Pre-shipment inspection

In practice

What the inspector checks

Pre-shipment inspection is one of the key services of the independent testing, inspection and certification sector¹. For consumer goods such as apparel, the inspection company QIMA lists these checks in its published PSI scope²:

• Quantities of finished and packed goods

• Product specifications: colors, style, construction, material composition and dimensions

• Artwork and labels: main labels, care labels, size labels and tags, including spelling and positioning

• Workmanship defects and consistency across the sample

• Packing: inner and outer packing, export carton dimensions and weights, and shipping marks

Inspections of industrial equipment follow the same idea with a different focus. TÜV Rheinland, for example, lists packing and loading checks and confirmation that the shipping documentation is complete³.

The inspector does not open every carton. Items are drawn at random under a statistical sampling plan, and the result depends on how many defects turn up in that sample. QIMA says it samples to ANSI/ASQ Z1.4². The ISO standard for AQL-based sampling by attributes is ISO 2859-1, which lists third-party inspection firms among its users⁴. The level you set for each type of defect is the AQL.

Who arranges it and who pays

Whoever books the inspection is the inspection firm's client and receives the report. If you book it, the inspector works to your checklist and your pass criteria. Agree the following with the supplier before production starts, preferably in the purchase order or proforma invoice:

1. that goods will be inspected before shipment, and by whom

2. the checklist and the AQL for each type of defect

3. who pays for the inspection, and who pays if the goods fail and need a re-inspection

4. what happens after a fail: rework, replacement or a new shipment date

A PSI is timed for when production is largely finished. QIMA, for example, schedules its PSI when at least 80% of the order is complete and packing has begun². If the goods fail, you and the supplier can agree corrections and a re-inspection before anything ships².

Exportain's buying guide suggests agreeing inspection and shipment conditions in writing before you settle payment⁵. If you pay by letter of credit, ask your bank whether an inspection certificate can be listed among the required documents.

Exportain does not inspect goods

Exportain is not a party to trades. It does not inspect goods, hold funds or book freight⁶, and its supplier verification is a document and photo review, not a factory inspection⁷. You can look for inspection providers listed on Exportain and request quotes from them⁵. The inspection contract is between you and the provider.

A different meaning: government-mandated PSI

Some importing countries have required pre-shipment inspection by private companies to check the price, quantity and quality of goods on the government's behalf. The WTO Agreement on Preshipment Inspection covers those programs⁸. TIC Council, whose member companies have operated such programs, notes that its list has shown no active programs since 2023⁹. This entry is about the commercial quality inspection that a buyer arranges.

Related terms

• AQL (Acceptance Quality Limit): how the sample size and pass/fail numbers are set.

• LC (Letter of Credit): payment by a bank against the documents the credit requires.

• How supplier verification works on Exportain: what Exportain checks, and what it leaves to you.