Who we are
SupplierQ was founded by procurement and quality professionals from a Fortune 500 global technology company, where supplier qualification, factory audits and incoming-quality control are not optional extras but the backbone of the supply chain.
We built SupplierQ because small and mid-size importers — who represent the vast majority of buyers sourcing from China — rarely get access to that level of discipline. Enterprise buyers have supplier scorecards, audit programmes and corrective-action processes. Independent importers usually have a WhatsApp group and hope.
For reasons of confidentiality we do not name our former employer; we are happy to demonstrate our methods through our reports and our methodology instead.
What we bring from the enterprise world
Supplier qualification
Systematic evaluation before the first order: legal entity, capability, capacity, quality system, financial and delivery risk.
Audit discipline
Scored checklists, evidence-based findings, deadlines — not impressions.
Statistical quality control
AQL sampling (ISO 2859-1), defect classification, inspection records you can defend.
Problem solving
8D / 5-Why / fishbone root-cause work, containment and preventive action, claim support.
Cost engineering
Understanding what drives BOM and process cost, so negotiation is based on structure — not on guesswork.
Compliance awareness
Knowing which certificates are real, which labs are accredited, and which claims need scrutiny.
How we are different
| Typical sourcing agent | SupplierQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Trading / intermediary | Fortune 500 procurement & quality |
| Income model | Markup + hidden factory commission | One disclosed buyer-paid fee |
| Quality work | Informal visual check | AQL sampling, scored audits, 8D follow-up |
| Reporting | Photos and messages | Numbered, evidence-based reports |
| Funds | Often handled by the agent | Never handled by us |