As a business owner, you always want to know that your supplier and product inspector know the specific requirements of your product in detail. This way, you don’t end up receiving substandard, unsafe or cheap products that cost you more in the long run. Here’s where a quality control inspection checklist comes in.
What is a quality control inspection checklist?
A quality control inspection checklist is a written guide for your products, from the packaging, colour, barcodes and appearance to the functions and unique requirements. A QC list essentially provides your quality control inspector or supplier with a clear criteria to follow when making or checking your products, ensuring you receive items that meet your exact standards and requirements.
Why prepare inspection checklist?
A well thought out quality control inspection checklist aims to:
• Outline product requirements and policy standards, which the supplier is expected to meet.
• Provide an objective criterion for inspecting your products to make sure it meets your client’s expectations.
Similarly, an inspection list allows your supplier to review your requirements before production starts. This way, they can notify you of any unreasonable requirements or areas that need adjusting to suit mass production.
All in all, an inspection checklist prevents any dimensional issues in the production keychain.
Quality control inspection checklist template
What typically goes into an inspection checklist template varies depending on the type of product and industry. For instance, a QC checklist for a food manufacturer won’t be the same as that of electronic products.
Luckily for you, there are plenty of quality inspection checklist templates online you can use to prepare your ideal checklist. Just do a simple quick search and you’ll find a wide range of options.
How to prepare inspection checklist
A reliable quality control procedure checklist needs to be direct and written in a clear format since you’re not the only one reading the sheet. It should also cover all the technical areas of production from the beginning to the end.
When preparing your inspection checklist template, think of what needs to be checked and how you can guide your supplier or inspector through the job. Some of the five key elements to include are:
1. Product requirements: This is anything from product weight and dimensions to colour, markings and labelling.
2. Packaging requirements: This gives your supplier a reference for packing, e.g., the shipping carton, inner carton or any other retail carton that needs to be used. You should also include information about the packaging printings, labelling, graphic and packaging assortment.
3. On-site product tests and checks: These are the tests you expect your product to pass, and they include carton drop test, function test, moisture check, barcode scan check and many more.
4. Defect classification: This tells the supplier or inspector what defects you can and cannot accept, classified as minor, major and critical.
5. Require inspection equipment: Here, you include all the equipment required to perform on-site checks and tests so that they’re readily available when your inspector wants to conduct a particular test.
Importance of QC Checklist
In your relationship with the manufacturer
As your manufacturers and suppliers have their own product documentation, the differences stemming from your checklist and their documentation will clear any gaps and ensure consistency and functionality it will become a reference in your relationship with your supplier
To comply to regulation
Using an inspection checklist will give you more confidence in shipping, meeting regulatory standards is non negotiable. As your products have to cross international borders, your production will have to comply through every stage in order to meet regulatory standards. A checklist will allow you to fill any errors to avoid waste or non compliant productions.
For Cost-effectiveness
Too many unwanted scenarios can arise from mistakes. Most of the time errors will have large consequences when preparing to ship your production, it could simply cancel it and put you in a situation where you need extra inspectors to return to the factory and therefore have to pay. Not using a checklist means risking your production, the worst case scenario could be your clients receiving a defective product and consequently impacting your company’s reputation.
The checklist is concise and clear, it can be easily updated according to new products or needs
QC Checklist Examples
It will include separated sections covering defect classification ranging from minor, major to critical covering the industry standard AQL. On site tests and checks, this section covers all the tests to make sure they are conducted upon your standards.
Product requirements review
- Material
- Weight and dimensions
- Specifications for color
- Labelling and marking
Packaging requirements
- Overview of labelling requirements
- Packaging materials
- Packing method
- Retail packaging
If you’re looking for an efficient product inspector, GIM is your best choice. Contact us today for quality control and product inspection services.