The Essential Checklist for Your First Factory Visit in China

Pre-Visit Preparation

A successful factory visit begins with thorough preparation. Before you board the plane, ensure you have:

• Technical drawings or product specifications (with tolerance requirements clearly marked).
• A list of questions focused on production capacity, quality control processes, and supply chain transparency.
• Business cards in English and Chinese (critical for credibility).

What to Observe During the Visit

Walking through a factory floor reveals far more than a sales presentation. Key areas to inspect:

• Raw Material Storage: Is wood stored in climate-controlled areas? Are materials labeled with sourcing information?
• Production Flow: Look for bottlenecks or idle workstations, which may indicate capacity issues.
• Quality Checkpoints: How many inspection stages exist between raw material and finished product?
• Worker Safety: PPE usage, ventilation systems, and ergonomic workstations indicate management quality.

Critical Questions to Ask

• What is your current production capacity, and what percentage is allocated to existing clients?
• Can I see samples of rejected products and understand your defect rate?
• Do you have in-house testing facilities (load testing, durability, chemical emissions)?
• What is your typical lead time from PO to ex-factory, and what factors could delay it?

Post-Visit Follow-Up

Within 24 hours of your visit, send a summary email outlining:

• Product specifications discussed.
• Requested quotations with clear MOQ breakpoints.
• Next steps (sample development timeline, payment terms discussion).