Quality Control
Production Stage

The counter-sample of the sample sent to the buyer should continue to be your guide. This is the product that the buyer is expecting. Production of the order should be compared to the counter sample several times during the production process, not just once the product is finished. Some buyers may request that a production sample (photo or actual product) be sent to them for their approval to assure the product matches their specifications before it is shipped. Every single product should match the counter sample. Quality control throughout production can help identify mistakes and correct them before they result in costly errors. If a product is not correct at any stage during the checks, it should not move on to the next stage of production. This is a common error inexperienced producers often make.

EFFECTIVE QUALITY CONTROL means that you:

1. Maintain counter sample originals of the same sample sent to the buyer, and regularly check
production against these counter samples.
2. Check quality control at multiple points throughout the production process, not just at the
end of production.
3. Use a thorough quality control checklist or a "score card system" for monitoring consistency and quality of your production.
4. Provide all artisan groups with a copy of the quality control checklist and make sure they
know to check for these quality issues as they make products.

Training of artisans should be part of quality control during production. All artisans should be trained in how to check for quality issues as they make the products and be provided with a check list of what to look for when monitoring the quality of their production. Each one of the artisans involved in production should have a counter sample identical to the sample sent to the buyer. Training and good communication with the artisans is essential. Artisans should understand what is involved in producing crafts for export and how to meet quality requirements.

Working conditions are also a factor in good quality control. These conditions include things like fair wages, proper work areas and equipment, and worker incentives. The price paid to the artisan can impact the quality of production, as does the time they have to fulfill an order. If artisans have to produce a large order in a short amount of time, this could result in quality being compromised. If artisans are paid a low wage, they have little incentive to invest time into making a good quality item. Finally, good quality production also depends on workshop conditions. Work areas should be kept clean and artisans should have the tools needed. Sometimes a product can be rejected simply because the product has gotten dirty.