1. Analyzing Seller QC Pass Rates
Use the Seller NameQC Result
Mastering Quality Control with ItaoBuy: A Guide to Your QC Log Spreadsheet
2026-02-22
Systematically track supplier performance and enhance your sourcing accuracy.
In the world of cross-border sourcing, consistent quality is the cornerstone of a successful business. The ItaoBuy Quality-Control (QC) Log Spreadsheet
The Core Structure of Your QC Log
A well-structured spreadsheet is key. We recommend creating the following essential columns to capture the critical data points:
| Column Header | Purpose & Data To Record |
|---|---|
| Order/Item ID | Unique identifier for the purchase order or specific item. Links the QC result directly to the source transaction. |
| Seller Name | The full and consistent name of the supplier or factory. Crucial for pattern identification. |
| QC Date | The date the inspection was carried out. Helps track timeliness and seasonal performance. |
| QC Result (Pass/Fail) | A clear binary outcome. Use dropdown menus for consistency (e.g., Pass, Fail, Conditional Pass). |
| Major Defects Found | Brief, categorical description of issues (e.g., "Color mismatch", "Structural flaw", "Packaging damage"). |
| Recheck Requested? (Yes/No) | Flags whether a follow-up inspection was needed due to failures or conditional passes. |
| Final Disposition | The ultimate action taken (e.g., "Ship to customer", "Return to seller", "Discount & sell"). |
| Inspector Notes | Free-form field for detailed observations, photos, and specific context not captured elsewhere. |
How to Track and Identify Critical Patterns
Simply recording data isn't enough. The power comes from analyzing trends to guide your future sourcing.
2. Monitoring Recheck Request Frequency
The Recheck Requested?
.
3. Pinpointing Recurring Defect Types
Analyze the Major Defects Found
Translating Data into Improved Buying Accuracy
Your QC log should directly feed into your sourcing strategy. Here’s how:
Supplier Tiering
Formalize an "A-B-C" supplier list based on their historical pass rates. Prioritize orders with your "A" suppliers and develop improvement plans or phase out "C" suppliers.
Enhanced Pre-Shipment Checks
For suppliers with a history of specific defects, mandate stricter pre-shipment inspections targeting those exact issues. Update your standard inspection checklist based on the log's findings.
Smarter Sampling & Negotiation
Use historical failure data as leverage in negotiations. Request more stringent sampling for new products from suppliers with mixed records, or negotiate better pricing to account for higher QC costs.
Future PO Specifications
Refine product descriptions, material specs, and tolerance levels in your future POs to explicitly avoid the top defect categories identified in your log.