Pre-shipment inspection in China: what it checks and why it matters
What a pre-shipment inspection covers, how AQL sampling works, the types of inspection from pre-production to container loading, and how to use the report.
Quality · Published · Laxmi Global
Once goods have shipped from China, fixing a quality problem is slow and costly. A pre-shipment inspection (PSI) checks the goods while they are still at the factory, when something can still be done about it.
Types of inspection
Pre-production check. Confirms raw materials and components before production starts.
During-production check. Done when part of the order is complete, to catch problems early.
Pre-shipment inspection. Done when production is complete (usually at least 80% packed). This is the most common inspection.
Container loading check. Verifies the right goods and quantities are loaded and the container is sealed.
What a pre-shipment inspection covers
Quantity against the order, and carton count.
Specification: dimensions, materials, colours, markings and labelling against your approved sample and brief.
Workmanship: visible defects, finish and assembly quality.
Function and safety tests where relevant, such as power-on tests for electronics.
Packaging and shipping marks, including carton drop tests where agreed.
AQL sampling in plain terms
Inspectors do not open every carton. They draw a random sample from the lot using a sampling standard (commonly ISO 2859-1, also known as AQL). The AQL is the maximum defect rate you accept. Many consumer goods use zero tolerance for critical defects, 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor defects. The sample size depends on the lot size, and the lot passes or fails based on how many defects are found.
Using the report
Agree the inspection standard and a written product checklist before production.
Get the report with photos before releasing the final payment.
If the lot fails, require rework or replacement and re-inspect before shipment.
Limits to remember
Sampling reduces risk but cannot guarantee every unit is perfect. The better your written specification and approved sample, the more useful the inspection.