WHP’s Initial Production Checks are conducted to identify any issues that could impact production as early as possible.
What is an Initial Production Check (IPC)?
An IPC is an on-site product inspection performed from before your production begins up until 20% has been completed. During an IPC inspection, inspectors check the quality of raw materials and the first items produced in a production run. They aim to identify quality issues early on to prevent them from causing bigger issues later in the production process.
Why perform an IPC?
An IPC inspection is a good way to enforce quality standards early on, provide an early warning system for potential issues, lower the likelihood of having to correct defective goods at the end of a production run, identify and potentially mitigate disruptions that may appear at the outset of production, verify the quality of raw materials that have been supplied, ensure that the factory has set up the production run correctly and that all of your brand’s specifications are clearly understood, and gain confidence that quality standards will be met.
What checks are carried out?
Firstly, the WHP inspector will randomly select a sample of products to inspect using the ANSI/ASQ Standard Z.1.4-2008 sampling standard. The checks that are then carried out are tailored to match client requirements and the product in question. WHP has an extensive range of off-the-shelf inspection checklists available that are designed for particular products. Clients can use these off-the-shelf checklists. Otherwise, where they require specific alternative checks to be carried out, they can add to one of these lists or create their own unique checklist. However, a typical WHP IPC includes the following checks:
- Raw material and production process check
- Raw material quantities
- General conditions of storage
- Manufacturing processes to be followed
- Production organization and status
- Product specifications checks
- Quantities of semi-finished, finished, and packed products
- Product colors
- Product style and construction
- Artwork including spelling, fonts, dimensions, positioning, and general design
- Labels including main labels, care labels, size labels, and product tags
- Product dimensions check
- Other product-specific checks and tests to verify quality and workmanship
- Packing and packaging checks
- Unit packing
- Inner packing
- Outer packing
- Export carton dimensions and weights
- Shipping marks on cartons
What happens after an IPC is completed?
Clients receive a detailed inspection report, delivered on the same day as the inspection, and accessible via their online WHP account. The report outlines the findings of the inspection, including photos of any defects found, and gives an overall pass/fail outcome. While an IPC is a good start to ensure quality production, it is not enough to guarantee the quality of finished products. We advise combining an IPC with a pre-shipment inspection (PSI), which checks your products once the full quantity has been produced. If a PSI is not carried out, you run the risk that your factory could ship bad quality products despite your IPC.
WHP expertise
WHP provides independent quality control designed to protect your business interests. Our highly trained and experienced inspectors are product experts who receive regular training in their field of specialization. WHP inspectors can be onsite at your factory within 48 hours of booking, and reports are provided on the same day as the inspection. Our inspections cover all types of consumer goods, including but not limited to apparel and footwear, toys, electronics, and furniture.
Take your quality management online
WHP offers an intelligent online platform to help you manage your quality control and global supply network seamlessly. You can easily book, cancel, or reschedule inspections, make payments, or download your inspection reports with a few clicks. We also provide a customizable dashboard with all of your quality control data, so you can identify trends and make informed decisions in real-time.