Inspection and documentation
This is the part of buying from China that goes wrong most often, and the part we spend the most effort on. It is also the reason a sourcing partner earns its place.
The default assumption of a serious buyer should be that the supplier's word
is not enough. That is not an insult to anyone — it is what the paperwork is for. Our job is to make
that paperwork available and to make it true.
What we check, and when
| Stage | What happens | Record produced |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier qualification | Business licence, ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 certificate checked with the issuing body, production capability reviewed, sample parts measured | Supplier file; certificate copy with issuer and registration number |
| Incoming | Material grade checked against the mill certificate; dimensional check on critical features; thread gauges on the connection | Material certificate (EN 10204 3.1 where the order requires it); incoming inspection record |
| In-process | Thread accuracy, plating thickness and appearance, cone angle on flare fittings, O-ring groove dimensions on ORFS | Batch record |
| Pre-shipment | AQL sampling on the consolidated lot: thread gauging, dimensional check, visual and plating, marking, packaging and quantity | Pre-shipment inspection report with sample size and AQL level stated |
| Traceability | Batch number applied to the packing unit and recorded against the inspection records | Batch-to-document mapping, so a claim can be traced back |
Documents we can provide
- Material certificate — EN 10204 3.1 (issued by the mill, passed through with the mill's name on it) or 2.2 as applicable to the order
- Dimensional inspection report against the drawing or the specified standard
- Thread gauge confirmation — the gauge identification is recorded, not just a tick
- Plating / salt-spray report where the coating specification calls for one
- Pressure and impulse test reports — for hose assemblies and for fitting families where the customer's acceptance requires them
- Crimp records for hose assemblies: ferrule, die and target crimp diameter per batch
- Certificates of conformity and, where relevant, the manufacturer's ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 certificate
A word on honesty here: for mill-issued certificates such as EN 10204 3.1, the
manufacturer's name appears on the document. That is correct and it is what makes the
certificate worth anything. We do not re-issue certificates in our own name, and you should be suspicious of
anyone who offers to.
Your own inspection
You can nominate your own third-party inspection. SGS, Bureau Veritas,
Intertek, TÜV or any agency or representative you choose — we will make the goods available for inspection
at the factory or at our consolidation point before they ship, at your cost and on your terms. If a shipment
fails your inspection, it does not ship.
When something does go wrong
Claims happen. What matters is whether the batch can be identified and the failure traced. Because every packing unit carries a batch number that maps to the incoming and pre-shipment records, we can tell you which production run a part came from, what was measured, and what the supplier's own record said. That is usually enough to settle the question in one exchange instead of ten.