Kitchenware inspection checklist

This article describes common industry practice, not official rules.

A kitchenware inspection checklist usually lists what the inspector checks, and what counts as a pass for each item. In many cases the buyer writes the items. A common approach is to start from the purchase order, the approved sample and the buyer's specification, then add the checks that suit the product.

Quantity, packing and markings

• Finished units counted against the purchase order, as set in the checklist.
• Inner packing and carton count checked against the packing list.
• Shipping marks and carton labels, as written in the buyer's specification.

Appearance and workmanship

• Surface finish, including paint, plating, coating or enamel, checked for scratches, bubbles, peeling and uneven colour.
• Burrs, sharp edges and rough seams on metal bodies, blades and lids.
• Welds, rivets and joints checked for gaps, cracks and loose spots.
• Handles and knobs checked for alignment, cracks and how firmly they attach.
• Lids checked for dents, warping and the feel of the edge.

Defects are often sorted into critical, major and minor groups. The inspection instruction usually says which group each item falls into.

Dimensions and capacity

• Dimensions and capacity measured against the figures in the buyer's specification, using the tools named in the checklist.

Fit of lids and parts

• Lid fit on the pot or pan body, including whether it sits level and closes the way the buyer asks.
• Removable parts, such as inserts, racks or handles, checked to go together as specified.

Function checks the buyer asks for

These checks appear only when the buyer adds them. They are not in every checklist.

• Stability on a flat surface, with the item empty and with the item loaded the way the buyer describes.
• Handle firmness when the item is lifted and held as the specification describes.
• A water test for leaks on items meant to hold liquid, run the way the buyer describes.

Labels and instructions

• Labels, stickers and printed instructions, checked against the language and wording the buyer specifies.
• Label placement on the product and on the packing, checked against the artwork.

Whether a legal or certification requirement applies is for the regulator or an accredited laboratory to confirm.

Gift box and packing condition

• Gift box print, insert and closure, checked against the artwork.
• Protective wrap, foam and dividers, checked for damage that could come from transit.

Cleanliness

• Dust, oil, residue or packing debris, checked inside and outside the item.
• Packing area cleanliness, as the checklist defines it.

Writing the checklist

Write each item with a pass rule the inspector can check. A line such as "lid sits flush and closes without force" is easier to apply than "good fit". Compare the items against the approved sample, and treat the sample as the reference for appearance.

An inspection company, which is a third party that is not the factory or the seller, usually carries out the check and records the findings in an inspection report. The report then lists each item with its result, so the buyer can compare it with the checklist line by line.