Confirm export licensing and history
Ask directly whether the factory holds a valid export licence and how long they've been shipping internationally — a factory that only sells domestically may not have the packing, documentation or QC processes export orders require.
Check actual production capacity, not claimed capacity
Walking the floor and counting active production lines gives a far more honest picture than a stated monthly output figure. Ask what else is currently in production — a factory running at full capacity may not have room for your order on the timeline you need.
Ask about subcontracting
Many factories subcontract parts of an order — frames from one workshop, upholstery from another — without disclosing it. This isn't necessarily a problem, but you want to know about it upfront so quality control covers every stage, not just final assembly.
Request references or past export orders
A factory confident in its export track record will usually share examples of past shipments to your region, or at least the type of buyer they typically work with — vague or evasive answers here are worth treating as a signal.