Pre-shipment Inspection & Quality Control in China
Goods are checked against your specifications before they leave the factory, with a photo report so problems are caught early.
By the Sino Vorex team · Updated
What's included
- Checks against your approved sample and specifications
- Counting quantities and checking packaging and labels
- Photo and video evidence of what was found
- Agreeing fixes with the factory before shipment
What you receive
An inspection report with photos and video, sent before you pay the balance.
Types of quality inspection
| Inspection | When | What it catches |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-production inspection (PPI) | Before production starts | Wrong raw materials, components or colours, and unclear specifications |
| During-production inspection (DUPRO) | Typically when 20–60% of the order is made | Recurring defects early, while they can still be corrected on the line |
| Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) | When at least 80% of the goods are finished and packed | Quantity, workmanship, function, measurements, packaging and labels, before you pay the balance |
| Container loading check | While the container is loaded | The right cartons and quantity loaded, carton condition, container condition |
For most first orders, a pre-shipment inspection is the minimum. Add a during-production inspection for large orders, new suppliers or products where a defect would be expensive to fix after packing.
How AQL sampling is used
Checking every unit is rarely practical, so we inspect a random sample chosen under ISO 2859-1 (equivalent to ANSI/ASQ Z1.4), usually at General Inspection Level II. Defects are classed as critical, major or minor, and each class has its own Acceptance Quality Limit (AQL). A common setting for consumer goods is critical 0, major 2.5 and minor 4.0, but you can set your own.
Example: for a lot of 3,000 units, the standard sample is 125 units. At AQL 2.5 the lot passes with up to 7 major defects and fails at 8. Our AQL guide has the full sample-size table.
What we check on a pre-shipment inspection
- Quantity: finished and packed quantity against your order.
- Workmanship and appearance: scratches, stains, loose threads, glue marks, and colour differences against your approved sample.
- Measurements and weight against your specification.
- Function and safety checks suited to the product, such as assembly, operation, seam strength or a simple drop test.
- Packaging and labelling: carton marks, barcodes, labels, inserts, manuals, and Amazon FBA labels where you need them.
- Cartons: dimensions, gross weight, and a carton drop test.
What the inspection report contains
- A pass, fail or pending result against your AQL, with the defect counts by class.
- Photos of every defect found, and of the product, packaging and shipping marks.
- Video of function tests where relevant.
- Measurements recorded against your specification.
- Notes on what the factory has agreed to fix, and how that will be re-checked.
You receive the report before you pay the balance, so you can approve shipment, ask for rework, or request a re-inspection.
When goods fail inspection
A failed inspection is not the end of the order. It is the point where the factory can still fix the problem. Typically the factory sorts the goods and reworks or replaces the defective units, and we re-inspect. It is worth writing into your purchase contract that the factory pays for a re-inspection if goods fail, and that the balance is due only after a passed inspection.
Timing and how inspections are charged
Book a pre-shipment inspection about a week before the goods are due to be ready. A single inspection is normally one inspector-day on site for one product; large orders or several styles can need more. Inspections are quoted per inspection, including travel to the factory, and confirmed in writing before the visit.
Example
Quality Inspection: common questions
Can I choose my own AQL levels?
Yes. Tell us the levels you want, or we suggest levels based on the product and your market.
Can you test products to safety standards such as CE, UKCA or CPSIA?
Certification testing must be done by an accredited laboratory. We can collect samples for the lab and check that the goods shipped match the samples that were tested.
Do you inspect goods from suppliers you did not find?
Yes. Inspections work with any supplier in China. Send us the factory address, your specification and the approved sample.
Can you check goods at the warehouse instead of the factory?
Yes, if the goods are already at a warehouse or consolidation point. The checks are the same, but any rework is harder to arrange once goods have left the factory.