I’ve visited hundreds of factories in China. Here’s the exact checklist I use before recommending any factory to a client.
Most buyers never visit their supplier. They trust photos, video calls, and Alibaba badges. This checklist is what you’re missing — the things you can only verify in person.
The Pre-Audit (Before You Visit)
1. Business License Verification
Ask for their business license (营业执照). Cross-check the legal representative name, registered address, and business scope on China’s National Enterprise Credit Information system. If they hesitate — walk.
2. Export License & Certifications
Do they have an export license? Are their certifications (ISO, CE, FDA, etc.) current? Ask for certificate numbers and verify them with the issuing body.
3. Factory Location Check
Is the registered address a factory zone or a virtual office? A real factory is in an industrial area. Google Maps satellite view can tell you a lot before you even visit.
The Walk-Through (What to Look For)
4. Raw Material Storage
Walk into their material warehouse. Is it organized? Are materials stored properly (dry, labeled, separated by type)? A mess here means a mess in your product.
5. Production Line Status
How many lines are running? A factory running at 60-80% capacity is healthy. Running at 100% means your order gets delayed. Running at 20% means they’re desperate — and you need to know why.
6. Worker Conditions
Do workers have proper safety equipment? Is there adequate lighting and ventilation? A factory that treats workers poorly will treat your order the same way.
7. QC Station — The Most Important Stop
Is there a dedicated QC area? Look for:
- Measurement tools (calipers, gauges, testing equipment)
- Staff who do inspection full-time (not production workers pulling double duty)
- Records of past inspections
- Defect samples kept for training
8. Sample Room
Ask to see their sample room. A well-organized sample room means they take quality seriously. No sample room means they don’t retain quality references.
9. Production Schedule Board
Most factories have a whiteboard or screen showing current orders, deadlines, and production status. Ask to see it. If your order would be on it next month — where would it fit?
10. Finished Goods Warehouse
Are finished products properly packaged and stored? Are boxes labeled? A clean, organized warehouse means they care about what leaves their factory.
The Paper Trail
11. Past Clients in Your Category
Ask: “Have you made this product before?” Request photos of past orders — not catalog shots, actual production photos. Ask for references you can contact.
12. Defect Rate & Handling
Ask for their documented defect rate. More importantly: “What happens when you ship defective product?” A good answer: “We replace or refund, and here’s our process.” A bad answer: “That never happens.”
13. Subcontracting Policy
“Do you subcontract any production steps?” Many factories say no — but do. If they subcontract, to whom? Can you visit the subcontractor? This is where quality breaks down most often.
The Gut Check
14. The Boss Test
Does the owner or plant manager show you around personally — or hand you off to a salesperson? Owners who are engaged in production care about quality. Owners who stay in their office care about numbers.
15. The “Friday Afternoon” Test
Visit late on a Friday. Are QC staff still working? Are production lines running at normal pace? The last shift before a break is when corners get cut. A factory that maintains standards on Friday afternoon maintains them on your order.
Download the Printable Checklist
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