A pre-shipment inspection (PSI) is one of the most effective risk management tools available to buyers sourcing from China. For $250–400, you can have a qualified inspector spend a day at your factory checking a statistically valid sample of your production run before it ships.

This guide covers how to arrange an inspection, what inspectors check, and how to interpret the results.

Why Pre-Shipment Inspection Matters

The alternative to a PSI is discovering quality problems after your goods have cleared Chinese customs — at which point your options are expensive and time-consuming. Rework in China, return shipment, or accepting and selling defective goods.

A PSI catches problems while they're still the factory's problem. Done correctly, it gives you leverage to demand rework before you release final payment.

Choosing an Inspection Company

The major international inspection firms operating in China include:

  • Bureau Veritas (BV) — Global leader, broad product coverage
  • SGS — Strong in consumer goods and food safety
  • Intertek — Good coverage in textiles and electronics
  • QIMA — Tech-forward, strong digital reporting, competitive pricing
  • Asia Inspection / API — Competitive rates, good GBA coverage

For most buyers, QIMA or Asia Inspection offer the best price-to-service ratio. Bureau Veritas and SGS are appropriate when your buyer (a major retailer) specifies a particular firm.

What Is AQL Sampling?

AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) is the statistical sampling methodology used to determine how many units to inspect from a production run — and how many defects are acceptable before rejecting the lot.

Standard AQL levels for consumer goods:

  • Critical defects (safety risks): AQL 0 — any critical defect fails the inspection
  • Major defects (affect function or appearance significantly): AQL 2.5 — typically acceptable
  • Minor defects (cosmetic issues): AQL 4.0 — typically acceptable

For example, on a production run of 1,200 units, AQL 2.5 requires inspecting 80 units. If more than 5 major defects are found in those 80 units, the lot fails.

Key PointAQL sampling doesn't guarantee zero defects — it guarantees a statistically acceptable defect rate. If your product has zero tolerance for defects (medical devices, safety-critical parts), you need 100% inspection, not AQL sampling.

What Inspectors Check

A standard pre-shipment inspection covers:

  • Product appearance and workmanship
  • Dimensions and weight against your specifications
  • Quantity verification (count the units)
  • Packaging integrity and labelling accuracy
  • Function testing (for products with functional requirements)
  • Barcode scanning (if applicable)
  • Carton drop test

You should prepare a detailed inspection checklist with your specifications, defect definitions, and photos of acceptable vs. unacceptable quality. The more specific your brief, the more useful the inspection report.

Handling a Failed Inspection

If your inspection report shows a fail:

  1. Don't release final payment
  2. Review the inspection report in detail — understand exactly what failed and why
  3. Communicate the specific failures to the factory in writing
  4. Agree a rework plan with timeline and re-inspection
  5. Schedule a re-inspection (at additional cost, but worth it)

Most factories will rework without argument if the defects are clearly documented by a third-party inspector. The inspection report is your objective evidence — use it.

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