Buying in China and Asia? It is virtual to employ a best pre shipment inspection company, a professional quality assurance pre-shipment inspection gives importers assurance that their goods meet the required standard before they’re dispatched, ultimately protecting both buyers and suppliers.
PSI inspection is an important part of the quality control services that GIS provides. It allows you to catch any issues before shipping so that you can deal with them long before any substandard products reach your customers. This quality control procedure helps businesses to protect against the cost, disruption and damage to brand image caused by sub-standard goods.
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What are the steps and procedures of pre-shipment inspection?
The pre shipment inspection covers the quantity check, random sampling, workmanship check, onsite test of goods that have been ordered. The following 12steps will help you understand how a third-party pre shipment inspection works：
1. Confirm the Inspection Criteria and Sampling Plan
Confirm inspection date, sampling method, product checklists, and inspector.
Before the inspection begins, discuss and confirm all inspection requirements and the sampling plan, and product checklists with the client. During this stage, details such as product types, quantity, packaging, labeling, and testing methods are reviewed carefully.
- AQL Plan: Mak sure that both parties have a clear understanding of the sampling plan based on the AQL. As the importer, it is your responsibility to decide if the sampling plan is adequate according to your brand positioning.
- PSI Inspection Checklist: When you choose a third-party inspection service, usually we will have a ready-to-use pre shipment inspection checklist for general products. GIS can develop a product-specific inspection checklist to ensure all key quality points are covered according to your product characteristics.
2. Opening Meeting
The inspectors visit the manufacturer at the appointed time and have an opening meeting with factory to sign compliance documents, recap the inspection details and estimated the timing for inspection. Pre-Shipment Inspections are usually carried out on-site at the factory or production house.
3. Quantity Verification
Verifying how many products are actually produced is one of the most essential tasks of the psi inspection. Inspectors count products and shipping cartons to verify that the correct quantity of an order has been finished. In order to pass, 100% products must be finished and at least 80% of an order be packed.
Inspectors take photos of the orders and take notes of what quantity is finished but unpacked or what quantity is semi-finished.
4. Random Sampling
Professional Pre Shipment Inspection services use the internationally recognized statistical sampling procedure ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 (ISO 2859-1) to ensure the whole batch is of good quality. The number of things he picks (the Acceptance Quality Limit or AQL) is usually defined in the contract between the manufacturer or importer and the client.
GIS Inspection as well follows the ISO 2859 standard and the AQL sampling provided by it. To evaluate the overall production lot quality, GIS inspectors will verify sampling products on their functional, visual, and material properties.
After monitor the procedure for the selected carton transport to the inspection room, the inspectors get inspection sample size randomly from one carton based on sample plan MIL.STD-105E.
GIS’s default limit is critical. 0, Major. 2.5, Minor. 4.0, which means that the limit of Critical defects is 0, Major defects are 2.5, and Minor defects are 4. These limits indicate the maximum number of product defects in the sample size for acceptance of the order.
You can establish your own acceptance limits based on your acceptable quality. For high-value products sometimes critical. 0, Major. 1.5, Minor. 4.0, is used, or even Major. 1.0, Minor. 2.5.
Learn more about AQL: AQL Acceptable Quality Limit
5. Product and Verification
Verify that the products conform to the specifications against PO, photos, and sample.
Using client provided samples and specifications, GIS inspectors ensure that products meet important general issues of conformity. These basic aspects of conformity to specifications are checked before more product specific tests and inspections are carried out:
- Color – The inspectors verify the product color consistency to ensure it fully complies with the client’s approved sample approved samples and meet the client’s requirements.
- Materials – Inspectors check the product materials to ensure it matches the client’s approved samples or specification documents.
- Artwork and labels- Inspectors check of quality, spelling, fonts, boldness, colors, dimensions, positioning and alignment. For example, since some markets have strict garment labeling regulations, QC inspectors must check that your labels contain the necessary information (country of origin, fiber content, sizing, care instructions for washing or ironing, etc.).
This includes a lengthy breakdown by style/category of product if different styles of the same product or different products have been ordered. Pictures and detailed explanations are provided.
6. Workmanship Check
Professional 3rd party quality control companies regularly provide training to inspectors so that they have sufficient awareness on various potential product defects. Inspectors verify the product and basic operation function for all sample size against approval sample or spec, to check for any immediately visible defects.
Defects, such as blemishes in finishes, cracks, sharp edges, color inconsistency, stains, chips or holes are all reported. This is along with the frequency of their occurrence across a sampled batch.
Defects are typically classified as minor, major, or critical based on predetermined acceptable tolerance levels.
7. Size Measurement Check
Check or measuring the important data/parameters which reflect the product quality or performance according to legalized method or stated in client approved product specification or other agreed documents by client.
Size measurement for Garment and Apparel
The consumers want clothes that fit well and are true to size, which is why measuring garment dimensions is absolutely crucial for quality control. The quality control inspector takes measurements of the different parts of the garment being checked and compares them against client specifications. This is done for every clothing size in the order.
To make sure this check is carried out properly, the garment specifications should clearly state the points of measurement (e.g., sleeve length, neck width), the standard measurements for each size, and acceptable tolerances for each point of measurement.
8. Function Test
Function Testing for Textiles
For garments, apparel and footwear, inspectors will usually perform various product specific tests. For example, buttons, zippers, and other accessories can all be checked with pull tests, fatigue tests, and stretch tests. Alternatively, the weight and composition of fabric can be checked against a client's specifications.
Function Testing for Electrics
Functional checks should be conducted accord all of the intended features and performances stated in the purchase order; client approved specification, instruction manual, and selling point on unit, factory specification etc.
For example, psi inspection for coffee machine, inspector perform basic function, full function, input power consumption, and keep worm test.
Learn more about coffee machine pre shipment inspection method: Complete Checklist for Household Coffee Machine Quality Inspection
9. Safety Test
Mechanical Safety Tests
Mechanical safety testing is required for many categories of products sold or imported into the European Union (EU), the US and other major markets. Mechanical failures can result in user injuries and even death, potentially exposing manufacturers, importers and retailers to costly legal action and the loss of brand reputation.
For example, inspectors may be able to check for sharp edges or parts that could pinch or entrap appendages. Alternatively, they may also be able to check safety critical components, such as screws and hinges.
Electrical Safety Testing
Electrical and electronic products must be tested to ensure that they comply with a wide range of safety regulation such as local rules, CCC, CE, UL, REACH and more, to ensure the product in safe condition for an individual using and comply with legal, regional mandatory regulations.
The electrical safety tests carried out onsite during psi inspection are:
- Hi-pot check
- Earth continuity check
- Temperature measurement
- Stability check
- Internal check
10. Packaging Check
The packaging is also checked to verify that the correct packing materials are being used to ensure safe transportation, and that correct packaging labels are applied. Inspectors verify the following five points.
The inspectors verify shipping mark, label, and barcode per item / PO against the spec and approval sample. The special requirement of clients such as the recycle symbol, warning statement, as well as the GW/NW of carton is always caught attention.
- Package / Packing method check against spec.
- Gift box, hangtag, label, IM verified against spec.
- Polybag check. Verify the width of polybag and punched hole, to see whether meet the requirement of the warning statement.
- Destination language, special requirement, claim match to the actual on the package check.
11. Close Meeting
After the on-site test, inspectors have a close meeting to get factory’s confirmation. It includes explanation to the suppliers and request for signature.
12. Inspection Report
After completing the inspection, GIS Inspection will provide you with detailed and unbiased inspection reports and certificates, verifying whether the products meet the specifications stated in your contract. All the original photos, videos, original testing data are contained, so you can see exactly what was discovered.
GIS pre shipment inspection services in China
A Pre-Shipment Inspection is a powerful tool that can help you ensure the shipment of high-quality goods that not only meet your requirements but the market standards as well. GIS Inspection provides independent psi inspections for a wide range of softlines, hardlines, electronics and food products.
If you would like more information about our Pre-Shipment Inspection services, please feel free to reach out us at service@gis-inspection.com.
Inspect by GIS Inspection
General Inspection Service-GIS is an international third-party quality control inspection company headquartered in China in 2005, which provides a professional range of product quality inspection and factory audit services to clients across multiple industries. We have set up an inspection network covering China, Vietnam, India and Malaysia. By employing only full-time inspectors, GIS is trusted by more than 12,000 brands globally.
