional inspection costs, such as travel or impromptu fees. This is particularly crucial for new or growing businesses needing an easily accessible inspection company. All inspection activities are transparent, and you can request for pictorial or graphic representation of the ongoing quality control process.
Conclusion
Remembering that you may not always understand your business needs would be best. As a result, be open-minded to suggestions or recommendations from professional inspectors. Even though it’s crucial to set your brand’s needs, you must ensure it can boost your company’s growth at a particular time. If you are open-minded and consider the factors discussed in this article, you will make the best decision in selecting an inspection company.
Post time: Apr-10-2023