Audit Before You Order
A packaging supplier audit is the difference between a reliable supply chain and costly production failures. The time invested in a proper audit—whether in-person or remote—returns through avoided quality issues, on-time delivery, and consistent product.
Pre-Audit Documentation Review
Request business license, export license, and ISO 9001 certificate with numbers for independent verification. Review at least three client references in your product category and target market. Check years in business and export experience.
Factory Walkthrough Checklist
Production floor: clean, organized, with maintained equipment and visible safety procedures. Equipment: modern offset presses (Heidelberg, Komori preferred) with automated die-cutting and folder-gluer lines. Quality control: dedicated inspection stations with documented procedures and equipment calibration records.
Sample Evaluation Protocol
Stock samples establish baseline quality from existing production with custom samples produced specifically for your design. Production samples pulled from an active production run verify consistency. Evaluate print registration, color accuracy, structural integrity, and finish quality.
Communication and Service Assessment
Test response time to technical questions with English proficiency of the account manager. Evaluate willingness to provide production updates and photos with clarity of quotation and specification documentation.
Red Flags That Should Stop an Order
Inability to provide verifiable certification numbers with refusal of pre-production sample orders. No export experience to your target market. Vague answers to technical specification questions. Pressure for 100% upfront payment. Inconsistent pricing between quotation rounds.
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