Quality Control & Pre-Shipment Inspection
AQL 2.5 · Functional testing · Certification audit · Photo reports
Every order is inspected before it is loaded, on an AQL 2.5 general inspection level with a critical-defect zero tolerance. For pet products that means more than counting cartons: a feeder is cycled 50 times, a harness is pulled to its rated load, a toy is checked for small parts, and a camera is paired to an app. You receive a photo report with the inspection sheet before the container is sealed.
What gets checked, by category
| Category | Functional test | Safety check | Sampling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feeders and fountains | 50 dispense or pump cycles, timing accuracy, leak test | Adapter certification, food-contact declaration | AQL 2.5 + 5 units cycled |
| GPS trackers, cameras | Pair, connect, locate or stream, charge cycle | Battery marking, firmware password policy | AQL 2.5 + 3 units paired |
| Harnesses and leashes | Pull to rated load, stitching inspection | Buckle and D-ring tensile, nickel release | AQL 2.5 + 5 pulled |
| Toys | Squeaker function, seam strength, stuffing weight | Small parts, phthalate, EN71 marking | AQL 2.5 + sharp-edge check |
| Beds and apparel | Zip cycles, cover fit, wash shrinkage | Fibre label, azo dye, flame claim | AQL 2.5 + 3 washed |
The three gates
- 1
Before production
Materials and components checked against the approved sample. Certification documents verified as current and matching the exact SKU.
- 2
During production
At around 30 percent of the run, the first output is checked against the sample. Catching a mould or print error here saves the batch.
- 3
Before loading
Full AQL inspection with functional tests, carton drop and compression checks, and a photo report before the container is sealed.
Certification, verified rather than claimed
A certificate PDF is easy to produce and easy to fake. We check three things: that the report number resolves with the issuing lab, that the model on the report matches the model being shipped, and that the report is less than twelve months old for a new SKU.
Where a factory cannot produce a matching report, the order either moves to a tested model or the buyer appoints a lab. That decision is made before production, not after, because a missing certificate at the port is a stranded container.
Third-party inspection
You can appoint SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV or Intertek on any order. We book the slot, prepare the units and the paperwork, and the report goes to you directly rather than through us. The cost is typically US$300 to 500 per man-day plus travel, paid by the buyer.
For a first order from a new factory we recommend it even when our own inspection passed. An independent report is worth more than either party assurance if something goes wrong later.
When something is wrong
A failed inspection has three outcomes: the defect is reworked and re-inspected, the defective units are excluded and the order ships short with a credit, or the order does not ship. Which one applies is agreed with you the same day, with photographs.
Claims after arrival are handled on the same evidence: the inspection report, the carton labels and photographs of the defect. A claim made with those three things is settled in days. A claim made with a sentence is a negotiation.
Frequently asked questions
What AQL level do you inspect to? +
AQL 2.5 general inspection level II, with zero tolerance for critical defects and AQL 4.0 for minor cosmetic defects. Functional tests are added on top of the sample rather than counted in it.
Can I use SGS or Bureau Veritas? +
Yes, on any order. We book the slot and prepare the goods; the report goes to you directly. Expect US$300–500 per man-day plus travel, paid by the buyer.
What happens if the inspection fails? +
Rework and re-inspect, ship short with a credit for the defective units, or hold the order. You choose, with photographs and the inspection sheet in front of you, the same day.
Do you check that the certificates are genuine? +
Yes. We resolve the report number with the issuing lab, check that the model matches what is being shipped, and require a report less than twelve months old for a new SKU.
Who pays for the testing? +
The factory pays for certificates on its own stock models. A new SKU, a changed component or a report in your brand name is paid by the buyer, typically US$400–1,500 depending on the standard.
Send a product list, get a costed reply
Photos, a specification or a link is enough to start. Quotation within 24 hours, with MOQ, lead time and the certification position stated.