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FAQ's
1. What notice do I have to give API prior to inspection?
2. How fast can we get a result?
3. Your fee of 350 USD per man/day seems high. I could hire my own full-time local inspectors for this kind of money?
4. if there is an API inspection, is the factory relieved from its obligation to deliver quality goods?
5. What happens if the goods arrive and we find that there are quality problems
despite an inspection by API?
1. What notice do I have to give API prior to inspection?
API will select an appropriate inspector with experience to suit the client and product. In order
to achieve this, we need to receive inspection bookings 2-5 working days before the
requested inspection date.
API are a flexible company and we can accommodate client request on much shorter notice . Contact API for further information.
2. How fast can we get a result?
API guarantees typed reports to be e-mailed by 1800 hrs the Day after the Inspection
unless there are unavoidable problems. Normally it is a good practice to ensure the factory finishes production 2 days before
loading a container for shipment. Due to poor planning or
lack of space, factories may experience difficulties. Often containers arrive the moment the
goods are ready. This does not leave much time for inspections or problem solving. Buyers
should stipulate a two-day gap in their purchase terms because this allows a Report to be presented to the buyer and shipping decisions to be made without undue time pressure. In the event that the factory is poorly managed and the result must be available as soon as possible, API offers a Quick Result Form which is the inspector's handwritten draft faxed from the factory and briefly reviewed by the API's Hong Kong based Customer Service Executive before
forwarding to the client within 2 hours of the inspection being completed.
3. Your fee of 350 USD per man/day seems high. I could hire my own full-time local inspectors for this kind of money?
It may look expensive on the surface, but once one takes into account all administrative costs, checklist preparation, report verification as well as the supporting extensive product knowledge, electronic databases and staff experience, then such price is good value for money. If you have
a heavy volume of inspections, little seasonality, a narrow range of goods and of suppliers, it
may make sense to build up a team of inspectors in China or other Asian locations but bear in mind the hidden costs of communications, managers, office registration, taxes, equipment and time spent hiring and training. API has an existing infra-structure and due to economies of scale can make the price quite attractive for volume clients who will appreciate the advantages of outsourcing in terms of flexibility and reduction of headaches and aggravation that comes with managing a team of staff spread out over so many different factory locations every day.
Moreover, outsourcing carries the additional advantage of having an independent third party forming objective and impartial opinions free from internal interferences.
4. if there is an API inspection, is the factory relieved from its obligation to deliver quality goods?
No action or inspection by API relieves the manufacturer from the burden of delivering quality goods or
compensating the client for the delivery of poor products. Audits, inspections, loading checks or sample picking and tests performed by API are simply a palette of quality tools at
the buyer's disposal to effect more control over the purchasing process and reduce the
possibility of errors, misunderstandings, negligence or even fraud. The objective is to create an atmosphere of control which sends a clear message to all parties that correct quality must be produced and shipped. API is a facilitator, we are neither a trading company, nor an agent.
5. What happens if the goods arrive and we find that there are quality problems
despite an inspection by API?
API is simply a quality assurance company and as such it is our job to report and record what
we see and assist our clients in making decisions whether to ship product or not. As we are
often not present during loading of containers and we only take a statistical sampling of the
total lot we cannot guarantee 100% that the same goods were shipped, nor that the total lot
size will meet the quality standards. We are simply there to reduce the possibility of future problems. Additionally there is a human factor involved. We try to get consistency by
continuous training. Should it be proven that API staff did not notice or document defects, or safety issues during
the course of construction checks or inspections we will refund the value of the inspection, in cases of proven extreme oversight up to ten times this sum. Any concerns that you may have regarding the performance of API staff should be brought to our attention immediately so we can start claim investigations which involve checking reference samples, shipment samples and all paperwork relating to the inspection to verify where things went wrong. Then we update our procedures and training to prevent any recurrence.
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