Factory Visit Checklist: 10 Things to Check
What to look for when visiting a Chinese factory

Hi, this is GreenFrog Seoul.

In the previous six episodes, we covered everything from reading Proforma Invoices to customs clearance and payment terms. Today, we get to the part that really matters: going to the factory in person.

No matter how well things go online, a factory visit can completely change your assessment. What looks like a solid supplier on screen may tell a very different story on the ground.

"But they're a Gold Supplier on Alibaba!"
"Their website looked totally professional!"

Then you show up and find three people working in an apartment basement. This actually happens, more often than you'd think.

On the flip side, some factories look rough from the outside but have rock-solid production lines and excellent quality. Nothing beats seeing it with your own eyes.

Today, we break down the 10 essential things you must check during a factory visit.

1. Factory Exterior & Scale — First Impressions Aren't Everything

Start checking the moment you arrive:

• Factory signage — Is there one? Does the name match the Business License (营业执照)?
• Building size — Does the facility match what they claimed on Alibaba? (They said 500 employees, but the building is barely 2,000 sq ft?)
• Parking lot & shipping trucks — Are there logistics vehicles? This is a strong indicator of an active, shipping factory.

2. Business License & Export Qualifications

These are usually displayed in the reception area or meeting room. If they're not visible, ask to see them:

3. Production Line Walkthrough

This is the heart of any factory audit. If you spend the whole visit drinking tea in the meeting room, you've wasted your trip.

On the production floor, look for:

• Equipment condition — Are machines actually running? Is there dust buildup on idle equipment?
• Number of production lines — How many lines are operating simultaneously?
• Automation level — Manual, semi-automated, or fully automated? This directly affects quality consistency.
• Headcount — How many workers are actually on the floor?
• Products in progress — Are they making items similar to yours?

4. Raw Material Warehouse & Inventory Management

Don't stop at the production line. The raw material warehouse tells you just as much about a factory's reliability.

• Organization — Are materials labeled, categorized, and managed with FIFO (first in, first out)?
• Stock levels — Is there enough raw material on hand? Low stock can mean delivery delays.
• Storage conditions — For moisture- or temperature-sensitive materials, are they stored properly?
• Material sourcing — Ask where they source raw materials. Domestic (Chinese) vs. imported can make a significant quality difference.

5. Quality Control (QC) System

Whether the factory is large or small, having a real QC system or not is the single biggest predictor of product quality.

Key things to verify:

• Dedicated QC staff — Is there a separate QC team? If production workers double as inspectors, there's effectively no inspection happening.
• Inspection equipment — Vernier calipers, color meters, tensile testers — do they have the basic tools?
• Inspection records — Ask to see recent QC reports. No records means no inspections.
• Defect handling — How do they sort, classify, and dispose of defective products?
• AQL standards — Do they have their own AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) standards? If not, they're inspecting by gut feeling.

6. Sample Room & Showroom

Most established factories have a sample room. This is where you get real insight.

• Existing client products — You can assess quality levels firsthand
• Delivery history — Ask which brands and countries they've supplied to
• R&D capability — If they have self-developed products, it signals genuine technical expertise

Pick up the samples. Feel the weight, check the finish, examine the details. These are things you can never assess from photos alone.

7. Labor Conditions & Worker Welfare

Ethical sourcing matters more than ever. If you're targeting the European or North American market, labor conditions are something you need to evaluate.

• Working environment — Ventilation, lighting, proper use of safety equipment
• Fire safety — Fire extinguishers, marked emergency exits, sprinkler systems
• Dormitories & cafeteria — If available, check their condition (a strong indicator of overall workplace standards)
• Working hours — Is excessive overtime a regular practice?

8. Packaging & Shipping Area

A thorough factory audit covers the full journey — from raw material to finished, boxed product ready for export.

• Packing line — Automated vs. manual packing. Packaging quality directly affects damage rates during shipping.
• Master cartons — Check specifications, carton strength, and labeling accuracy
• Palletizing — How do they load containers? Efficient loading = lower shipping costs
• Shipping records — Ask to see recent shipment documentation. This confirms actual export activity.

9. Communication & Team Competence

You've assessed the hardware. Now evaluate the software — the people.

• English proficiency — How well does the sales rep communicate? Miscommunication leads to quality problems.
• Response speed — You can already gauge this from pre-visit correspondence
• Technical knowledge — When you ask detailed product spec questions, do they give concrete, informed answers?
• Flexibility — When you make custom requests, do they give clear "yes" or "no" answers with reasoning?

10. Competitors & Existing Client Base

Last on the list, but potentially the most important point of all.

• Key client list — Which countries and what size of companies do they supply?
• Competitor overlap — If they already supply your direct competitors with the same product category, there's a real risk of design or information leakage.
• Annual export volume — Verified revenue is a strong signal of a stable operation.
• Repeat order rate — A high re-order rate from existing clients is the ultimate proof of quality and service.

Final Checklist — Print This Before You Go

• Business License (营业执照) — company name & address match the actual factory
• Production lines are actively running
• Dedicated QC staff & inspection equipment are present
• Raw material warehouse is organized with FIFO management
• Sample room products — verify quality in person
• ISO & product certifications — obtain originals or copies
• Labor conditions & fire safety meet basic standards
• Packaging & shipping area — properly managed
• Sales team English & technical competence — adequate level
• NDA signed before sharing any designs or drawings

With this checklist, you can complete a thorough factory assessment in under 2 hours.

Wrapping Up

A factory visit is about turning uncertainty into verified fact.

A supplier that scored 90 points online might be a 60 in person. And a supplier that seemed like a 70 online might turn out to be a 95 when you see their operation firsthand. Nothing replaces seeing it with your own eyes.

Yes, it costs time and money. But a round-trip flight is far cheaper than losing tens of thousands of dollars to a bad batch of defective goods.

GreenFrog Seoul has a team based in China that can conduct factory audits on your behalf. If you can't visit in person, let us be your eyes and ears on the ground.