Last updated: November 2, 2026
Visit a Door Factory in Foshan: One-Day Audit Agenda
Quick answer: A one-day Foshan door-factory visit should follow material from lumber store to packed container load: moisture control, machining, pressing, sanding/finishing, assembly, inspection and export packing. Bring the same scorecard for every supplier, measure a production door you select, and reserve enough time for documents and corrective actions. A showroom tour without the production floor is not an audit.
Before arrival: send the agenda and document list
Tell the factory which product and order profile you are auditing for, the standards/markets involved and the documents you expect to see. Ask that production—not only finished samples—be running for your category where possible. Bring tape, caliper, moisture meter if available, camera permissions, sample labels and the 100-point scorecard. Agree who from production, QC and export will attend; a salesperson alone cannot answer kiln or coating-line questions.
Morning: materials, drying and machining
Start at raw material intake. Check species/board identification, storage conditions, kiln or conditioning records and moisture readings on boards selected by you. Move through cutting, core assembly, pressing, sizing and CNC machining. Look for templates, tool condition, labelled work in progress and separation between projects. Ask how a change in lock model reaches the machining programme and first-article sign-off.
Midday: finishing, assembly and inspection
Inspect sanding, veneer handling, glue application, paint or laminate lines and dust control. Choose a line-side leaf and measure dimensions, diagonals, edge quality and moisture. Ask how colour batches are approved and retained. At final QC, look for adequate lighting, written tolerances, repair rules and traceability to door schedule lines. If fire or acoustic claims are in scope, this is the point to map the line product to certificate scope and labelling.
Afternoon: packing, warehouse and commercial close-out
Review corner protection, face separation, bundle or crate design, forklift handling, carton labels and container loading records. Have the export team calculate one of your door sizes using their packed dimensions, then compare it with the worksheet method. Close with documents: business identity, certificate scope, references, sample and production planning bands, inspection access and corrective actions. Photograph the signed action list before leaving.
Score the visit the same day
Memory softens defects after hospitality and travel. Score materials/moisture, evidence, process, finish QC, packing, commercial and after-sales while examples are fresh. Separate observed facts from promises: 'saw three meter readings at X' belongs in the report; 'quality is good' does not. Shortlist factories for a sealed full-size sample and third-party PSI rather than declaring a winner in the car park.
Specification checklist: what to confirm before ordering
- Door schedule with sizes, quantities, hand, design and finish for every line.
- One baseline specification and an inclusion/exclusion matrix for frame and hardware.
- Sample count and timing, production planning band and milestone triggers stated.
- Packed dimensions, gross weights, stack limits and container plan confirmed before booking freight.
- Inspection method, payment milestones, change control and claim process written into the order.
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Send sizes, quantities, constructions, finishes and destination port for an itemised quotation and loading plan.
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FAQs
Can a door factory be audited in one day?
A focused one-day audit can screen capability for a defined product, but fire/acoustic evidence and a trial production run still need documentary verification and sampling.
What should I measure myself?
Leaf dimensions, diagonals, thickness and moisture on randomly selected production items. Also check machining positions against the drawing.
Is a showroom visit enough?
No. The audit value is in raw materials, process control, QC and packing. Insist on the production route for your category.
