1. What is Quality Assurance?

Quality assurance is a system of management activities performed to ensure that a process, item, or service is of the type and quality needed by the user. It deals with creating management controls that cover planning, implementation, and review of data collection activities.

 

2. What is Quality Control?

Quality control is technical in nature and is implemented at the project level. It includes all the scientific precautions, such as calibrations and duplications, which are needed to ensure that data is of the proper quality and accuracy.

 

3. What tools does AiT use?

1) Sampling method: 
 MIL-STD-105E or percentage according to the client’s requirement. 
 2) AQL (Acceptable Quality Levels)
 3) ASTM D5430 4-point system( Fabric's Grading system)
 4) ISO Standards, SA8000( Factory audit standard)
 5) Industry benchmarks 
 6) Our experiences and our specializing.

 

4. What does AiT check during inspection?

 1) workmanship; 
 2) actual quantities; 
 3) colour assessment; 
 4) hand feel, design and construction; 
 5) dimension and measurement; 
 6) weight; 
 7) packaging; 
 8) labeling and marks; 
 9) odour and smell; 
 10) drop test; 
 11) basic function test; 
 12) metal detection test etc. as you require;

 

5. When was the company set up, and how many staffs are there? Who owns the company?   
AiT was set up at the early part of year 2005. We have about 20 experienced inspectors. Some of us have been working in SGS/ITS/BV for many years. Mr. Abel Wong has been working in SGS for 5 years from 1994-1999, and then have been working in a British company, which deals with arts and crafts items for nearly 6 years as QA manager. Others have been working in manufacturing company for over 5 years. Abel Wong is the General Manager. We have inspectors in Qingdao,TianJin,Shanghai,Ningbo,Fuzhou,Xiamen,Guangzhou, Shenzhen etc.

 

6. Who are your clients you have served? Are you able to list your clients who have used your services? What is the order value? Can you send me some references?

Yes, we can send you references upon receiving your request.

 

7. How do you handle disputes if my customer rejects the goods after you have accepted them during your inspection?   
We have formal agreement of service, in this case we will investigate if it is our fault. The customer can claim compensation from us and from the manufacturer. Our responsibility is limited in our contract. This conditions show very detail at our homepage. We always stress the importance of careful inspections/auditing for all our inspectors. And we have been well organized/managed.

 

8. Are your inspection/audit reports written in English?

Yes, all reports/document are in English.

 

9. How do you ensure impartial audit / inspection reports?
We take full responsibility for our inspection result and inspection reports, for us and our working field, reputation is the most important.

 

10. Are you able to conduct laboratory tests yourself, or do you send goods to test laboratories like SGS?   
We do not have our own Labs yet. In the case of lab testing is needed. we usually subcontract the testing to  liable and relevant labs such as university's or relevant expertise.

11. Do you have price list for your services?

Our latest simple all- in prices as below
For inspection that is USD 239 per man-day.
   
AiT ALL-IN prices include:
Inspector's transportation and meals
Inspection and recommendations
Report issuing and communication
   
Should an Inspection require more than 1 man-day to be completed, I will confirm the number of man-days with you before the Inspection takes place.
   
In one Man- day we can inspect 125 samples to 315 samples considering the items and the inspection process. 
   
In some cases we quote with percentage system against total value. That is because the shipment is of high value, quantity is small or other special situations. For example machinery or bulk shipment, we usually quote X% of the total value plus reasonable traveling and hotel charges (if the charges occur).

 

12. What factors do you check?

We check exactly against your specification, requirements and your contract. Sometimes the customer’s spec and standard is not so specific , then We inspect under our standard and SOP(standard Operation Procedure), to give you a basic idea, we usually check quality(visual quality including some basic function test and basic tests can be done on site with our experience, If the testing involves content and composition, it is another service which provided by Labs, we are using some reliable Labs for testing) including Workmanship, actual quantities, colour assessment, hand feel, design and construction, dimension and measurement, weight, packaging, labeling and marks, odour and smell, drop test, basic function test, metal detection test etc. as you require.

 

13. Do you make only pre-shipment inspection just before the shipment or during production too? 
We follow our customers requirement, we usually perform Dupro (during production check), FRI(final random inspection) and loading supervision. Sometimes even doing in-line checking. We always suggest our customers to select solutions  for quality control especially for the first shipment. Some customers only require FRI for repeat orders or they think their supplier is reliable or trustable. Of course, more requirement results in more costs.

 

14. You can tell us that you checked but not to check. You can take money from supplier to make the fake inspection.What is the guarantee of your service? How can we be sure that you will do your job well?
   
This question is common for importers who are considering using these services at the beginning. We are a third party company, we provide services. Our product is the professional report, against which you can make decision, or you want to make sure your purchasing and as well as our experiences for manufacturer how to improve their producing and even procedure. It is a contract if you are using our service and you would (are sure) have your own inspector inspect the goods when the shipment arrives at your own warehouse. Our inspection reports reveal any problems and sometimes potential issues (as our inspector are of expertise and with rich experiences in the field). therefore our reports include not only result but our comment and our suggestion how to improve them and avoiding them in the future(this point some well-known inspection companies do not involve as they think it brings risk to them as they think their inspectors are not professional enough, that is true).  We are professional and I fully understand reputation is the most important for our future. I have been working in SGS for five years and then working in a British company as the QA manager for 6 years. I myself sometimes do inspections or audit our inspectors how to do it. Experienced inspectors are my partners and we share our own reputation. That is why I can say I can manage it well and provide our best inspection services. All the customers who using us are satisfied to our services, I can provide references if you require. 
   
Further more, we take our responsibility to the findings which show on our reports and the result does not release any of our responsibly or your supplier’s. You keep the right to claim compensation from your supplier and even us if you find differences or fault in your shipment against our report.