Factory Visit & Verification Checklist (In-Person or Video)

The short answer

Whether you visit in person, send an agent, or do a live video tour, verify six things: the legal entity and address, that production actually happens on site, the specific machines and line for your product, quality control in action, capacity vs. your order, and working conditions and compliance. Use the checklist below.

Why a factory check matters — even remotely

A factory check is how you confirm that the company you verified on paper can actually make your product. You don’t always have to fly to China: a live, unscripted video walk-through covers most of what an in-person visit would for small and medium orders. What matters is seeing the real production — not a showroom, an office, or a pre-recorded video — and matching what you see to what was promised.

Before the visit: documents to request

Business license (name, scope, status)
Relevant quality certificates (e.g. ISO 9001) and product test reports
Past export records or client references
Recent, dated factory photos of the line making your product

The on-site / video checklist

Identity — the sign and address match the business license; reception recognises the company name.
Production — your product is actually being made on site; raw materials and work-in-progress are present; it is not an empty or rented showroom.
Equipment — the specific machines and line for your product exist and are running, not idle.
Quality control — there is a QC station and staff, incoming and outgoing inspection, and testing equipment.
Capacity — the number of lines and workers and the monthly output fit your order and lead time.
Compliance — reasonable working conditions, basic safety, and certificates on display.

In-person vs. video vs. third-party audit

Method	Best for	What it can miss
Live video tour	Small–medium orders, fast checks	Staged routes; areas kept off-camera
In-person visit	Important or ongoing suppliers	What a short visit can’t sample over time
Third-party audit	Large orders; independent proof	Little — most thorough option

Red flags during a visit

Refuses to show the production line, or “the factory is at another location today”
Only a showroom or office is available
Reluctance to go live on camera or to unscripted areas
The address or company sign doesn’t match the business license

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FAQ

Can I verify a factory without visiting China?

Yes. A live, unscripted video walk-through plus documents and a paid sample covers most of what an in-person visit would, for small and medium orders.

What should I ask to see on a factory video tour?

The production line making your product, raw materials and work in progress, the QC station, and the front sign or address matching the license — all live, not pre-recorded.

When is a third-party audit worth it?

For large or ongoing orders, or when the video and documents leave doubts. An audit independently confirms capacity, systems and compliance.

Factory Visit & Verification Checklist