1. Business License and Export History
Verify the factory has a valid business license and has been exporting for at least 2-3 years. Ask for their company registration number and cross-reference it. A factory that only sells domestically may not understand export packaging, labeling requirements, or international quality standards.
2. Production Capacity vs. Your Order Size
A factory that produces 100,000 units/month won't prioritize your 500-unit order. Conversely, a small workshop quoting on 10,000 units may not deliver on time. Match factory scale to your order volume. Ask: "What is your typical order size for this product?"
3. Quality Certifications
Depending on your product, look for ISO 9001 (general quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental), BSCI/Sedex (social compliance), and product-specific certifications like FDA, CE, UL, or RoHS. Don't just ask if they have them — request copies and verify they're current.
4. Communication Quality
How quickly and clearly does the factory respond? Do they ask clarifying questions about your requirements, or just say "yes" to everything? A factory that pushes back with technical suggestions is usually more reliable than one that agrees to impossible specs without comment.
5. Sample Quality and Consistency
Order samples from your shortlisted factories. Compare not just the product quality but also packaging, labeling accuracy, and shipping care. If the sample arrives damaged or mislabeled, production orders will have the same issues at scale.
Bonus: Use a Trusted Platform
DistroUSA pre-screens all manufacturers using AI analysis plus human verification. Every factory on our platform has passed checks on licensing, export history, certifications, and communication quality — so you can focus on product selection instead of supplier vetting.