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In addition to OEM factories providing a large number of finished products for a number of international brands, well-known foreign retailers and brand owners such as Walmart, Carrefour, Disney, IKEA, and Watsons are also very happy to purchase high-quality and low-priced goods in China.
However, to become a supplier to these big buyers, the threshold is not low. The quality and price of the products must be absolutely competitive. At the same time, the factory must pass a test - foreign trade factory inspection. In addition to inspecting product quality, it also includes human rights issues. After "9/11" , there are even anti-terrorism factory inspections. The process is complicated and involves a wide range of aspects, making it difficult to guard against.
Three types of foreign trade factory inspections
There are two types of foreign trade factory inspections: quality inspections and human rights inspections. Anti-terrorism factory inspections emerged after the 9/11 incident , but of course the number is relatively small. The factory inspection process is complicated and involves a wide range of areas. If there is a slight mistake, all the previous efforts will be wasted.
Quality factory inspection
The quality control capability of a factory is determined by evaluating the factory as a whole. Foreign buyers realize that testing and inspection are far from enough. They must understand the situation of the entire factory and ensure that the factory has an effective system and hardware to ensure the production of high-quality products.
Human Rights Factory Audit
That is, social responsibility audit, requiring suppliers to implement in accordance with the corporate code of conduct. Human rights factory audit is divided into corporate social responsibility standard certification and customer standard audit. Human rights factory audit stems from two reasons. One is the rise of human rights movements abroad and the participation of a large number of non-governmental organizations. The second is that foreign buyers have gradually realized that a qualified supplier must not only be able to produce high-quality products, but also have a set of reasonable practices to ensure the continuity and stability of production.
Anti-terrorism factory inspection
It appeared after the September 11th Incident . In order to combat international terrorists, the US government required all factories exporting to the US to pass anti-terrorism inspections, mainly requiring factories to increase investment in anti-terrorism, such as raising fences, installing cameras, and strengthening background checks on incoming employees.
Foreign trade factory inspection process
Step 1: Apply for factory inspection Factories and customers apply to the corresponding factory inspection agencies respectively. For example, if you are a toy factory, you need to apply to ICTI International Toy Industry Association.
Step 2: Factory Inspection Preparation There are two types of factory inspection preparation. One is that the factory prepares by itself according to the standards required by the corresponding association. However, since factory inspection is very difficult, general factories may lack experience in dealing with factory inspections, so professional factory inspection consulting companies have emerged.
The process of hiring a professional consulting company is as follows: After the two parties sign the consulting contract, they will jointly set up a project team to diagnose the problems existing in the enterprise. The diagnosis work includes four parts: formulating a diagnosis plan, field research and interviews, data collation and analysis, and writing a diagnosis report. Next, the project team will propose implementation recommendations based on the diagnosis results, formulate a specific improvement plan for the project, and then the factory will implement it according to the plan.
Step 3: On-site audit The factory inspection agency came to the factory for on-site audit.
Step 4: Get the audit report Congratulations, you finally passed the foreign trade factory inspection.
Foreign trade factory inspection matters needing attention
Understand the types and requirements of factory inspections, and the company's own background;
Any areas that fail to meet the factory inspection requirements must be improved. Do not be stingy with money where it is necessary. You must know that all factory inspection requirements are beneficial to the long-term development of the factory. Today's investment is for tomorrow's return.
A few places where errors can easily occur:
——Payroll , which must comply with the standards of the local labor department. The payroll and clock-in and clock-out records must correspond;
——Working and living environment, such as whether the cafeteria aunt has a health certificate;
——Fire -fighting measures in the factory, whether the safety escape ladders and lights are complete, and whether there are escape road signs on the ground;
——Whether the chemical raw materials in the production workshop are properly placed;
——Whether there are representatives in the production workshop to communicate with superiors and subordinates and protect the interests of front-line employees.
If there are no professionals in the factory who are familiar with factory inspections, you can consider seeking help from a professional factory inspection consulting company. |
