Inspex Global

A Vendor inspection is the control of the manufacturing steps and processes intended to transform a set of products. The verification of storage areas, components, stages, and production parameters is essential to ensure the continuity of performance, durability, and safety of products.

The purpose of the factory inspection is to check product quality according to client, project, and international requirements. For many years, and thanks to its ISO 17025 accredited laboratory experience, INSPEX has carried out factory inspections for its customers to determine whether the materials used are compliant and whether the best manufacturing practice is applied on production sites worldwide.

The result of a factory inspection is documented in a technical report. This report will include many points and will end with an assessment including preventive, corrective, or improvement actions.

Pre-shipment inspection is a step taken by buyers, suppliers, agencies, and other trade operators to ascertain the conformity of newly manufactured products before shipping for export or import. It is a systematic procedure for determining whether the manufactured goods for export or import meet the requirements regarding the quantity, quality standards, specifications, and regulations. All pre-shipment inspections must adhere to the internationally recognized ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 (ISO 2859-1) statistical sampling procedure. Comprehensive inspections are conducted before the products are shipped to clients focusing on functionality, performance, durability, appearance, dimension, and so on. During pre-shipment inspections, the inspectors use the AQL sample size selected randomly from all batches in the order.

The quality control inspector compiles a comprehensive inspection report and issues pre-shipment inspection certificates based on the findings of the assessment of each criterion. Inspection reports visualize and explain the quality control process while inspection certificates verify whether the batches of products inspected conform to the specifications in the sale contract with a pass or fail. In most countries, local customs departments require pre-shipment inspection certificates to allow entry of imported goods as a measure to protect the health and safety of consumers. Whether you are exporting or importing, pre-shipment inspections offer a wide range of benefits and should be prioritized.

Nondestructive testing (NDT) uses a variety of inspection techniques to locate and monitor defects without causing damage to the component. External and internal corrosion and cracks are often found using NDT methods. Some examples of common NDT methods include Radiographic Testing, Ultrasonic Testing, Magnetic Particle Testing, Electromagnetic Testing, and many more. When selecting an NDT method to use for a piece of equipment, the following four considerations should be accounted for:

• The type of damage mechanism to be inspected
• The size, shape, and orientation of the defect
• Where the defect is located (external or internal)
• The sensitivities and limitations of the NDT method

Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) are often confused as being the same process. However, the two processes are distinct.

Quality Assurance

The purpose of QA is to inspect the process that manufactures products. In other words, QA is a process that looks to improve product development to eliminate defects in manufactured products. Inspection relating to QA does not typically involve NDT nor mechanical testing but rather, uses qualitative methods to identify gaps and anomalies in the process.

Quality Control

QC is carried out after QA and involves inspection of the product. The QC process involves activities such as NDT to ensure the quality of the product will operate as intended and for a specified number of cycles (if applicable) before failure. Mechanical testing may also be performed on one part per batch or per “X” number of batches. The number of batches is up to the company and individuals involved in the manufacturing process. The purpose of QC is to detect flaws and to determine if the defect is acceptable or rejectable for service.