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+852-61343425
Footwear Inspection
A UTS inspector goes to your shoe factory in China and checks the order against your spec sheet before anything ships. Sampling follows the international AQL standard, and you get a report full of photos within 24 hours.
Since 2006 · 30+ global brand clients · All China provinces covered
Independent footwear inspection across China and Asia since 2006
2006Year UTS started inspection work
48hInspector on-site anywhere in China
24hPhoto-documented PDF report delivered
10+Asian countries covered, China included
What We Check on Your Footwear
Every order is sampled to ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 AQL tables. Each defect is graded critical, major, or minor, so you get a clear pass, fail, or hold result — not a guess.
Appearance and workmanship
Glue marks, stains, scratches, creasing, and whether the left and right shoe actually match — checked against your approved sample.
Stitching and seams
Skipped or broken stitches, loose threads, and seam strength on uppers and linings.
Sole bonding and construction
Cementing quality, sole and heel attachment, and any gap between the upper and the outsole.
Measurements and sizing
Size points measured against your spec sheet, on samples pulled from every size and color in the lot.
Materials and components
Upper, lining, insole, and outsole materials against the approved sample, plus eyelets, laces, zippers, velcro, and buckles.
On-site physical tests
Rub tests for color fastness on uppers and linings, pull checks on seams and bonds, needle and metal detection, and carton drop tests.
Labels and markings
Size labels, country of origin, material content, care instructions, and barcode readability for your destination market.
Packing and assortment
Size and color mix, inner boxes, tissue and desiccant, mold-prevention checks, carton marks, and total quantity against your PO. How we classify defects
Your last checkpoint before the shoes leave the factory.
A final random inspection runs when production is 100% finished and at least 80% packed. That is the moment when the sample truly represents what your customers will receive.
Inspection Coverage at Every Production Stage
Pick the checkpoint that matches where your order is. Most footwear buyers book a mid-production check plus a final random inspection.
Initial Production5–10% complete
Catch wrong materials, wrong lasts, and spec issues before the bulk run starts.
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During Production30–50% complete
Fix problems while most of the order can still be corrected.
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Final Random / Pre-Shipment100% done, 80% packed
The standard quality gate before you pay the balance and ship.
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Container LoadingAt loading
The right cartons, in the right quantity, loaded without transit damage.
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SneakersSports shoesCasual shoesLeather shoesBootsSandalsSlippersKids' shoes
Sourcing outside China? UTS also inspects in India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Korea — see our coverage and company background.
Defects We Catch Before You Pay the Balance
These are the problems that show up again and again in shoe production. Each one is photographed and listed in your report.
- Glue marks and stains on uppers
- Left and right shoe not matching in color or shape
- Sole coming loose or weak bonding
- Broken or skipped stitching
- Wrong size or care labels
- Bad smell or early signs of mold
- Broken needles or metal bits left in the shoe
- Wrong size mix or short quantity in cartons
How Every Defect Is Graded
You set the AQL limits when booking. The inspector counts defects against them, so the result is a number, not an opinion.
Critical
Anything that can hurt the wearer or break import rules — a broken needle left inside a shoe, mold, or a banned substance. One critical defect fails the lot.
AQL 0
Major
Anything that makes the shoe hard to sell — a sole coming off, a clear color mismatch between pairs, or a wrong size label.
AQL 2.5
Minor
Small flaws most buyers accept in low numbers — a loose thread, a tiny glue spot, a slight shade difference inside the pair.
AQL 4.0What Lands in Your Inbox Within 24 Hours
- A clear pass, fail, or hold result for the whole lot
- The full defect list — critical, major, minor — with photos of each one
- Measurement tables against your size spec and tolerances
- Photos of the shoes, inner boxes, cartons, and the loading area
- A report in plain English that your team and your supplier can both act on
Add Lab Proof When the Order Calls for It
Some markets ask for chemical test reports, and some new suppliers need a background check. Both can run alongside your inspection.
CA Prop 65 compliance
Chemical screening coordination for footwear and materials sold into California.
View lab testing
REACH / RoHS testing
Restricted-substance checks for the EU market on leather, textiles, and trims.
View lab testing
Factory evaluation
Check a new supplier's real capacity and quality system before you place the order.
View audit serviceShipping this month? Send your PO today — the quote usually comes back the same day.
Request an InspectionAn Accredited Inspection Body, Not a Freelance Agent
ISO/IEC 17020 — accredited by CNAS
The international standard for inspection bodies. It covers independence, competence, and consistent working methods.
ISO 9001:2015
A certified internal quality management system behind every booking, inspection, and report.
AQSIQ licensed
Licensed for quality supervision, inspection, and quarantine operations across China.
Our qualifications and company background
Full accreditation details on the UTS company page.
Trusted by quality teams at 30+ global brands
Why Importers Keep UTS on Retainer
Full-time, university-educated engineers
Your inspection is done by UTS staff, not subcontracted freelancers.
GPS-verified factory check-in
Every visit is geo-tagged at the actual factory address.
Same-day result on-site
You hear the inspector's result the day of the visit. The full PDF report follows within 24 hours.
All-inclusive quotes
No travel surcharges and no weekend surcharges. The quoted man-day price is final.
A dedicated account manager
One contact follows your order and answers within 2 hours on working days.
Fast scheduling
Bookings are accepted within 24 hours — useful when production finishes early.
What to Send Us
Four things are enough to plan your inspection. Send them over and you usually get the plan and the price back the same day.
Your PO
Quantities and the size breakdown per style and color.
Spec sheet or approved sample
Photos of the approved sample work too if you have no formal spec sheet.
Factory address and contact
We handle scheduling directly with the factory after that.
The date you need us on-site
Any province in China — the inspector is there within 48 hours of confirmation.
How Booking Works
Send your order details
Email inquiry@utsinspection.com or use the online booking portal — whichever is easier for you.
Confirm scope and quote
You get the inspection plan, the sampling level, and an all-inclusive price in writing — usually the same day.
Get inspected and reported
The inspector is on-site within 48 hours. The full PDF report reaches your inbox within 24 hours of the visit.
Questions Buyers Ask Before Booking
How much does a footwear inspection cost?
We quote per man-day, based on where the factory is, how big the order is, and what you want checked. The price you get in writing already includes travel and weekend work — nothing is added later.
How fast can an inspector be on-site?
Within 48 hours in any province of China, once we have your PO, product specs, factory address, and the date you need.
What sampling standard do you use?
ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 (ISO 2859-1) AQL sampling tables. General inspection level II is the default. If you want a different level or tighter AQL limits, say so when booking.
What happens if the inspection fails?
You get a fail or hold result with photos and the full defect list. Then it is your call: ask the factory to rework, book a re-inspection, or negotiate. We report — you decide.
Can you check Amazon FBA requirements on footwear?
Yes. We check FNSKU barcode readability, polybag warning labels, carton weights, and carton markings against Amazon's requirements before your stock goes to the fulfillment center.
Do you inspect footwear outside China?
Yes. UTS works in more than 10 Asian countries, including Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Korea. The same checklist and report format apply.
Can you check a sample before mass production starts?
Yes. A sample evaluation catches spec and material problems before the factory starts cutting. Send us the sample, or have the factory ship it to us, and we check it against your spec sheet.
Ready when your production is.
Tell us the date the shoes finish. We handle the inspector, the factory scheduling, and the report — you just read the result.
Ship This Order With Confidence
Send your PO and factory details today. You get a confirmed inspection plan and an all-inclusive quote — usually the same day.
UTS Inspection · Foshan and Hangzhou, China · Serving importers since 2006
