Buyer worksheets
Remote Factory Visits in China: Request Evidence You Can Review
Prepare a remote factory visit with a shot list, live questions and an evidence log. Understand what video can show and what remains unverified.
By China Unboxed ·
A remote factory visit should answer specific questions rather than produce a long promotional video. Agree the product, site, live route and evidence you need before the call. Video can help you understand what is being shown, but it cannot establish every detail of a supplier's identity, capacity or future performance.
Download the free worksheet (CSV)
No account or email required. Fill in a separate copy for each supplier or visit and retain the original supporting documents.
Plan the route around the product
Ask the host to identify the site and explain which operations relevant to your item can be shown. Agree a sequence from the relevant input materials through processing to packing, subject to site permission and safety requirements. Ask in advance which operations happen elsewhere.
Send a brief shot list and leave room for live follow-up questions. Confirm whether the call may be recorded and who may receive the recording. Offer alternatives for confidential areas, and record any limitation instead of pressing staff to disclose another customer's information.
Use live questions to connect the evidence
Ask the host to explain the connection between each area and the proposed order. If a label, sample ID or measurement is important, request a readable view and confirmation of what it identifies. Capture the question as well as the answer in your notes.
A continuous live explanation can be more useful than unrelated clips, but neither format guarantees authenticity. If the connection drops or footage is provided later, label that segment accordingly. Keep a distinction between live observations, pre-recorded material and documents supplied separately.
Keep a reviewable evidence log
Give each clip or photograph an ID. Record the stated site, date, source, subject and which question it addresses. Include unresolved discrepancies and missing views. Store the source files alongside the written notes so another reviewer can find the relevant evidence without watching the entire call.
For an illustrative packaging question, ask to see the proposed carton, its markings and the packing method for your specific item. A general warehouse panorama will not answer whether that packaging matches your brief. Record whether you saw the actual proposed packaging or an example.
Decide what needs a different check
After the call, divide questions into answered, partly answered and unverified. Some issues may need a physical sample, document verification, an on-site visit or specialist testing. Use the limits of the recording to choose the next check rather than treating the call as a comprehensive audit.
Ask the supplier to confirm any promised follow-up and give each item an owner. If you are using a local representative, agree the scope and deliverables in advance. Photos and a video report are not a certified third-party inspection or a guarantee of shipment quality.
Use the worksheet
The CSV contains the following prompts, with columns for your notes, the responsible person and the status. Replace the prompts that do not apply to your product; leave unknown information visibly unresolved.
- Evidence ID
- Question to answer
- Stated site
- Date and time
- Source or host
- Live or prerecorded
- Recording permission
- Product or sample reference
- Requested view
- Observed detail
- Supplier explanation
- File reference
- Limitation or missing view
- Follow-up check
- Action owner
Suggested statuses are open, waiting for evidence and confirmed for the stated scope. Keep the evidence reference in your notes so that a later reviewer can check the basis for a decision.
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Initial discussion is free. These worksheets do not certify suppliers or replace specialist inspections.