Pre-shipment inspection

Independent inspection at your factory before goods leave. Catches defects before they're a problem. Cheap insurance against a much larger cost.

What's included

• Inspector travels to your factory
• On-site inspection during production (typically at 80-100% complete)
• Random sampling of finished goods (AQL 2.5 / 4.0 standard)
• Photographic evidence of any defects
• Detailed report (English or Chinese)
• Recommendations for rework if needed

What's NOT included

• Full-time inspection presence throughout production (we can arrange this as a separate service)
• Rework labor (you cover this)
• Container loading supervision (we can arrange separately)
• Lab testing for compliance (separate service)

Pricing

• Standard inspection: $200-300 per man-day
• Typical container: 1-2 man-days
• Multi-day assignments: Discount on days 2+
• Expedited (less than 48 hours notice): +30% surcharge

Travel costs (if your factory is in a city the inspector doesn't already cover) are additional, typically $300-800 per trip.

Timeline

For fast-moving shipments, same-week booking is sometimes possible.

What we need from you

• Factory address and contact
• Production schedule (when goods are 80%+ complete)
• PO details (what's being produced, quantity)
• Acceptance criteria (AQL level, defect classification)
• Specific concerns to look for (if any)

How the inspection works

Standard process:

1. Inspector arrives at your factory at the agreed time
2. Walks the production line to confirm goods are at the right production stage
3. Pulls random samples from finished goods (typically 50-200 units depending on container size)
4. Inspects each sample against your PO specification
5. Documents defects with photos and descriptions
6. Classifies defects (critical, major, minor)
7. Issues verdict: Pass / Conditional Pass / Fail

A "Conditional Pass" means minor defects that can be reworked; we specify which. A "Fail" means critical defects that block shipment.

AQL standard

Most buyers use AQL 2.5 / 4.0: - Critical defects (AQL 0): Zero tolerance. Examples: safety hazards, broken parts. - Major defects (AQL 2.5): Functional problems. Examples: loose stitching, surface damage affecting use. - Minor defects (AQL 4.0): Cosmetic issues. Examples: slight color variation, small scratches.

If defect rates exceed the AQL, shipment is held until rework.

When this service isn't needed

• Your buyer doesn't require pre-shipment inspection. Some buyers accept goods on arrival.
• Your product is high-volume commodity. Inspection per piece is too expensive.
• Your QC team is reliable and the buyer trusts your QC. Some established buyer relationships skip third-party inspection.

What you get back

• Inspection report (PDF, English)
• Photo evidence (clearly labeled)
• Verdict (Pass / Conditional / Fail)
• Recommendations (if any)

Reports are typically 5-15 pages depending on container size and issues found.

Common mistakes we avoid

Inspection at the wrong stage

Inspecting too early (production not complete) misses defects that appear later. Inspecting too late (goods already packed) makes rework expensive.

We aim for 80-100% production complete.

Accepting the factory's QC

Your QC team works for you. They may pass goods that an independent inspector would reject. The point of pre-shipment inspection is to have a third party.

Failing inspection without a path forward

A "Fail" verdict without specifying rework is unhelpful. We always include rework recommendations.

How it relates to US compliance

Pre-shipment inspection is about physical quality (defects, workmanship, packaging). It's different from compliance testing (CPSC, FCC, FDA, etc.) - see the compliance documentation service for that.

Many factories need both. Inspection before shipment, compliance documentation before the product category launches in the US.

Next step

If you're considering this service: - Email us with your PO details and factory location - We confirm inspector availability - We quote specific pricing for your shipment