China Factory Visit Checklist for Overseas Buyers

This is a working checklist you can use on your own factory visits in China. It is built for overseas buyers who want to walk a plant, judge whether it can deliver, and avoid the obvious traps — without turning the trip into a consulting project.

This checklist is for your own use. If you need a third party to verify a supplier on the ground, that is a different service (see Supplier Due Diligence & Factory Verification at the end). The two are not the same, and mixing them up is a common buyer error.

Before Confirming the Visit

Supplier shortlisted on more than a catalog (export market, spec match)
Real reason for the visit defined (verify capacity, quality, or claims)
Visit window confirmed with the supplier, not assumed
Rough route checked (see factory visit route planning)
Interpreter and vehicle arranged if needed

QGO Practical Insight: A useful rule of thumb — only visit a factory when the order size or risk justifies the travel. A small trial order rarely needs a flight; a container-level commitment almost always does.

Supplier Documents

Ask for and review before or during the visit:

Business licence (name, address, legal representative)
Export licence or proof of export record
Relevant certifications for your market (CE, UL, etc.)
Factory address matching the licence and the visit site

Discrepancies between the licence address and the actual plant are a flag, not a detail.

Before Leaving the Hotel

Charged phone and a way to log photos per supplier
Printed or offline spec sheet for the product
List of fixed questions (same set for every visit)
Business cards and a notebook, not just phone notes
Confirmation of the exact gate/building, not just the city

Questions to Ask at the Factory

How long have you operated at this site?
Which part of the product do you make vs outsource?
What is your monthly capacity at our spec?
Who are your export markets and can you reference one?
Can you show the line that makes our product, running?
What is your QC step between production and packing?

QGO Practical Insight: In practice, the most revealing question is "show me the line that makes this." A supplier who walks you straight to a running line answers more than any brochure. One who redirects to a showroom deserves a harder look.

Production Floor Checks

Is the floor organized and signed, or crowded and unclear?
Are machines in use, or idle and for show?
Do workers handle your product type, or something different?
Is there a clear flow from input to finished goods?
Is safety and housekeeping at a level you would accept for your brand?

Quality Control Checks

Where in the process does QC happen?
Is there an incoming-material check?
Is there an in-process check, not just final inspection?
Can they show a recent inspection record?
Who decides if a batch passes — and can you see the standard?

Export Capability Checks

Do they handle export documentation (certificate of origin, packing list)?
Which incoterms do they ship on routinely?
Have they shipped to a market with rules like yours?
Who arranges freight — them or your forwarder?

After the Visit

Same-day notes: what you saw, not what you hoped
Photos filed per supplier with a one-line verdict
Sample request sent within 48 hours if interested
Comparison written across all visited suppliers
Decision: proceed / verify deeper / drop

Red Flags

Licence address does not match the plant
No running line for your product, only a showroom
Reluctance to show the floor at all
Certification claimed but no document shown
Pressure to decide on the spot
Export claims with no reference market

QGO Practical Insight: A common planning mistake is treating a friendly reception as a pass. The reception is sales; the floor is the evidence. Keep the two separate in your notes.

How to use this checklist without slowing down

The point is not to tick every box at every stop. Match the depth to the decision:

Screening visit — focus on documents, address match, and the "show me the line" question.
Shortlist visit — add floor checks, QC and export capability.
Final audit — work the full list, including red flags, before a large commitment.

Buyers who run the full list on a casual first look waste the visit; buyers who run only the greeting on a final audit waste the order. Tie the checklist depth to where the supplier sits in your decision.

If your trip involves multiple supplier meetings, factory visits or Canton Fair days, QGO Business can help coordinate the China-side logistics, interpretation and visit schedule.

This checklist is a self-use tool. For formal third-party on-site verification, use the Supplier Due Diligence & Factory Verification service.