Inspection Tiers
Six levels of inspection, from batch sampling to having our QA staff physically at the factory when your parts ship. Tell us which tier you need when you request a quote.
| Tier | What You Get | When to Choose It | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard sampling | AQL-based sampling inspection on production runs: visual and dimensional checks logged per batch, plus the pre-shipment gate every shipment must pass. | Repeat production of established parts where the process is proven and you need consistent batch-level assurance. | Select at quote → |
| Dimensional report | Dimensional inspection of agreed dimensions with a written report. Dimensional inspection with CMM reports is included with every order. | First orders of standard parts and general engineering components without heavy GD&T. | Select at quote → |
| CMM report | Full 3D CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) inspection covering GD&T callouts, with Cpk studies available. 2D VMM optical measurement for non-contact features. | Tight-tolerance parts, GD&T-heavy drawings, and features that gauge checks cannot capture. | Select at quote → |
| FAI (AS9102) | A complete First Article Inspection package: on-site dimensional inspection with calibrated instruments, material certification collection, surface finish documentation — witnessed and documented by our on-ground team at the factory. | New part qualification, aerospace programs, or any quality system that requires formal first-article evidence. | Select at quote → |
| PPAP | Production Part Approval Process documentation including FMEA, dimensional results, and material certifications, compiled to be ready for your PPAP submission requirements. | Automotive and IATF 16949 programs, or customers who standardize on PPAP for supplier approval. | Select at quote → |
| Source inspection | DEWIN QA staff present at the factory for final inspection before release: CMM testing, optical gauging, thread go/no-go matching, and roughness profiling at the pre-shipment gate. | Critical shipments, high-value batches, or when your own quality team cannot travel to Vietnam. | Select at quote → |
Note the tier you need in the quote form — our engineers confirm scope and any cost impact in the quote itself.
Certificates & Documents
Material Certificates
Material Mill Test Reports (MTR) collected from verified mills, available on request with your shipment. Resin traceability for molded parts via suppliers like SABIC, DuPont, and Mitsubishi.
Certificates of Conformity
Certificate-of-conformity logs accompany delivered batches on request, alongside the physical inspection log that comes with every delivered batch.
RoHS / REACH Statements
Compliance statements for RoHS and REACH available on request for parts destined for EU markets — tell us at quote time so material and finish selections are made accordingly.
See the Output, Not Just the Paperwork
Inspection reports tell you a part passed. This shows you what the parts actually look like — real machined and metal samples produced in our audited Vietnam factory network.
Real Vietnam Factory Samples — Custom Machined & Metal Parts
Watch on YouTube
Real on-site inspection photos taken by our team — part of the 1,700+ photos documented across 178+ audited factories.
When Something Fails: The NCR Workflow
No supplier ships perfect parts forever. What matters is a controlled response. When a nonconformance is found — at the factory gate, at the pre-shipment gate, or at your dock — this is the process:
Contain & Notify
The affected lot is quarantined so nothing nonconforming moves forward, and you are notified with the inspection evidence.
Root Cause
Our on-ground team works with the factory to trace the failure to its source — material, setup, tooling, or process.
Corrective & Preventive Action
Corresponding corrective measures and preventive plans are formulated for the failure point, from raw material inspection through final product inspection.
Verify & Release
Replacement or reworked parts are re-inspected against the original criteria before release, and the fix is documented.
It Starts Before Your Order: The Dolphin Audit
Inspection tiers catch problems on your parts. The 50-point Dolphin Audit prevents most of them by screening factories before they ever see your drawings. Our engineering leads perform physical, on-site audits scoring five pillars — Facility & Safety, Equipment & Capacity, Quality Systems, Workforce & Management, and Export Compliance — 10 points each, with re-audits every 12–18 months.
The Quality Systems pillar specifically checks CMM/VMM and gauge availability, calibration records, inspection procedure documentation, and FAI/PPAP experience — so every inspection tier above is backed by verified factory capability, not a promise.
See the Dolphin Audit Process →Legal status, fire & electrical safety, 5S, material segregation
Machine condition, tooling, CNC capability, capacity headroom
CMM/VMM, calibration, IQC/IPQC/OQC, CAPA, traceability
Operator training, English capability, SOPs, sub-supplier disclosure
VCCI/CO issuance, substantial transformation, ISO/IATF certs
Related
Manufacturing Standards
Default tolerances and finishes per process — and how your drawing overrides them.
First Article Inspection
The full FAI process across our audited factory network.
Verified Supplier Directory
Named factories with real photos, audit documents, and scorecards.
Virtual Factory Tours
Walk the production floors of audited factories from your browser.
Case Studies
Real projects with on-site inspection photos and delivered results.
State of Vietnam Manufacturing 2026
Data-backed report on Vietnam's manufacturing landscape.
Only Tier 1 (QCLDM 90–100) and Tier 2 (80–89) factories are quoted for customer orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What inspection documentation comes with every order?
Every order includes dimensional inspection with CMM reports. Beyond that baseline you can select FAI, PPAP documentation with FMEA, and AQL-based sampling for production runs — specify the tier you need when you request a quote.
What inspection equipment is available in the factory network?
Our audited network includes factories with 3D CMM for full GD&T inspection and Cpk studies, 2D VMM for non-contact optical measurement, Rockwell/Brinell hardness testers, profilometers for surface roughness (Ra/Rz), coating thickness gauges, and color comparison machines. For specialized testing we coordinate with accredited third-party labs in Vietnam’s industrial zones.
Can your factories support FAI and PPAP?
Yes. The 50-point Dolphin Audit dedicates a full pillar (10 points) to Quality Systems, which assesses inspection equipment, calibration records, documentation capability, and experience with formal processes like FAI and PPAP — so every factory in the network is pre-screened for FAI readiness before you place an order.
What happens when a part fails inspection?
The nonconforming lot is contained and you are notified. We then work with the factory on root-cause analysis and formulate corresponding corrective measures and preventive plans, and the lot is re-inspected against the original criteria before anything is released.
How are factories vetted before they join the network?
Through the 50-point Dolphin Audit: five pillars (Facility & Safety, Equipment & Capacity, Quality Systems, Workforce & Management, Export Compliance) scored 10 points each, performed physically on-site by our engineering leads and re-audited every 12–18 months — or immediately after any quality incident, management change, or production relocation.
Who actually performs the inspections on the ground?
DEWIN’s own on-ground Vietnam team, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Hanoi. They are physically present at the factories for source inspection, FAI witnessing, and the pre-shipment gate — not a remote or outsourced third party. Over 1,700 real on-site photos across the network were taken by this team.
Which quality certifications exist in the supplier network?
The audited network includes factories certified to ISO 9001, ISO 13485 (medical), IATF 16949 (automotive), AS9100D (aerospace), and ISO 14001 (environmental). After the Dolphin Audit, each factory receives a QCLDM score: Tier 1 (90–100) and Tier 2 (80–89) factories are the only ones that get quoted for your orders.
Specify your inspection tier at quote time
Upload your drawings, note the tier and documents you need, and get a quote that includes them.
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