Importance and Process of Quality Control and Pre Shipment Inspection in Export

The biggest drawback of export from developing countries and also export from developed countries has been their low quality standard of products. So in order to provide better quality products and stop cheating regarding quality of products, goods and services, the export and import regulating authorities of different nations and international bodies have come out with various measures from time to time. The regulation bodies implemented rules and regulations, provided guidelines and created a proper system of securing an export of good quality products or the quality of product which will be demanded by importers or buyers. 

Countries, national international regulation authorities have created councils, boards or associations to promote export of ethical and quality products, goods or services. The established institutions are working for sound development of the export trade on a long term basis by ensuring export worthiness of the export items though pre shipment inspections and quality control.

The main functions of these authorities, boards, councils and associations are to advise the local regulating authorities on measures for enforcement of quality control and inspection of the commodities ready for export.

Other functions are to make arrangements for pre shipment inspection of notified commodities ready for export.

To create a proper way of quality control assurance system the global and local authorities are trying to develop consciousness among the manufacturer, exporters, importers and govt regulating bodies. They encourage the adoption of quality discipline, the councils have been also engaged in the quality development and export promotional activities by way of arranging training on various quality control techniques on the personal level and company level. 

In many cases the requirements of importers have been recognized as the product safety basis- like hazardous products and unhealthy products etc.Commodities for which minimum standards have been prescribed are only allowed for export after the product has been passes the quality control tests or have a properly issued certificate of quality inspections from prescribed authorities. Importers may decline to accept the product below the prescribed minimum standard. The standards are reviewed periodically in conclusion with trade and industries and also keeping in view the latest technical changes and the changes needs of the overseas buyers. Reputed international inspection agencies are always working on a partnership with local quality control inspection agencies and export encouraging agencies for the process of quality control inspections. The international agencies are providing training programs for upgrading the standards of local marine procession units.

How many ways of Inspection?

At present globally there are mainly three ways of inspection for quality control. These are as follows:

1. Consignment wise inspection

In this type of consignment each consignment or entire consignment of the same product are inspected and tested by the notified and recognized agencies by selecting consignment on the basis of a statistical sampling plan to check the quality of the product as per prescribed standard.  

2. In process quality control

In this process the quality control system is the responsibility of manufacturers. Manufacturers have to maintain the quality of product at every stage of the manufacturing process by exercising various levels of control like raw materials and bringing out components control, process control, product control, meteorological control, packaging control, handling control etc. The certificate of inspection of each stage has been issued after the quality inspection. These certificates of inspection have to be presented at the time the export process continues. 

3. Self certifications

In this system of certification, the manufacturing unit fulfills the stringent norms prescribed for design and development, raw materials and bought out components, process control, product control, meteorological control, packaging, handling, after sales services, quality audit, housekeeping, maintenance etc. are authorized by the quality control authorities to issue the certificate of inspections for their own product by themselves. 

To enable the power of self certification to any company for their own product company has to be allowed the authorities to visit and inspect the entire company process as per every prescribed time. The successful inspection visit regularly by the authorities will allow the companies to self certification for their own product. This self certification will make the process of export faster and will minimize the complexity of export.

How to Handle the Product Quality Complaints?

Procedures have been evolved for assessment, evaluation and settlement of complaints on product quality received from importers to the exporters nation. The local quality complaints have been set up by the international and also local quality control inspection agencies. If exporters will send any commodity to the importer or buyer below the quality standard, the importer will reject the commodity and refuse to receive the consignment. Importer will also hold the payments and will ask to return the advance payments from the exporter. Importer or buyer will have a right to file a complaint to the local quality control office of the exporter’s nation and may also demand compensation for their loss.

Machinery for quality Control and Inspection in India

The government of India has established five Export Inspection Agencies Headquarters located at Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Cochin under section 7 of Export Quality Control and Inspection Act 1963. These headquarters are functioning under administrative and technical control of Export Inspection Councils. These headquarters have many Sub- Offices at different parts of India. 

The government of India has also recognized some private inspection agencies and government inspection agencies to supplement the work of quality control certifications under the Export Quality Control and Inspection Act 1963.

In order to meet the increasing demand for prompt, efficient, accurate and comprehensive testing of engineering products, particularly from the small scale sectors, the export council of India has setup a Pilot Teat House at Mumbai. The Pilot Teat house has many laboratories for testing of Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Metallurgical Engineering Products. Apart from carrying out testings of samples drawn be Export Inspection Agencies from export consignments, the pilot test house also offer several technical support facilities to the industries, like assessment of quality parameters of the products, assistance in obtaining approval under the in-process quality control system, providing common facilities for testing research and development project for quality upgradation and tailor-made training program for industries.

To advising the the Pilot Test House on policy, planning, expansion and action programs, an Advisory Committee is also established and works with Director, Inspection and Quality Control and representative with the Bureau of Indian Standards, National Test House, Indian Institute of Technology, TELCO, Cropmton Greaves etc.

This Quality Control Inspection supports is highly important and helpful for Small and Medium Scale Industries.

These all inspection bodies are working well and maintain the quality of export commodities from India to abroad.