HOW TO CHECK ARTICLE QUALITY: BEST FREE READABILITY TOOLS

For a blogger, quality of an article is of extreme importance. Every blogger strives to cater to large segments including readers from the various geographical location. Their reader may include people of different age group. In order to stay relevant for all these different users, it is important to know if your article has good readability. There are many ways to find out if your article is of good readability or not. Good readability score gives you an idea if people will find your article easy to read or not.

To find out good readability score, there are few methods available such as Flesch–Kincaid readability tests, Gunning fog index, Coleman Liau Index, Automated readability index and SMOG etc. You should look into these methods for better understanding of readability. This will also help you write better articles. Let us now start going through few of the freely available tools on the internet. The list is not made in any preference order.

1. Read-Able

Read-able lets you calculate the readability test scores using various methods. You may enter the URL of your web page and it will do the job for you. You can also directly paste your content and know the results. It also lets you put a code on your website (referrer) and from there visitors can check the readability score.

Bookmarklet feature given on the website is another method to check the article quality. Save the bookmarklet and click it while browsing any website to know the readability score. The Good thing about read-able is that it also explains the results.

2. Edit Central

This is a very simple tool with the color coding. On the left side, you have Green color which means is all good. The more you move towards right, the redder it turns indicating you to improve your article.

3. Juicystudio’s Readability Tool

JuicyStudio provides a reading tool that can be used to analyze the readability of a web page or a website. It gives you the option to fetch results by URL only, so sometimes results may not be that accurate. The Good thing about this readability tool is that  it explain’s in detail about the readability scores such as Gunning Fog Index, Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade.

4. Online-Utility.org

Here you can paste your content or provide the URL and online utility checks readability based on Coleman Liau index, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, ARI (Automated Readability Index) and SMOG. The idea behind the final score is an indication of the number of years of formal education to read and understand the article in the first attempt. The more complex sentence will have low readability score and simpler sentences will have higher readability score.

Why a quality control checklist is essential for all importers

In the ever-increasing competition in today’s world, any business that does not fulfill customer’s expectations will find it extremely difficult to survive. In such a situation, for any business to come across products that do not meet customer’s requirements is a huge cost: not in terms of monetary losses, but the loss of integrity and image of the business also. Therefore, when you encounter products that are not in-line with the specifications that consumers require of you, the cost of scrapping and reworking those products can be huge.

Quality control is an integral part of any business that wishes to ensure customer satisfaction. As a buyer working with a manufacturer overseas, you may encounter a countless number of problems in the production process, including those that you may least expect. It is therefore very important for you to undertake adequate precautions in order to make sure that you do not encounter any defects in your problems or disruptions in the production process.

So what exactly is the harm in not developing a quality control checklist?

If you feel that by explaining yourself to your supplier over the phone or skype regarding what you wish to receive in your shipment is enough for you to expect that the supplier will fully understand and provide you with those products, you are, sadly, mistaken. Without a clear and detailed QC checklist, the possibility that your supplier has not fully understood your demand, which will undoubtedly cause defects in your products, is very high; not only that, word of mouth alone is not sufficient to convey your expectations to your quality control inspection team as well.

Your products are unlikely to meet with customer requirements

Most large-scale garment retailers in the world such as Walmart have a strict set of guidelines that they expect you to follow, only after which will you be allowed to supply to them; these guidelines include not only very specific requirements regarding the quality of the garment itself but also regarding the packaging of that garment. There are also a number of legal requirements that you are required to meet in the area of cloth labeling, the failure to do so may result in heavy penalties imposed by the authorities.

Unless you provide your supplier with a detailed checklist that outlines these requirements, you cannot be sure that the supplier will meet with all of the requirements- this can result in damages as much as the rejection of the entire shipment due to lack of conformity to required specifications, in addition to government fines as mentioned earlier.

The product inspections are not a hundred percent reliable

If you have not conveyed your requirements to the inspection team in an accurate and in-depth checklist, you cannot expect them to fully inspect products according to your liking. For example, if you are importing furniture from an Asian country, one of your prime concerns regarding the products will be breakage during use. To make sure that this defect is not found in any of the products, you will want to instruct your inspection staff to incorporate tests such as load testing to make sure that the furniture is durable.

However, if you do not include this in your checklist, then the chances that the inspection team will conduct this test are doubtful. The team might instead conduct some different tests that do not serve the purpose of checking the durability of the furniture. The end result may be damaged furniture that is returned to you by your customers due to breakage.

Potential delays in production or shipping

Continuing the above example, suppose you carry out pre-shipment inspection and find that the furniture is not meeting with the quality standards that you have instructed your supplier; the most obvious solution would then be to re-work the products and make sure that any faulty area is taken care of prior to shipping. Because this will require additional time that was not previously accounted for when the time schedule was made by the supplier, this will most likely lead to shipping delays. A delay might not only be annoying for you, but it might also potentially cost you your customers if you have promised to deliver products to them on a certain date and fail to do so.

How can you use a QC checklist to overcome these issues?

Even though developing a detailed checklist takes time and effort, it is highly recommended that you draft one prior to allowing your supplier to begin manufacturing. This ensures that you and your supplier are on the same page regarding what needs to be made and how especially through incorporating the supplier’s feedback into the QC checklist. This will ensure that you are protected against potential errors and faults in the products and production process which might cost you your customers and your business’s integrity in the market.

Your products will be made right in the first go

Not all defects from a product are easy to rework, such as the wrong size or materials used in the manufacturing of pencil holders. This will require the supplier to begin production from scratch- and can you really blame him for messing up if he wasn’t provided with a checklist outlining all the specifications?

This is even more important for cases where the products are supposed to be manufactured through mass production. A single misunderstanding between you and your supplier can result in the entire shipment going to waste.

Your supplier and inspection staff will be accountable to you in case of errors

In the case where you have provided your supplier and inspection staff with a QC checklist, if you find errors or defects in your products then you have the authorities to hold both the parties accountable who are responsible for ensuring the quality of the products.

Suppose you find defects in your products, such as bottles made of plain glass rather than frosted glass as you instructed. With the presence of a QC checklist clearing stating that the bottles should be frosted, there is no room left for the supplier to deny accountability and try to protest that you were unclear in your demands. This would even benefit you if this issue is not resolved and needs to be taken up in the court of law.

The same goes for your inspection staff. If you find defects and discover that the team did not carry the specific tests that you asked for, you'll want to hold the team accountable. A clearly defined QC checklist will act as evidence that the team failed to meet your orders.

A wholesome understanding of your product

There might be cases where you have a general idea regarding the kind of product that you want but are unsure about the minute details involved, such as the size of the logo you want to print on the face of the product. Developing a thorough QC checklist will give you the opportunity of fully understanding your product and thus building a product that is exactly how you want it to be.

Developing a quality control checklist

In most cases, you may find that a third-party inspection team will be able to develop a QC checklist for you that thoroughly outline your requirements. However, there is always the option of customizing the checklist; for example, two different companies may be producing the same product, such as chairs, but with very different QC checklists.

Most effective QC checklists contain the following information:

• Product requirements;
• Packaging requirements;
• On-site product tests & checks;
• Defect classification; and
• Feedback from key people involved in production and QC

Don’t forget to incorporate feedback

Never make a QC checklist in isolation. Always include feedback from your supplier and inspection staff when finalizing the list. Sometimes your factory management or the inspection staff may have valuable inside that may greatly benefit your product.

Conclusion

A highly detailed checklist acts as your shield against several potential dangers such as order rejection and violating local laws that can result in great damages to your business. The QC checklist will also help you to hold your supplier and inspectors accountable in the circumstances where you find defects in the products.

As an importer, it is very important to invest some time and energy into developing a QC checklist, as well as continually updating it as and when required.

Four Types Of Quality Inspection Services

I attempted to abridge the choices accessible to purchasers, in a visual way.

Pre-production Inspection:

A pre-production inspection tells the purchaser which sort of crude materials (or segments) will be utilized. Manufacturing plants are frequently associated with bringing down their expenses by acquiring unsatisfactory materials, and this can be tragic for the purchaser (for example an inappropriate sort of chip in an electronic gadget). 

The pre-production inspection can likewise concentrate on the procedures pursued as production begins. Some of the time this can likewise be basic, as Chinese industrial facilities regularly cut corners and don't regard the purchaser's diagrams (for example designs for cutting texture are gotten from the purchaser, and they are changed to make the procedure simpler and quicker).

During production inspection:

A during production inspection (frequently called "DUPRO" in the business) enables the purchaser to have a thought of normal item quality, from the get-go in the production cycle. It is the most helpful and the most under-appraised device at the transfer of shippers, who frequently just depend on definite inspections. 

It for the most part happens once some completed items have left the lines. On the off chance that quality issues are discovered, what is as of now created may be re-serviceable, and remedial moves can be made for the remainder of the activity. It gives purchasers an opportunity to prepare, and even to stay away from delays (fixes and re-inspections take significantly more time when issues are seen after all production is done).

Final random inspection:

The final random inspection (also called “pre-shipment inspection”) is by far the most common type of QC check. It takes place once 100% of shipment quantity is finished and at least 80% is packed, so it can be a real random inspection (this is not exactly the case if the quality is checked earlier) and suppliers cannot play games.

It puts pressure on suppliers and gives power to buyers. Its objective is really to confirm a shipment’s quality, rather than catching issues early. Therefore I usually advise my clients to complement final inspections with a DUPRO, to avoid finding disasters at the last minute.

Container loading inspection:

The container loading inspection, similar to the pre-creation inspection, it is rarely utilized. Be that as it may, it tends to be an advantageous choice in some particular cases. 

It very well may be helpful if the purchaser has an exact loading plan and needs it to be regarded decisively (for example a few containers are too delicate to be in any way set at the base), or if the bundling isn't ordinary (for example a few articles of clothing held tight bars, with no container insurance). 

It can likewise guarantee that the correct sort of items are dispatched out in the correct amount, when the shipper puts no trust in his provider or when a few providers bring their items for union. 

Just the most touchy activities require each of the four kinds of inspection. By and large, just a couple of these apparatuses are utilized, contingent upon the dangers recognized by the purchaser. 

These quality inspection administrations are utilized for the most part for buyer products including little customization. Various approaches are regularly picked for guaranteeing that mechanical items are up to specs (substantially more consideration is spent during improvement and early creation).

Product Testing VS Product Inspection

Shippers new to the universe of abroad assembling and quality control investigation are frequently immersed with an assortment of value control terms that appear to have a similar significance.

           For example, some importers confuse “product testing” with “product inspection”. And what’s the difference between “inspection” and “quality control”? Don’t all of these processes involve checking and examining a product?

Can you conduct both quality inspection and testing at the same time and location? Can your supplier carry out both these processes for you, or do you need to manage either independently (related: 4 Ways Importers Conduct Product Inspection [eBook])? How many units do you need to check to get a reliable assessment of product quality?

Merchants new to the universe of abroad assembling and quality control investigation are regularly immersed with an assortment of value control terms that appear to have a similar significance.

How do quality inspection and testing differ?

Product testing and Product examination address diverse quality worries for merchants assessing their item. Are there scratches on the screen of your tablet PC? Are there skipped join in your woven article of clothing? These are the sorts of inquiries item assessment can help answer about your items. 

Do you have to know the synthetic structure of the paint your provider is utilizing to cover your furnishings? Or then again whether your youngsters' toy meets U.S. Purchaser Product Safety Commission measures? Item testing will probably be the applicable road for responding to these inquiries. 

Product testing, regularly known as lab testing, commonly includes testing an item against a particular standard or guideline in an ensured research center. Though Product investigation regularly includes checking an arbitrary example of a request for consistence with a purchaser's prerequisites and particulars.

What is product inspection?

Product investigation is the way toward checking merchandise for consistence with your particulars and prerequisites. For the most part led at the industrial facility fabricating your product, the product review process principally centers around checking the appearance, development and fundamental capacity of a product.product examination and product testing 

The other key motivation behind product investigation is to assist you with recognizing and address any quality deformities in your products before they arrive at your clients. Auditors regularly utilize an acknowledgment examining strategy like AQL to investigate an irregular example of the all out request amount. The investigator can regularly characterize quality imperfections dependent on their seriousness and issue a reasonable "pass" or "fizzle" result for the request utilizing AQL.

What is product testing?

Product testing is often synonymous with lab testing in the quality control industry. This is because product quality testing is typically performed at a certified third-party laboratory, not at your supplier’s facility. On-site product testing can complement third-party inspection, but it's not a substitute for testing in a professional lab.

Herein lies the key difference between product testing and product inspection processes. Product inspection typically involves visiting your supplier’s facility, or sending an inspector on your behalf, to check products on site. Whereas lab testing usually requires sending samples from your supplier’s facility to a laboratory for more controlled testing.

5 Packaging Quality Tests that are an Absolute Must for All Importers

           What is the most important aspect of a product for an end consumer? The answer to that is pretty simple: quality. It is the quality of a product that determines its durability and longevity; whether the product is fit for purpose, and its overall basic functionality. If the quality of the product that reaches the final consumer is compromised, no matter what amount of time, effort, and money you put into researching the perfect design and idea of your product, it won’t add any value to the consumer’s life.

Notice that the key word here is the product that reaches the end consumer, for which the biggest role played, is by the packaging and delivery department of a business. Unfortunately, this department is in fact the most overlooked one by the managers; which is even more unfortunate considering the amount of effort that is put into quality inspection of the product for making sure it abides by all the specifications and requirements that have been ordered. But if the packaging service of the business is inadequate, then the whole product and the effort put into it goes to waste as it gets defected during transport and transit.

Therefore, carefully checking the packaging of the products is in fact just as important as quality inspection- and thankfully for all importers reading this, the following are some simple ways through which you can verify that the packaging being used is safe and will make sure that the products reach the importer and the customer in its original and intended shape and form.

•          Double check the quantities in the package

    Many small sized consumer products are mass produced in factories, where often times many other products are also being produced.  For this reason, there is a massive chance of a mess up when workers are packaging your products into huge cartons. Due to the overload of work, workers usually do not have the time or the energy required to count each of items before it is packaged; rather they just simply scan one unit and manually type in the number listed on the inventory for the carton.

However, this carelessness of the staff can cost you a lot as an importer, especially if the final number of products received is less the number that you require. It is essential for you to receive the right number of products so that you are able to adequately meet demand and keep your inventory up to date. This becomes especially more important in the days when you expect a rise in sales, such as during holidays. At a time like this, a shortage of inventory may cost the business sales worth up to thousands of dollars.

To avoid this problem, an independent or third-party inspector can pay a visit to the factory during the times of product finalization and packaging. They can assist to count the number of products being packed, as well as the correct type of product; often in factories that produce similar products, such as white and blue shirts of the same size, workers may also make the mistake of packing the wrong color of shirt in the order. A third-party inspector of ATIHongKong can physically be present at the site and count the number of products being packaged, as well as to see whether the right kind of products is included.

If the order is incorrect in any aspect then it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to repackage the shipment to meet with the given requirements.

•          Checking the material used to seal and package the products

There are several factors that can potentially impact the functionality of the packaging and sealing material that you use: excessive heat, drastic temperature changes and rough handling are a few of these examples. Therefore, it is extremely important to consider all these factors that the package will encounter before the material is finalized that the packaging will be made of.

Apart from the kind of material that is used in packaging, it is also important to look closely at the methods employed to seal, strap and bind the products. These methods can play a huge role in determining the durability of the packaging. Each kind of method and material has its own pros and cons attached to it, for example:

You might have to choose between metal and plastic bands to be used for strapping: where metallic bands are generally stronger than plastic, they have a downside such that they are at a risk to rust. In comparison to that, plastic is much more lightweight, easy to dispose off and generally work with. Therefore depending upon your preferences as well as the overall look of the product, you might choose plastic or metal, whichever you think best.

•      Checking for shipping markings and barcodes on the packaging

           One of the foremost reasons importers face delay in their deliveries is that there are errors in the markings or barcodes of the packaging: they might be incorrect, missing or straight out illegible. It is for this reason that your inspector should carefully make sure that all of the markings and barcode on the packaging is correctly labeled so that it does not encounter any issue in the delivery process.

If the package is incorrectly labeled, not only does it cause massive amount of inconvenience for the importer, but may also lead to serious problems at customs. As an example of this, custom officials are required to pay particular attention as to which country is printed on the labels as the country for imports so that it can correctly levy the correct amount of duties and taxes on the product. Hence, if the customs find out that a detail such as the country is incorrectly labeled, it may lead to serious repercussions such as fines, which can amount to large values

.

Just as important as carton making are barcodes, which have become an essential part of keeping track of inventory for small retail products.  However, manufacturers can often mess up barcodes that can simply impair the basic functionality of the product. These flaws include:

1.               Improper printing of the barcode: the contrast between the background and the lines       drawn is low or even missing
2.              The barcode being too close to the edge or any other symbol: scanners require there to be adequate blank space around the barcode for the scanner to work properly.
3.              The barcode may be damaged through creasing or peeling
4.              The barcode may be too small or too big
5.              Incorrect orientation of the barcode

•          The carton drop test

         It is inevitable that your products, when being shipped, will encounter rough handling during the process. However, it is essential for the products to reach the retailers and, thereby the customers, unharmed. Where slight damage of the packaging may sometimes be ignored by consumers, when the packaging is damaged visibly it often implies that the product inside is damaged as well. this is a serious cause of concern for the importer because not only does it mean a loss of sales when customer return products or retailers do not stock the product, but also significantly damages the reputation of the importer and his business. To avoid this embarrassment, importers must carry out the carton drop test:

1.          From among the stock of cartons, choose any one carton randomly. Make note of the quality and condition of this carton before the test is carried out.
2.          Transport that carton to a large, empty, flat area where the carton can fall without any interference.
3.        Drop the carton a total of 10 times filled with weight corresponding to its weight.
4.         Examine carefully the condition of the carton and the products inside.
5.          If the products are undamaged then it means that the carton is of adequate quality and is fit to carry the products.
6.        See if the packaging is in accordance with the requirements of the retailer and the brand

In today’s day and age, retailers and brands are becoming more and more aware of customer satisfaction as their number one priority. And since customer satisfaction springs primarily from the quality of the products, retailers and brands require that packaging abide to certain standards that makes sure that the products inside are delivered safely. For this reason, manufacturers must make sure that they are in compliance with all these requirements; but even more importantly, it is up to your inspector to finally see if everything is in accordance with the specifications asked for.

For example, large-scale brands like Wal-Mart ban the use of certain types of packaging, such as: Styrofoam, crinkle wrap or shredded paper. They have handed out a list of acceptable materials for packaging that all businesses must comply with.

This was only one of the examples among many regarding how packaging must comply with given requirements; otherwise the entire product might go to waste.

Conclusion

                        As we have seen from the above examples, it is undoubtedly very important to keep packaging according to set standards otherwise the quality of the entire product may be compromised. It is also important to make sure that packaging complies with legal requirements and durability tests so that it acts to protect the product rather than acting as a barrier in the sale and protection of the product.