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The short version
- A factory audit checks the supplier (is it a real factory, can it make your product, is it run properly). An inspection checks your goods. Most small importers need one audit at the start and a pre-shipment inspection on every order.
- Third-party inspectors in China charge roughly US$270 to 400 per person-day, travel included at several firms. A single pre-shipment inspection is usually one person-day.
- Inspections use AQL sampling (ISO 2859-1 / ANSI Z1.4): General Inspection Level II with AQL 2.5 for major and 4.0 for minor defects is the usual default.
- US importers must also show their supply chain is free of forced labor under the UFLPA. Ask for material origins, not just the factory name.
What types of factory audits and inspections are there?
A factory audit in China is an on-site check of a supplier by an independent inspector, usually before your first order. Inspections happen later, on the goods themselves. Here's what each one covers:
| Check | When | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Factory audit (supplier evaluation) | Before the first order | Business license, real production lines, capacity, machines, quality control process, staff, sub-contracting |
| Social compliance audit (SMETA, amfori BSCI, SA8000) | When a buyer or retailer requires it | Working hours, wages, health and safety, child and forced labor; SMETA 4-pillar adds environment and business ethics |
| Pre-production inspection (PPI) | Before production starts | Raw materials, components and the approved sample |
| During production inspection (DUPRO) | When 20 to 60% is made | Early defects while they can still be fixed |
| Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) | About 80% packed | Random sample of finished goods: looks, function, size, labels, packing |
| Container loading check | Loading day | Quantity, carton condition and that the right goods go in the container |
An ISO 9001 certificate is issued by a certification body, not by ISO, and it covers the factory's quality system on paper. It is not an audit of your order. Ask for a recent third-party audit or inspection report as well.
How much does a factory audit in China cost?
| Provider (published price) | Inspection | Factory audit |
|---|---|---|
| V-Trust | US$268 per person-day in main manufacturing regions, US$298 elsewhere, travel included | US$398 per person-day |
| QC Advisor | US$280 per person-day across most of Asia | US$280 per person-day |
| QIMA, SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek | Quote-based; price depends on service, location and days | Quote-based |
Prices from each provider's own website, checked October 6, 2026. A pre-shipment inspection is usually 1 person-day; a factory audit usually 1 to 2.
The buyer books and pays the inspector, not the factory. That's the point: the inspector works for you. Book at least a few days ahead and give the factory the date.
Book factory audits and inspections in China online, with the report in your account the same day.
See QIMA inspectionsWhat is AQL and which level should you use?
Inspectors don't check every piece. They pull a random sample sized by your order quantity and accept or reject the lot by the number of defects found, using the AQL tables in ISO 2859-1 (the same tables as ANSI/ASQ Z1.4). The common default is General Inspection Level II, with zero critical defects allowed, AQL 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor ones:
| Order quantity | Pieces checked | Major defects (AQL 2.5): accept / reject | Minor defects (AQL 4.0): accept / reject |
|---|---|---|---|
| 501 to 1,200 | 80 | 5 / 6 | 7 / 8 |
| 1,201 to 3,200 | 125 | 7 / 8 | 10 / 11 |
| 3,201 to 10,000 | 200 | 10 / 11 | 14 / 15 |
Single sampling, normal inspection, General Inspection Level II (ISO 2859-1 / ANSI Z1.4).
What should a factory audit check?
- The company is real: business license, name and address match your contract and the register at gsxt.gov.cn.
- They make it themselves: the production line for your product exists and is running, not sub-contracted without telling you.
- Capacity: machines, staff and current orders can cover your quantity and lead time.
- Quality control: incoming material checks, in-line checks, final inspection, defect records.
- Working conditions: hours, wages, safety, no child or forced labor.
- Material origins: where key materials like cotton, aluminum or polysilicon come from, for forced-labor rules.
What does the UFLPA mean for factory audits?
Under the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, goods made wholly or partly in Xinjiang, or by companies on the UFLPA Entity List, are presumed to be made with forced labor and can be stopped at the border unless the importer proves otherwise with clear and convincing evidence. The list has grown several times, most recently in mid-2026. A standard factory audit doesn't prove this on its own: ask suppliers to map materials back to their source and keep the records, especially for cotton, apparel, aluminum, polysilicon and electronics.
If your shipment is detained under the UFLPA, you need supply-chain documents fast. Collect material origin records before you ship, not after.
How do you book a factory audit or inspection?
- Pick the checkAn audit before the first order, then a pre-shipment inspection on each order.
- Send your specificationApproved sample photos, size and color specs, labels, packing, and your AQL level.
- Book the dateAgree it with the factory; for a pre-shipment inspection, when about 80% is packed.
- Read the reportPhotos, measurements, defects found and pass or fail against your AQL.
- Act before paying the balanceHold the final payment until the goods pass, or ask for rework and a re-inspection.
Ask suppliers for quotes, samples and corrections in clear Chinese: 13 ready-made messages, Chinese and English.
See the Supplier Message BuilderFrequently asked questions
How much does a factory audit in China cost?
Published prices from independent inspection firms start around US$270 to 400 per person-day with travel included, and a factory audit usually takes 1 to 2 person-days. Larger firms like QIMA, SGS and Bureau Veritas quote per job.
What is the difference between a factory audit and an inspection?
A factory audit checks the supplier: whether it is a real factory with the capacity and quality system to make your product. An inspection checks your goods, usually before shipping.
When should I book a pre-shipment inspection?
When production is finished and about 80% of the order is packed, so the inspector can pull a random sample from finished cartons.
What AQL should I use?
The usual default is General Inspection Level II with AQL 2.5 for major defects, 4.0 for minor defects and zero critical defects. Use tighter levels for safety-critical or premium products.
Who pays for the inspection?
The buyer books and pays the inspection company, so the inspector works for you, not the factory.
Does a factory audit cover the UFLPA?
Not on its own. US importers need supply-chain records showing where materials come from, especially for cotton, aluminum, polysilicon and electronics.
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General information as of October 6, 2026, not legal or compliance advice. Prices are those published by each provider and change; confirm before booking. For UFLPA questions, talk to a licensed customs broker or trade lawyer.