What is Pre-shipment Inspection or Final Inspection?
The Pre-shipment Inspection or PSI inspection, also called Final Random Inspection (FRI), is to ensure the products have been manufactured match the Client’s specifications and packed ready to ship. It’s a quality control method to help you secure the quality of completed goods.
The Pre-shipment Inspection is a systematic inspection of samples randomly selected from the shipment, it usually will be performed when 100% of products are completed and the order at least 80% packed.
Pre-shipment Inspection Standard
The standard internationally recognized ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 (ISO2589-1) statistical sampling procedure is the random selection method in all PSI inspections.
- ANSI/ASQ Z1.4-2003 (R2018): Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes is an acceptance sampling system to be used with switching rules on a continuing stream of lots for Acceptance Quality Limit (AQL) specified.
- ISO 2859-1:1999 Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes — Part 1: Sampling schemes indexed by acceptance quality limit (AQL) for lot-by-lot inspection
Based on the standard and Acceptance Quality Level (AQL) will be chosen to determine the sample size and the quality level of the batch of shipment.
Once the inspection is finished at the factory or somewhere else, a draft report with an inspection summary will be issued on-site shown to the supplier representative, and it will be reported to the customer on the same day too. Then we will email the detailed inspection report with full information to you within 24 hours.
Our highly trained quality inspectors will use the appropriate sample process to select product lots for pre-shipment inspection, their expertise combined with hundreds of customizable inspection checklists for all product categories make for more reliable quality control that helps you secure your imports.
Why Should You Book Pre-shipment Inspection Services (PSI)? Is Pre-shipment Inspection mandatory?
You got lots of amazing opportunities from today’s globalized marketplace but also faced real risks.
So when you are working with a supplier overseas, it’s critical to ensure the specifications you’ve agreed in the contract. It’s crucial to mitigate the risk to your products, your customers, and your reputation by taking the necessary precautions.
By conducting the PSI inspection, you can see the quality of the products, ensure the products you pay to meet your requirements before you make the final payment, and you can refuse the shipment, or you will have other options before sending the shipment out.
The inspections can also help you discover the types of defects, and what percent of products have defects, which avoid surprises once the goods are received.
What are the Advantages of Pre-shipment Inspection Services?
- Ensure your order has been produced correctly to specifications before shipping,
- Verify quality at the source and avoid paying for defective goods.
- Ensure the function and safety of products to avoid health and safety hazards.
- Know whether the shipping marks, packing, and labeling are correct.
- Find out if the product is working correctly.
- Avoid product returns and protect your brand image.
- Mitigate import risks; especially you are importing from a supplier overseas which very far away from you
Why AQI Service
- All-inclusive pricing for all Pre shipment Inspection Services
- QC Coverage in Asia
- Flexible and Reliability third party inspection service
What is The Pre shipment Inspection Checklist Included?
As you know the pre shipment inspection is your final opportunity to take corrective action before your products are shipped, so normally the accredited inspection agency’s inspector comes prepared with a quality inspection checklist, typically it covers:
- Contract quantities
- The Packaging, packing way, and related labels
- The storage way of your products
- Product appearance, workmanships
- Function, size, and measurement
- Functional testing and other safety tests
- Barcode verification etc. related shipping marks, labeling
- Other specified requirements from you
Click here to check Sample Report of Pre-shipment Inspection
6 Steps of Procedure in Pre-shipment Inspection Service?
Since the PSI Inspection is an essential link in the supply chain, here we listed the six important steps for the pre shipment inspection process.
Step 1: Coordinate the inspection date and conduct the inspection at the factory
Once the customer booked PSI inspection from AQI Service and confirmed all detail of the checklist, AQI customer service will coordinate the inspection date with the factory, then send the well-trained inspectors accordingly
Step 2: Quantity Verification
The inspector will count the packed shipping cartons to verify if the quantity conforms to the client’s order? And transportation materials will also be checked.
Step 3: Random selection, Check the appearance, and workmanship based on AQL Standards.
A standard Pre-shipment Inspection service uses the internationally recognized statistical sampling procedure ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 (ISO 2859-1).
So the acceptable number of defects is defined with AQL; a third-party inspection company or customer will choose the right AQL for inspection, though the AQL varies depending on the different types of products, the quality limit should be balanced and unbiased between manufacturer and buyer.
Related: How to choose the right AQL or use AQL Calculator?
After cartons are randomly selected from the batch, the inspector will record all visible defects from the overall workmanship of the finished products, and these defects will be typically classified as Critical, Major, Minor based on pre-determined acceptable tolerance levels.
Related article: 3 Defect Classification In Product Inspection
Step 4: Function and Safety Test
There are different function and safety tests from different products, for example, the garment, apparel, and footwear inspection, the inspectors will perform physical tests on the products to determine the functionality of buttons, zippers, and other accessories,
| Carton drop testing | Kneading Test |
| Barcode scanning test | Odor check/Smell test |
| Rub test for logo/fabric | Model Fitting check |
| 3M tape testing | Material GSM check |
| Metal detection check | Color shade check |
| Stitches density check | Fatigue test |
| Seam strength check | Washing testing |
For other mechanical or electrical, electronic products, please check the detailed testings with AQI Service.
Step 5: Packagings, Packing, Product Conformity Verification
The quality inspectors will check the packaging, packing materials, packing methods, shipping marks and labels, product dimensions, materials, color, marking and labeling, etc.
If the pre shipment inspection is for garments or textiles, the quality inspector will check whether size measurements correspond with the size chart.
Step 6: Draft Inspection Report and Detail Inspection Report
Once the PSI inspection is finished, a draft report with an overview of key findings, workmanship, AQL will be issued in the field.
Detail report will be complied with a Pass/Pending/Fail result, full of inspection findings, and clear images for all inspection points. you can see exactly why the inspection was discovered.
Learn more about