Pre-shipment, during-production and container-loading checks — when to inspect and what to look for.
A quality inspection is your safeguard between paying and receiving usable goods. The cost of an inspection is trivial next to a container of defective product.
Types of inspection
- During-production inspection — catches problems early, before the whole run is made.
- Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) — the most common; goods are checked when 80–100% complete.
- Container-loading check — confirms the right quantity and condition are actually loaded.
Understand AQL
Acceptable Quality Limit (AQL) defines how many defects are tolerable in a sample before the batch is rejected. Agree the AQL level in writing before production so there is no argument at inspection.
What to inspect
- Function and performance against the spec.
- Dimensions, materials and finish.
- Labelling, barcodes and packaging.
- Quantity and carton markings.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a pre-shipment inspection?
- A pre-shipment inspection (PSI) is a quality check performed when an order is 80–100% complete, verifying function, dimensions, packaging and quantity against your specification before the goods ship.
- What is AQL in quality control?
- AQL, or Acceptable Quality Limit, is the maximum number of defects allowed in a sampled batch before it is rejected. Buyers and suppliers agree the AQL level in advance so inspection results are objective.
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