From Raw Material to Sealed Carton: How We Control Quality
A test report is not a quality system. Here is the route every MSA order takes — five production steps, four inspection points and the loading supervision at the end.
Quality in furniture is not decided by a certificate. It is decided by what happens at five points between raw material and a sealed carton, and by whether anyone actually checks. This is the process every MSA order runs through, and it is the same for a 100-piece trial order as for a full container.
Step 1 — Raw material inspection
Everything is checked on arrival, before it enters production. Polypropylene granulate grade, steel thickness and coating specification, fabric and velvet colour against the approved swatch, foam density, and hardware. A problem caught here costs a phone call; the same problem caught after assembly costs a container.
Step 2 — Production, step by step
Our moulded products follow a fixed five-step route — raw material, press moulding, cool down, trimming, packaging — with in-line inspection at each stage. Upholstered and metal products follow the equivalent route for their own materials: cutting, frame preparation, upholstery, assembly. In-line inspection means the operator checks the piece in front of them, not a batch at the end.
Step 3 — 100% function test
Not a sample. Every unit. On barstools this means the gas lift travel and swivel; on office chairs the height adjustment, tilt and lock, and base stability; on tables the leg fittings and hardware kit; on chairs the frame integrity and seat fixing. If a unit fails, it is pulled from the batch — it does not get a second chance at the packing line.
Step 4 — Packing check
Packing is where a good product becomes a damaged product, so it is inspected as carefully as the product itself. We check carton strength and dimensions, internal protection, hardware bags and their labelling, assembly sheets, and carton markings. Tables ship knock-down with the top and legs separately protected; glass tops get engineered corner protection. Every carton is sealed and marked before it leaves the packing area.
Step 5 — Loading supervision
Someone from our team is present when the container is loaded. Cartons are counted against the packing list, the loading plan is followed, and the container is checked for moisture and damage before the doors close. Photographs are taken at each stage. For a buyer who cannot be there, this is the record that the order left the factory complete and correctly packed.
And if something does go wrong
We would rather it did not, but when it does, the response matters as much as the cause. For any complaint from a customer we give a reasonable solution within 48 hours, and once the cause is investigated we take responsibility if the fault is ours. That is part of the same commitment as the inspection process — never let one defective chair leave the factory.
If your market requires a specific standard such as BIFMA, EN 12520 or EN 1728, tell us before the order is confirmed. TUV testing reports for finished products are available on request. Browse the range or contact sales01@msa-furniture.com.
