Quality Control & Inspection
AQL sampling · Dimensional checks · Bench tests · Third-party inspection
Every order passes three inspection gates: incoming material, in-process checks and pre-shipment inspection against an AQL sampling plan. Brake pads, alternators, starters and sensors are tested individually; castings and forgings are checked dimensionally against the drawing. Third-party inspection through SGS, Bureau Veritas or TÜV can be arranged at the buyer cost, and the report is sent before the container is sealed.
The three gates
Inspection that only happens at the end catches problems too late to fix them. Each gate exists to stop a specific category of defect from travelling further down the line.
| Gate | When | What is checked | Typical defect caught |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming | On arrival at our warehouse | Casting marks, material certificate, dimensions on a sample | Wrong material grade, undersized casting |
| In-process | During production | Assembly torque, connector pinout, surface finish | Wrong connector, loose terminal, poor plating |
| Pre-shipment | Before the container is sealed | AQL sample, function test, packing and labelling | Mixed part numbers, missing hardware, damaged box |
Sampling levels
We work to ISO 2859-1 general inspection level II, with a critical defect class of zero tolerance. In practice that means a shipment of 1,200 pieces is sampled at 80 pieces for major and minor defects, and any critical defect — a brake pad with a detached backing plate, a hub with a cracked flange — rejects the batch regardless of the sample result.
| Lot size | Sample size (GII) | Major AQL | Minor AQL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 151–280 | 32 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
| 281–500 | 50 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
| 501–1,200 | 80 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
| 1,201–3,200 | 125 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
Category-specific tests
Each category has a failure mode that matters more than the others, and the test plan follows it rather than applying a generic checklist.
| Category | Test | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads | Friction coefficient, shear strength, compressibility | Per ECE R90 report; no delamination at shear |
| Brake discs | Runout, thickness variation, balance | Runout under 0.05 mm |
| Alternators / starters | Bench test at rated load | Output within 5% of nominal; no abnormal noise |
| Sensors | Resistance curve and output signal | Within tolerance across the temperature range |
| Shock absorbers | Dyno force curve at three velocities | Within 10% of reference curve |
| Radiators / condensers | Pressure and leak test | No drop at 1.5× working pressure for 60 s |
| Lamps | Seal check and photometric pattern | No moisture ingress; cut-off within pattern |
Documents that ship with the goods
The packing list carries the part number, description, quantity and carton dimensions. Material declarations, ECE approval numbers and test reports are supplied as PDFs with the shipping documents, and the inspection report is filed against the container number so a claim can be traced back to the batch that produced the part.
If your market requires a certificate of origin, a fumigation certificate for wooden packing, or a declaration that the goods contain no asbestos, tell us at the order stage. These cannot be obtained retroactively once the container has sailed.
Frequently asked questions
Do you use AQL sampling or 100% inspection? +
AQL sampling to ISO 2859-1 level II for most categories, with zero tolerance on critical defects. Safety-critical items — brake components, steering joints, hubs — are inspected at a tighter level, and electrical parts are function-tested individually.
Can we appoint our own inspection company? +
Yes. SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV, Intertek and QIMA all inspect at our warehouse. You appoint and pay them directly; we provide access, samples and the packing list. The report reaches you before the container is sealed.
What happens if the inspection fails? +
The batch is held. We either rework it, replace the defective units or reject it back to the supplier, and you decide which. Nothing ships on a failed report unless you explicitly accept the deviation in writing.
Do you provide material certificates? +
Yes for castings, forgings and friction material — mill certificates or batch declarations. For rubber components we supply the compound declaration rather than a mill certificate, because that is what the process actually produces.
How are warranty claims handled? +
Report the part number, installation date, mileage and photographs. A part that fails within 12 months or 30,000 km from a material or workmanship defect is replaced in the next shipment. The claim is logged against the production batch so the supplier sees the pattern.
Send a part number, get a price
VIN, OEM number or a photo of the old part. Quotation within 24 hours, including MOQ and lead time.