Quality control

Quality control in board game manufacturing happens in layers. The factory runs its own QC during production, checking print quality, collation, and assembly on a sampling basis. Your PPC approval sets the standard they are checking against. But factory self-inspection has an obvious limitation: the party being graded is doing the grading, and by the time finished goods reach you across an ocean, fixing problems is expensive or impossible.

For meaningful print runs, many publishers hire a third-party inspection company (firms like QIMA, SGS, and similar) to inspect at the factory before the goods ship. A typical pre-shipment inspection costs a few hundred dollars, samples finished units against a standard sampling plan (usually AQL, acceptable quality limit, which defines how many defects of each severity are tolerable), and produces a photo report. The critical detail is timing: inspect before you pay the final balance, while you still have leverage. After the wire transfer clears, your negotiating position is a memory.

Define what counts as a defect before production, in writing. Major defects usually include missing or duplicated cards, wrong components, unreadable text, and damaged boxes. Minor defects include small print blemishes and slightly off-center cuts. Agree with the factory on the AQL levels and on remedies: rework, replacement components shipped separately, or a discount. Reputable factories handle this professionally because defect disputes are routine in the industry.

Some defect rate is normal. Even good factories produce a fraction of a percent of defective units, which is why publishers hold back replacement stock, typically ordering a small overage, and run a parts-replacement process for customers. Budget for it. A missing-card complaint answered with a fast free replacement often earns more goodwill than a perfect copy would have.