Working for IQC

 

Working for IQC

International Quality Control (IQC) helps factories and stores in obtaining products from Asia and elsewhere.

IQC does the research for specific products and factories and assists for the development of new products. IQC also takes care of all orders and shipping if needed.

For companies who already do business with oversea's suppliers, IQC can visit, negotiate and audit the suppliers. It can also insure quality control and prepare progress reports regarding  the orders. IQC can go to the factories and do quality control on all merchandise during the production or before shipping.

1-How to become an IQC agent?

  • You must have the required qualities. (See below).
  • You must submit your pro forma resume.
  • You must fill the application form (Consult our Website under  the heading of Forms)
  • If your application form is satisfying, a senior agent will go and visit you.
  • During this interview, the main questions will be about IQC Website contents.

2-How can we start working?

  • You must have access to a computer everyday and provide a commercial address: For all your IQC mail, deliveries and shipping. This address will figure on your business card and on the IQC Website. Sometimes, merchandise may be stored at this address. It is also possible that some customers or suppliers show up at this address. A sign of IQC (+/-21cm X 28cm) may be installed by the door.
  • IQC agent must be considered as a part time job, especially when you begin. So, you must already have another income with a very flexible schedule to be available to IQC when our services are needed.

3-Main qualities

A good agent needs to be updated on the commercial environment. He must be informed about his country's products, stores and factories. The agent must be very knowledgeable in manufacturing processes, reading drawings and specification sheets...

4-Communications

The  exchange of information is one the first quality of the IQC agent. He must speak and write very good English and  must have a daily access to Internet, check his emails everyday and never delay any communication. He must be able to print, scan and send files and pictures by himself. The agent must also be well organized in his filing regarding information and communication reports, the agent has to write detailed reports for each job, including listing of communications and pictures. Those reports may have between 5 to 20 pages. The agent must have a 24h/24 operating mobile phone.

5-Understanding of the selected product

It is very important that the agent knows the product very well to make the proper researches, the presentations to the potential suppliers and the quality control. In some occasions, an agent might be not informed about a product. It is up to this agent to find the information and to learn everything about the product. The agent may also require the services of engineers or laboratory technicians for professional assistance. The agent must look for the adequate services by himself. If such help reveals to be  necessary, IQC will agree to pay the professional charges.

6-Sales

IQC is not a retailer or a buyer. IQC's main task is to be the intermediary in between the customers and the suppliers (factories). The IQC agent must constantly promote his company and get more customers. The agent must go to all the concerned exhibitions and fairs in his country (and sometimes elsewhere) to distribute business cards and to talk about IQC's services. He must introduce himself to other countries' buyers. He must be updated on all the good  products and the potential factories that might have some overstock. He also attends every concerned seminary. The agent must always have in mind new and original ideas to help the company grow.

7-Personality

The IQC agent is a charming, wise and reliable person. He must be an excellent negotiator. He must get the sympathy and the trust of the factories and the customers. The IQC agent is always invited to be a member of the business comities and associations. The IQC agent is a welcomed guest in all business diners and seminaries.

8-Negotiations

Notions in marketing, sales and international exchanges are good assets for the IQC agent. The agent must understand that a long-term business relationship with his suppliers and customers is the main goal of IQC. The IQC agent understands the negotiation's processes and he always focussed on what is best for IQC.

9-Hospitality and traveling

The agent must be prepared and legally able to travel in other countries for IQC's business. Valid passport and Visas must be always in force. The agent is the host of all IQC's staff, customers and relatives in his country. The agent must be very good in public relations. He must take care of his guests by giving them the best assistance for booking hotels and transportations, for translating, guiding and visiting ...

10-Schedule of working

At the beginning, the IQC agent's job may be a part time job. But the agent is also on duty 24hours/24. His work can be done from a "virtual" office at home. Each agent is the master of his schedule as long as no communications, visits, shipping and meetings are delayed.

11-How the agent gets paid?

6 ways to get money:

  • 1-The IQC agent gets paid for each factory visit when required by IQC. This visit may be for an audit or for quality control. A detailed report must be written after each visit. The salary for a visit is around 50-200USD/day + expenses (considering the roaming expenses, the task itself and local money value).
  • 2-The IQC agent gets paid for searching/sourcing factories and products. If IQC gets the order from its customer, 25-100$USD will be paid for each submitted quotation required by IQC. Each quotation must be properly done using IQC's forms (Quotation Form + Factory profile form).
  • 3-The best incoming salary of the agent comes from the commissions for managing the production when his quotation wins. If his factory is selected, the IQC agent will receive a commission based on the total of the order and his facility to manage it with its factory. A commission will apply on every order as long as the so-called product is produced and the agent holds his supervising on this product. The commission can be 200-3000 USD/order
  • 4-All promotional and representations can be paid of IQC (see "sales" for reference). All the time spent for representations and all expenses are paid back to the agent as long as this agent shows the bills and positive result reports.
  • 5-As a host for IQC customers and staff, expense budget, tips and salary can be easily negotiated for each case. Money can be also paid also for any internal task for IQC.
  • 6-The IQC agent may have to do some negotiations with some of our customers' factories. The agent gets a commission on the saving coming from passed agreements. (Negotiations are for senior agents only). When the IQC agent does representations, the IQC agent also gets a commission on all sales.

12-How the agent does quality control?

The job of the IQC agent is mainly to control the quality and the quantity of products. This means to visit to the factory and check  pieces at random to see if there are imperfections. Those inspections can be made during the production process and/or before the shipping. The agent usually has a sample and/or a checks list to do this job. If the product is out of the agent's competency, it is to the agent to get the help from qualified experts or laboratory technicians. Some of our customers may also ask for a control of the factory itself to check if this factory is reliable, legally registered, secured and conformed to produce their products. The IQC agent acts as the "police of importers" and he always protects the interest of IQC's customers. Agent must show competence and authority. If the product is not in conformity with the requirements, the IQC agent can stop the production and the shipping. If such a thing happens, the agent will get a bonus because he will have detected a major default or problem.

13-Grades of IQC agents

Each IQC agent starts as a "JUNIOR" agent. For each job or order, the junior agent will be controlled and supervised by a "SENIOR" IQC agent. After many successful jobs (orders), the junior agent may become a senior agent. Senior agents have more jobs (or responsibilities) because they also control the junior agents. Some senior agents may become full time IQC senior agent and receive a monthly salary. This may happen if the senior agent has more than 5 jobs/orders each month.

14-How does the agent select a supplier to produce an order?

Another task of the IQC agent is to do the research of good suppliers for specific products. The agent must  get in touch with as many factories as he can and ask them about their "profile". The agent must fill the "Factory Profile" IQC form.

  • How many employees?
  • How long the company has existed?
  • How important is the shop?
  • What kind of tools and machinery they have?
  • Can they send pictures of the factory?
  • How many products they make in one month, or one year?
  • Do they export? To which country?
  • If they export, what percentage of their production? How many containers?
  • What is their yearly turnover($/year)?
  • Who are their customers?
  • Who is the owner and who does the customer service?
  • Do they speak English?
  • Do they have a research and development department?
  • Are they legally registered by their government for fabricate products and export?
  • What is their address, email, fax, ...?
  • Do they have a catalogue?
  • Do they have a Website?
  • And more, and more, and more....

Always tell the factory that IQC will go and visit them before any order to check the information. And we will! This is the company "profile".

Than, you have to deal the best price from each supplier. The agent must fill the "Quotation" IQC form.

  • Do they have a catalogue? a Website?
  • Can they send pictures of the products?
  • What is the best price the factory can make for the quantity we are looking for?
  • How can we manage to get  a better price?
  • How long the price has been in force (one year is good, always ask for it! but usually we accept 6 months)
  • Is the packaging included (box for shipping)?
  • What are the terms of payment? (25% on order, 50% on shipping and 25% at the reception)
  • How much time do they need to produce the order? (1 mount, 6 weeks?...)
  • Does the price include transportation to the nearest international port?
  • What are the conditions to get samples before ordering?
  • Is there some charges for tooling, what are the tools (template, moulds, punches..). All tooling paid by IQC remains to the exclusive use of IQC and must be returned to IQC on request.
  • are there some set up charges? (this is mostly for orders with small quantities)
  • And more, and more, and more...

This is how the agent gets a "quote" (quotation).

We have many quotes and company profiles! Usually, this should not take more than one week to get all the information. You select two to three best factories (not always the cheapest... the "best"). Then, you submit your forms to the IQC main office. You explain why you selected those factories

If the profile and the price are good, IQC will ask you to get a sample. If the sample is good, the agent becomes in charge of the order, all the communications with the supplier and of course the Quality Control of the product during the fabrication and before shipping.... The agent can get a very good commission if the order is correctly managed.

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