Quality Control Services in India
If India is among your major sourcing destinations, you already know how much your supply chain can benefit from an effective quality control program. With a third-party partner like QIMA, you can vet suppliers before you give them your business, and have experts on the ground throughout the production process to ensure your product is manufactured to your specifications.
We have a strong quality control presence in the major Indian production hubs, ready to help you monitor and secure quality at every phase of your production. Engaging a reputable third-party audit and inspection company is the best way to ensure that your products comply with all contractual specifications, mandatory regulations, and the quality standards of your destination market.
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What Is Quality Control?
Quality control is a system of maintaining standards in manufactured products by testing a sample of the output against specifications. Through product inspections, auditing, lab testing and proactive measures, the quality of products produced in India can be monitored to ensure adherence to international standards.
Various types of inspections and audits are available to meet the quality control needs of each step in your manufacturing process. The QIMA online platform makes ordering and receiving reports simple and easy.
It is also worth mentioning that scheduling issues are common among Indian manufacturers, often resulting in delayed shipments or sub-par quality due to rushed production. This is why quality control measures at different stages of the manufacturing process can make a crucial difference in the supply chain integrity of any company that sources from India.
Product Inspections in India
As experts in product inspections in India, you can trust us to help you keep production on track and ensure quality before your products leave the factory. We’ve conducted over 10,000 inspections in India and gathered a vast body of quality data. The most common reasons for order rejections in India have been visual defects, measurement discrepancies, and violation of packing specifications.
Leverage our product inspection expertise to catch any shortcomings before your order is shipped so you don’t risk losing an entire order or jeopardize your brand’s reputation.
We offer several product inspection services to help you maintain quality throughout the manufacturing process.
Supplier Audits in India
Our supplier audits help you ensure your suppliers meet your criteria for quality management, ethical conduct, and environmental protection.
India had a high rate of critical health and safety violations, (29%) in audited factories. Due to very high levels of corruption in India, many brands and retailers struggle with transparency in their supply chains. In recent years, one of the most pressing CSR issues for companies sourcing from India was ensuring that factory workers are fairly compensated for their labor, including any overtime payments. Our Ethical audits ensure your suppliers are meeting social responsibility standards and regulations.
Meanwhile, pollution also remains a hot-button issue in India, especially in the textile sectors, where factories, mills and dyeing facilities often fail to properly treat their effluent water and dump hazardous chemicals into the environment. Our Environmental audits help you keep an eye on your suppliers’ compliance with environmental regulations.
To help you protect your brand’s reputation and prevent supply chain disruptions, our professional auditors also conduct Manufacturing, Structural, and C-TPAT audits. Our audits help you vet your suppliers in India before you place your order, as well as follow up to ensure continuous improvement. We conduct audits to a number of international standards, our own best-in-class protocol, or your in-house requirements.
QIMA Supplier Audits in India can help you:
Protect your brand against operational and ethical risks
Ensure safe and ethical working conditions in your supply chain
Increase supply chain transparency and product traceability
Uphold your commitment to environmental protection efforts
Gain a comprehensive profile of your Indian supplier before you give them your business
Lab Testing in India
We provide accredited laboratory testing for textile products in India. With a state-of-the-art testing lab in Tiruppur, our team of experts is equipped to help brands and suppliers achieve product compliance through physical and chemical testing.
Our ISO 17025 accredited labs in India can help with a wide variety of tests tailored to textiles. We are also CPSC approved to offer tests for the U.S. market.
Why QIMA
Transparent pricing:
Product inspections in India: All-inclusive pricing
Supplier audits in India: All-inclusive pricing
Lab tests: instant online quotes
Fast turnaround:
Inspectors and auditors on-site of any factory within 48 hours
Same-day inspection reports
Easy and flexible scheduling:
Manage orders and inspections online or via mobile app
Modify or cancel orders up until 1:00PM CST (5:00AM GMT, 1:00AM EST) the day before the scheduled inspection
Your Eyes in the Supply Chain!™ - we are an independent, certified and licensed quality control company, working on your side to protect your business interests in the supply chain.
Manage your quality control process online - create your free account, schedule your Inspections online, make payment arrangements, and receive your detailed Inspection report electronically.
Safer - QIMA utilizes the strictest international standards ensuring product safety and regulatory requirements are met.
Comprehensive reports – inspection reports include detailed pictures to let you see what our inspectors see. Audit reports include copies of factory records, management interviews, and images, ensuring a complete profile of your supplier.
Sourcing from India – Current Challenges
The current decade promises to be transformative for Indian manufacturing, as the country struggles to overcome multiple issues that threaten its ambition to remain relevant in the sourcing landscape. Our years of experience working with suppliers in India allows us to keep an eye on trends in Indian manufacturing and regulations, helping you avoid potential delays and quality issues.
Product quality remains a struggle for Indian manufacturers, as India still has one of the highest percentages of inspected products beyond AQL. This struggle is due in large part to the low level of technological sophistication in manufacturing, even compared to other low-cost sourcing destinations in Asia. Nevertheless, Indian businesses, particularly those operating in its flagship textile industry, realize the importance of remaining competitive in the global market, and increasingly implement new technologies in their manufacturing. For Indian businesses, the goals of technological innovation are broad: from expanding man-made fabric production and improving productivity, to improving the environmental impact of their factories through energy-saving tech and pollution controls. The latter is particularly important, as the Indian government’s environmental protection efforts are picking up speed: polluting factories face shutdowns, while several new rating programs aim to adequately assess the amount of industrial emissions.
In terms of human rights, Indian manufacturing still struggles with such critical issues as child labor and forced labor; it is estimated that a staggering 18 million people in India are trapped in modern-day slavery. However, as awareness of the issue increases, multiple collaborative initiatives pave the way to progress. In a landmark 2017 decision, India ratified two core Conventions of the International Labour Organisation, confirming its commitment to end the worst forms of child labor.
These developments show that despite a number of technological and social hurdles, India remains an important sourcing hub determined to keep up with the times, and brands sourcing from it can benefit from long-term cooperation with their suppliers. Comprehensive quality control programs, carried out by experienced third-party providers with knowledge of local market and culture, are an important tool for improving product quality, working conditions and environmental compliance in the long term.
Trends & Insights in India
India Has One of The Highest Rates of Violations from Audits
From our audit data, India consistently has higher violations in all five key categories: Health & Safety, Waste Management, Child Labor, Working Hours and Wages, and Labor Practices.
Full Report: QIMA Q1 2024 Barometer
India’s Protectionist Policies Impact Sourcing
India's protectionist policies have impacted supply chain decisions by Western companies. These policies include increased tariffs and import restrictions aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign goods. The policies have led to challenges for foreign companies trying to navigate the Indian market, contributing to a cautious approach in expanding new business ventures in the country.
Read More: QIMA Q1 2024 Barometer