Quality audit & factory inspection | Markindus
Factory monitoring, certificates and test reports from recognised labs, independent audits, compliance with European standards: each project has its level of control, by product and risk.
Control is part of the process, not an option
For a retailer, a faulty imported product costs far more than its purchase price: withdrawal from the shelf, returns handling, supplier dispute, and a private label damaged with the end customer.
We are the importer, and we paid for the goods before you did: a compliant batch is as much our interest as yours. The control setup is built into the process, it does not depend on a specific request from you.
Factory checks, before shipping
Quality control starts well before the final check. The specification sets the product requirements from the design stage, pre-production samples are signed off on the piece, and production is monitored at the maker.
Depending on the product and the identified risk level, the goods are checked at the factory before shipping: conformity to the specification, appearance, function, markings, packaging and case packing. A batch judged non-compliant is held: it goes back for rework at the maker, before a new check. No one has any interest in discovering a defect on arrival, six weeks after loading, when the container is paid for and the delivery is scheduled.
Audits entrusted to independent bodies
In addition to our own monitoring, we can bring in independent audit bodies. Their outside view covers production and the factories themselves, and their reports document what was checked. You then have verifiable evidence, beyond our own monitoring.
The independent third party turns an internal check into a defensible file, available if a question comes up on a batch.
European compliance built into the specification
Every product family has its requirements: regulation on food-contact materials for kitchen utensils, toy safety standards for items intended for children, applicable requirements for wood and paper products, for which our ranges also rely on FSC® certification. These requirements are built in from the brief and followed through development.
This setup supports our services, from sourcing to range development. To discuss it on a specific project, contact the team.
Frequently asked questions
Who carries out the quality audits?
Independent inspection bodies, appointed by Markindus, who work at the factory before shipping.
What happens if a check reveals a defect?
The goods do not ship. The batch is reworked or re-sorted by the maker, then re-checked. That is the point of checking before shipping rather than discovering the problem on receipt, when the product is already paid for and expected on the shelf.
How do you handle regulatory compliance of products?
The requirements are set from the specification, by product family: European regulation on food-contact materials for kitchen utensils, toy safety standards for children's items, applicable requirements for other families. The tests and compliance documents are part of the product file.
Do you provide the compliance documents to the retailer?
Yes. Declarations, test reports and technical documentation are kept available to your quality teams.