Most first-time factory visits are won by "18,000 square metres, 300 workers, 40 countries". All true, and all useless for answering the only question that matters: can this factory ship a compliant product on time? Here are seven checks you can run without getting on a plane.
1. Business licence and scope
Ask for: the business licence scan, with the scope of business readable.
Passes if: the scope includes manufacturing of household appliances, and the company name matches the bank account name.
Fails if: the scope says trading or sales only (that is a trader), or the company name differs from the receiving account.
Also check the registration year. A two-year-old factory is not disqualified, but it needs more scrutiny.
2. A one-take factory video, shot to your script
Ask for: three segments, filmed on a phone, no editing, no music:
Segment 1: from the factory gate sign, walk to the workshop in one continuous shot
Segment 2: hold on the PCB line for 20 seconds — the point is whether an SMT machine is visible
Segment 3: walk to the warehouse, film one shelf, read out the model number on a cartonWhy this script: one continuous shot defeats splicing; the SMT machine tells you whether "we make our own PCB" is true; reading a carton proves stock exists.
Fails if: "the workshop is being renovated" or "video needs approval" — that is usually a trader.
3. The first ten BOM lines
Ask for: brand and part number of the heating plate, IGBT, main control chip, panel glass and fan.
Passes if: specific part numbers, and they are real purchasable parts.
Fails if: "we use good quality" or "imported".
The IGBT and heating plate determine lifetime and cost. A supplier who can name them is actually building the product.
4. The certificate model must match your order
Ask for: the DoC and test report for your target model.
Passes if: the model string matches the quotation character by character.
Fails if: "the same series is covered".
This is checked at EU customs and in channel audits. A mismatch means batch rejection.
5. Line takt time
Ask: how many units does this line output per day, with how many operators?
Calculate: daily output ÷ operators ÷ 8 hours = seconds of labour per unit.
Passes if: the numbers are consistent when asked twice.
Then ask: if I place 1,000 pcs now, what date does production start? What you are testing is whether they will commit to a date, not whether the capacity sounds large.
6. Export record you can verify
Ask for: the list of destination countries over the last year, plus the duration of any one customer relationship (customer name can be redacted).
Passes if: the country list matches the certification regimes you need.
You can also check independently: some customs data platforms expose shipper records (for example ImportYeti for US imports). A company with bill-of-lading records is more credible than one that only talks.
7. Buy a sample with your own money
Do not ask for a free sample. Pay for one or two units.
Check:
- Is there a manual, and is it multilingual?
- Is the rating plate correct, with the right model and certification marks?
- Button feel, noise, heating uniformity
- Is there a certificate of conformity or warranty card in the box?
Fails if: an engineering sample arrives loose in a plain carton.
The one-line summary
"18,000 m² and 300 workers" is a self-introduction. "BOM part numbers + a certificate that matches the model + a one-take workshop video" is evidence. The first is free to say; the second costs something to produce.
About this page
WECHGOOD can supply six of these seven checks, including the one-take workshop video and a per-model DoC. The sample is the one you pay for.
Send your target market and model and we will come back within one working day.