Placing a bulk adult wellness order with a manufacturer you have never visited is an act of significant commercial trust. You are committing working capital — typically 30% of the order value — before a single unit is produced, based on samples, photographs, and conversations. The 15 questions in this checklist exist to make that trust evidence-based, not assumed.

Each question targets a specific failure mode that experienced buyers in the adult wellness category have encountered: factories that misrepresent their CE certification status, factories that subcontract production without informing the buyer, factories that cannot provide an NDA and then copy the buyer's design, factories with no internal quality control whose defect rate only becomes apparent after the container arrives. The checklist is structured around eight audit categories — use it before your first order, and again before scaling to a larger volume commitment.

Quick Reference: The 15-Question Audit at a Glance

Category 1 — Business Credentials and Legal Status

Question 1: Can you provide your business license and export registration?

A legitimate Chinese manufacturer has two primary legal documents: a business license (营业执照) issued by the local market supervision authority, and an import/export registration number if they export directly. Both are verifiable through official channels. The business license confirms the company's legal name, registered address, registered capital, and business scope. The export registration confirms the entity is permitted to conduct international trade.

Request both documents before proceeding. Verify the business license by checking the company name against the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn). A factory that hesitates to share these documents — or provides only a photograph rather than a legible scan — is a significant red flag. Every professional Chinese manufacturer presents these documents as a routine part of first contact with overseas buyers.

Green flag: Documents provided within 24 hours, clearly legible, company name on the documents matches the name in email communications.

Red flag: Documents are unavailable, blurred, show a different company name, or are provided only after repeated requests.

Question 2: Are you a factory or a trading company?

This distinction matters enormously for adult wellness buyers. A factory manufactures the products itself — it owns production equipment, employs production staff, and has direct control over materials, process, and quality. A trading company places orders with factories on your behalf, adding a margin for the intermediary service without adding manufacturing capability.

Trading companies are not inherently bad partners — some have strong factory relationships and useful service capabilities — but they cannot offer what a factory buyer relationship provides: direct specification control, direct quality oversight, and direct line to the engineers who can solve production problems. For custom OEM/ODM work, trading companies typically cannot support mold ownership, design exclusivity, or direct factory audit.

Ask directly: "Are you the manufacturer, or do you place orders with other factories?" A professional factory will answer clearly. Some factories do subcontract specific processes (packaging printing, cable assembly) — this is normal and acceptable if disclosed. Full subcontracting of the core product without disclosure is not.

Category 2 — Factory Capacity and Equipment

Question 3: What is your monthly production capacity by product category?

Production capacity tells you whether the factory can fulfil your order at the volume you need, and whether your order size is meaningful to them. A factory with a monthly capacity of 20,000 units across all categories will treat a 500-unit order very differently from a factory with 500,000 units monthly capacity — the former may prioritise your order more carefully; the latter may consider it too small to dedicate senior production staff.

Ask for capacity by product category (rabbit vibrators, bullet vibrators, wand massagers, etc.) rather than total capacity. A factory that specialises in vibrating devices may have high capacity for motors and PCB assembly but limited capacity for injection moulding, causing bottlenecks if your order requires significant ABS housing production.

Verify the capacity claim against the factory tour evidence (Question 4). A factory claiming 200,000 units per month should have multiple production lines visible, a sizeable assembly hall, and appropriate storage for finished goods. Claimed capacity that significantly exceeds what is visible in a factory tour is a common misrepresentation.

Question 4: Can you provide a video factory tour or arrange an on-site visit?

A video factory tour is the single most effective remote verification tool available to buyers who cannot travel to Dongguan. A well-executed video tour should show: the injection moulding area, the silicone assembly and bonding process, the PCB mounting area, the motor installation line, the waterproof testing station, the finished goods QC and packing area, and the warehouse. The tour should be conducted in real time or clearly unedited — not a pre-produced promotional video.

Factories that refuse a video tour without a clear reason are hiding something. The most common reasons for refusal are: the factory is actually a trading company with no production facility, the production conditions are below acceptable standards, or the factory is currently subcontracting your product category and does not have relevant equipment to show.

If budget allows, an on-site visit before the first bulk order is the most reliable form of audit. Third-party audit services (SGS, Bureau Veritas) also conduct factory social and quality audits for a fixed fee, typically USD 800–1,500, and produce a written report covering facility, capacity, quality system, and worker conditions.

Category 3 — Raw Material Safety

Question 5: What silicone grade do you use and can you provide the MSDS?

The silicone used for body-contact adult wellness surfaces must meet food-grade or medical-grade safety standards. Food-grade silicone complies with FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 and EU Regulation 10/2011 for food contact materials — non-porous, phthalate-free, BPA-free, and hypoallergenic. Medical-grade silicone additionally meets ISO 10993 biocompatibility requirements.

The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) — now officially called Safety Data Sheet (SDS) under the GHS system — documents the chemical composition, safety properties, and handling requirements of the silicone material. A legitimate MSDS identifies the silicone supplier (e.g., Dow, Momentive, Shin-Etsu, or a qualified Chinese equivalent), the material grade, and confirms the absence of restricted substances.

A factory that cannot provide an MSDS, or provides an MSDS that does not identify the silicone supplier and grade, is using materials that have not been properly characterised. This creates compliance risk for CE marking (REACH SVHC declaration requires knowledge of material composition) and product liability risk for the buyer.

Question 6: Are your ABS components and PCBs RoHS-compliant?

RoHS compliance is not just about the silicone surface — it applies to every electrical and electronic component. The ABS housing, the PCB, solder joints, cable insulation, and battery must all be free of the 10 restricted substances defined in Directive 2011/65/EU as amended by 2015/863/EU (which added four phthalates to the original six restricted substances).

A factory with robust RoHS compliance holds component-level declarations from each of its key component suppliers confirming material compliance. These declarations, combined with a finished-product RoHS test report from an accredited laboratory, constitute valid RoHS evidence. Factories that provide only a finished-product test report without underlying component declarations cannot demonstrate that their supply chain is consistently compliant — a component substitution by a sub-supplier would not be caught.

Category 4 — Product Certifications

Question 7: Can you provide the CE Declaration of Conformity and RoHS certificate for this product?

These two documents are mandatory for every adult wellness electronic device placed on the EU market. They must be provided for the specific product model you are ordering — not a generic certificate that covers a product category.

When you receive the CE Declaration of Conformity, check three things: the document identifies the manufacturer by legal name and address, it lists the specific directives and harmonised standards applied (at minimum: LVD 2014/35/EU and EMC 2014/30/EU; for Bluetooth models also RED 2014/53/EU), and the model number on the DoC matches the product model you are ordering. A CE DoC that lists a different model number, or that lists only a generic product description without a model number, does not provide valid compliance evidence for your specific product.

The RoHS certificate must similarly identify the specific model and confirm testing against the 2015/863/EU amendment. If it predates 2019 and does not mention phthalates, request an updated certificate.

Question 8: Are third-party test reports from SGS, TÜV, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas available?

CE and RoHS are self-declaration standards — a manufacturer can issue them without third-party verification. Third-party test reports provide independent evidence that the product actually meets the standards claimed. For adult wellness products, the most relevant third-party tests are EMC and LVD (for CE), RoHS substance analysis (for RoHS), IEC 60529 (for IPX waterproof ratings), and material analysis confirming silicone grade.

Request test reports for the specific product model. Check the laboratory name and confirm it is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited body. Check the test date — reports older than three years may not reflect the current production specification if design changes have been made. Check the model number on the report against the model you are ordering.

Category 5 — Quality Control Process

Question 9: Describe your QC process from incoming materials to outgoing shipment.

A professional adult wellness manufacturer runs quality control at four stages. At Incoming Quality Control (IQC), motors, PCBs, silicone components, and ABS housings are inspected against specification on arrival from component suppliers before entering production. At In-Process Quality Control (IPQC), inspection checkpoints are inserted at key manufacturing stages — after motor installation, after silicone bonding, after PCB assembly — with 10–20% of units checked at each stage. At Final Quality Control (FQC), 100% of finished units are tested: IPX waterproof test, motor run test, battery charge/discharge cycle, and visual surface inspection. At Outgoing Quality Control (OQC), an AQL 2.5 random sample is inspected on the packed, labelled, carton-ready order before shipment.

A factory that describes only "end-of-line inspection" with no IQC or IPQC stages is operating a reactive quality system — problems are caught only after they have already affected the production batch, typically resulting in higher rework rates and less consistent finished goods. A factory that cannot cite a specific defect rate from its FQC data does not have a functional quality management system.

Question 10: Do you accept third-party pre-shipment inspection?

Third-party pre-shipment inspection — conducted by SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, or the buyer's own appointed agent — provides independent verification of order quality before the balance payment is made and the goods ship. The inspector visits the factory, selects a random sample from the completed order using AQL sampling methodology, and produces a written report covering product appearance, function test results, packaging compliance, and carton labelling.

A factory that unconditionally accepts third-party inspection is signalling confidence in its own quality output. A factory that resists, adds fees, or creates scheduling obstacles for third-party inspection is a significant concern — the most common reason for resistance is that the factory knows the order will fail the inspection.

Category 6 — Worker Conditions and Ethics

Question 11: Do you have a social compliance audit (Sedex/SMETA or equivalent)?

Social compliance auditing evaluates a factory's labour practices, working conditions, health and safety standards, and environmental practices. The most widely recognised framework is SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), which covers four pillars: labour, health and safety, environment, and business ethics. A factory registered on the Sedex platform can share its audit report with buyers through the platform.

Social compliance is increasingly required by EU retail buyers and major e-commerce platforms. DM, Mueller, and FNAC in Europe; and major US retailers increasingly require SMETA or equivalent audit documentation as part of new supplier onboarding. Brands that source from factories without social compliance documentation expose themselves to ESG scrutiny and potential supply chain disclosure obligations under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

A factory without current social compliance certification is not automatically disqualified as a supplier — but it should be willing to complete an audit on request, and the buyer should factor the audit cost (typically USD 800–1,500) into the sourcing plan.

Category 7 — IP Protection and Production Process

Question 12: Will you sign a non-disclosure agreement before I share design briefs or proprietary specifications?

Intellectual property protection is the most frequently underestimated risk in adult wellness OEM sourcing. When you share a design brief, a product specification, or a CAD file with a factory, you are providing them with the information needed to produce your product — or to produce a very similar product for your competitors.

A professional manufacturer will sign an NDA without hesitation. Evokomoribi signs NDAs before any design review, stores client design files under access-controlled internal systems, and does not share mold files or design specifications with any third party. The NDA should cover: non-disclosure of design specifications, prohibition on producing identical or substantially similar products for third parties during and after the relationship, and ownership of all tooling and IP developed during the project.

Mold ownership is a separate but related issue: in a full custom OEM project, the buyer pays for the mold and should own it. This must be stated in the contract explicitly. "Mold ownership" clauses are standard in professional OEM contracts; their absence in a factory's standard terms is a negotiation point, not an automatic disqualifier, but it must be addressed before production begins.

Question 13: Will you subcontract any part of this production? If so, which parts and to which partners?

Some subcontracting is normal and acceptable. Packaging printing is commonly outsourced to specialist print factories. Cable assembly may be handled by a dedicated cable supplier. Regulatory testing is conducted by accredited third-party laboratories. These forms of subcontracting are standard in Chinese manufacturing and do not create quality risk if the main factory has vendor management processes.

What is not acceptable is full subcontracting of the core product — the moulding, assembly, and testing — without disclosure. A factory that quotes your order but then places it entirely with a different factory removes all the quality assurance basis on which you made your sourcing decision. The quality system you audited, the certifications you reviewed, and the production process you approved no longer apply to the goods being produced.

Ask directly. The best factories will proactively disclose any subcontracting at the quotation stage. A clear, specific answer ("We produce all vibrator assembly and testing in-house; packaging boxes are printed at a local print partner we have used for eight years") is a green flag. A vague or evasive answer requires follow-up.

Category 8 — Lead Time, Communication, and After-Sales Support

Question 14: What is the confirmed lead time from deposit receipt to shipment-ready?

Lead time commitments are one of the most frequent sources of buyer-manufacturer friction in the adult wellness category. A factory under production pressure will commit to an ambitious lead time to win the order, then miss it — leaving the buyer with delayed inventory, missed promotional windows, and strained retail relationships.

Ask for lead time in two scenarios: the first order with new specifications, and a repeat order using an approved specification. These are meaningfully different. First orders involve material sourcing, mold verification (if applicable), sample approval, and production scheduling — they are longer. Repeat orders can be scheduled more efficiently once the specification is locked and materials are pre-sourced.

For reference, Evokomoribi's standard lead times are: OEM with standard branding, 20–30 days from deposit; OEM with custom packaging, 30–40 days; ODM with new mold, 60–90 days from approved brief. These timelines are stated in the purchase order and the factory is held to them. Production progress updates are provided weekly during the production period.

Question 15: What is your warranty and defect compensation policy?

The final question — and the one most revealing of how a factory views its long-term relationship with buyers — is the warranty and defect policy. A professional manufacturer has a written policy that defines the acceptable defect rate (typically AQL 2.5, meaning a statistically defined defect rate threshold), the remedy for defects above that rate (replacement units in the next shipment, credit memo, or refund), and the claim process (photographic evidence required within a specified period after delivery).

Factories without a written warranty policy typically resolve defect claims through negotiation — which means the outcome depends on the factory's goodwill at the time of the claim, not on a pre-agreed standard. This is unfavourable for the buyer, particularly if the defect is discovered after a retail rollout has begun.

How Evokomoribi Responds to This Checklist

The 15 questions above are not hypothetical — they are the questions professional buyers ask Evokomoribi at new relationship initiation, and they are questions we welcome. Our responses: business license and export registration are provided in our standard introduction package. We are a factory — injection moulding, silicone processing, motor assembly, PCB mounting, waterproof testing, and final QC are all conducted at our own facility in Chang'an Town, Dongguan. Monthly production capacity exceeds 500,000 units across all adult wellness product lines. Video factory tours are available on 24 hours' notice; on-site visits are welcomed year-round.

CE Declaration of Conformity, RoHS certificate, REACH SVHC declaration, MSDS, and IEC 60529 test reports are standard documentation with every B2B bulk order. All test reports are issued by SGS or Bureau Veritas. NDA is signed before any design review. Third-party pre-shipment inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas, or the buyer's own agent is accepted without additional fees or scheduling restrictions. Our written defect policy covers all orders: defect rate above AQL 2.5 triggers replacement in the subsequent shipment, with claim process by photo documentation within 45 days of delivery.

If you are evaluating Evokomoribi against other suppliers using this checklist, we encourage you to send the same questions to every factory on your shortlist and compare the quality, speed, and specificity of responses. The response itself is a data point about how the factory will communicate throughout your business relationship.