A Practical Inspection Checklist for PE Branches, Pre-Lit Wreaths & Snow-Coated Garlands
If you source PE Christmas branches, pre-lit wreaths and garlands, or snow-coated holiday décor, the fastest way to reduce claims is to standardize one inspection checklist across your team. Below is a copy-and-paste inspection checklist you can drop into an internal SOP—designed for importers, sourcing managers, and QC teams who need clear pass/fail criteria before peak season.
Product scope and the “golden sample” rule
Our production range includes PE and mixed-material greenery (branches, wreaths, and garlands) exported to more than 36 countries—such as CQ18-W007-60AZ (60 cm frosted branch), CQ19-Z002-48A (48 cm pine needle branch), CQ21-G007-180A (180 cm garland), CQ20-W019-50J-LED (50 cm battery-powered pre-lit wreath), and CQ21-W044-55B (55 cm snow-kissed wreath).
Before you run any inspection checklist, lock two baselines with the factory:
- Golden sample: the exact reference for needle density, color, snow coverage, decorations, and LED layout.
- Specification sheet: size tolerances, PE/PVC ratio (if applicable), power source (battery/plug), labeling language, and packing method.
Where quality issues usually start (and how the checklist catches them)
Most disputes we see fall into three groups, and each maps directly to an inspection checklist section:
- Appearance & workmanship: low needle density, visible glue, loose ornaments, sharp wire ends.
- Snow/flocking: powder shedding, bald patches after rubbing, uneven “snow lines.”
- Electrical safety (pre-lit): damaged cord insulation, loose connections, missing ratings, easy-open battery boxes.
Inspection checklist: appearance & mechanical acceptance (branches/garlands/wreaths)
Use ISO 2859-1, General Inspection Level II as a common starting point. Typical targets: Major AQL 2.5 / Minor AQL 4.0 (tighten for premium brands).
Your inspection checklist should confirm:
- Dimensions: compare to spec/golden sample. Common working tolerance for 50–60 cm items is ±3 mm (or per contract).
- Structure: branch count, layering, and symmetry match the golden sample.
- Needle density: no obvious “thin spots” when viewed at 0.5–1 m; verify against sample photos.
- Workmanship & safety: no sharp edges; no exposed wire ends; glue points are neat (no large overflow).
- Ornament pull test: moderate tug on berries/pinecones/bows—parts should not detach easily.
Inspection checklist: snow-coated / frosted adhesion (fast on-site tests)
For snow-coated items (including “falling snow pine needle” finishes), add an adhesion inspection checklist with two quick tests:
- Tape pull (3 areas): apply clear tape and remove quickly. Tape residue should be limited (rule of thumb: ≤10% visible loss), and the surface must not show obvious stripes or bald patches.
- Rub test (3 areas): rub back-and-forth three times with fingertips. Snow layer should remain visually continuous—no large chunks falling off.
Inspection checklist: pre-lit function and basic electrical screening
For battery-powered pre-lit wreaths like CQ20-W019-50J-LED, keep the on-site inspection checklist practical. You are screening for obvious risks; full certification testing belongs to an accredited lab.
Include these inspection checklist points:
- 100% light-up test: all inspected pre-lit units must power on; no dead LEDs; modes (if any) work.
- Run test (10–30 min): battery box and wire junctions should not feel hot; no odor; no discoloration.
- Cord/lead condition: no cuts, cracks, or pinched insulation.
- Connection pull test: gentle pull at entry points—no looseness.
- Battery compartment: polarity marking is clear; cover is secure (preferably latch or screw) and not easy for a child to open.
- Ratings & warnings: voltage/frequency (if applicable), battery type, and “indoor/covered outdoor” statements match the order and destination-market needs.
Inspection checklist: packaging, labeling, and carton protection
A packaging inspection checklist prevents “good product, bad arrival.” Check:
- Inner protection: each wreath/garland is protected (bag/sleeve) and not crushed.
- Carton strength: verify board grade per PO; do a simple 1 m drop on one carton per batch (or as agreed).
- Label accuracy: SKU, qty, gross/net, carton size, and destination-language warnings are correct.
- Pallet loading: stable stacking; moisture protection (film/desiccant when required).
Supplier ranking (turn QC results into sourcing decisions)
If you’re building Ranking of Christmas tree suppliers or writing Recommendations for Christmas branch manufacturers / Recommendations for Christmas wreath manufacturers / Recommendations for Christmas decoration manufacturers, score factories with the same inspection checklist data every time:
- Golden-sample consistency across lots.
- Corrective action speed (response + verified recheck).
- Pre-lit workmanship stability (repeat failure types matter).
- Packaging repeatability (carton damage rate).
- Documentation readiness for third-party testing requests.
Copy-and-paste inspection checklist (Markdown)
| Item | Requirement | Test method | Sampling | AQL | Result / Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | Per spec & golden sample (typ. ±3 mm for 50–60 cm items) | Tape / caliper | ISO 2859-1 GL II | — | |
| Needle density | No visible thinning vs. golden sample | Visual + photos | ISO 2859-1 GL II | Major 2.5 | |
| Workmanship & safety | No sharp edges, exposed wire, heavy glue overflow | Visual / hand check | ISO 2859-1 GL II | Major 2.5 / Minor 4.0 | |
| Ornament retention | Decorations do not detach under moderate tug | Manual pull | 5 pcs per SKU (or per plan) | Major 2.5 | |
| Snow adhesion (if applicable) | No bald patches; limited shedding | 3× tape pull + 3× rub | 5 pcs per lot | Major 2.5 | |
| Pre-lit light function (if applicable) | LEDs all ON; modes normal | Power-on test | 100% of inspected pre-lit units | Critical 0 | |
| Pre-lit run test (if applicable) | No overheating/odor; no discoloration | 10–30 min run | Same as above | Major 2.5 | |
| Battery box (if applicable) | Secure cover; polarity marked | Manual check | Each SKU | Major 2.5 | |
| Carton protection | No crushing; product not deformed | Visual + 1 m drop | 1 carton per batch | Major 2.5 | |
| Labels & warnings | SKU/qty/marks correct; destination warnings present | Visual | 5 cartons + 5 units per SKU | Major 2.5 |
Want a tailored checklist for your SKUs?
If you’d like a version of this inspection checklist aligned to your specific PO, labeling rules, and approved samples (including pre-lit layouts and snow-coating targets), contact Shandong Christmas Queen Arts & Crafts Co., Ltd. or browse our catalog.
