Pre-Shipment Inspection in China: A Practical Buyer’s Guide
Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) is the most common third-party check for finished goods made in China before you release the final payment or accept the supplier’s bill of lading. CloudSpects provides independent PSI with English reports for teams in North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia—aligned with how importers actually approve shipments.
When PSI should happen on the production timeline
Book PSI when production is at least roughly 80% complete and packed for the SKU lot you intend to ship. Too early and you inspect air; too late and rework may miss the vessel or FBA inbound window. If you are still finding major defects mid-run, consider during production inspection (DPI) before you pay for a full PSI cycle.
What a solid PSI scope covers
- Quantity vs. packing list and purchase order line items.
- Workmanship and functional checks against approved samples and critical specs.
- Packaging, weights, labels, barcodes, and markings for destination-market rules.
- Carton drop or basic transport simulation where appropriate for your category.
- Clear photo evidence and a pass / fail / pending rework recommendation.
AQL sampling in plain language
Most consumer-goods PSI uses ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 sampling (often General Level II) to balance cost versus statistical confidence. Your inspection firm should confirm the sample size and acceptance points before the visit so you and the factory share the same expectation—especially important for high-SKU Amazon assortments.
What affects man-day pricing
SKU complexity, number of pick locations, distance between sub-suppliers, special tests (battery, RF, drop), and access constraints all add time on site. CloudSpects publishes transparent man-day pricing; scope changes are agreed before auditors travel.
How PSI differs from a factory audit
PSI judges this batch; a factory audit judges the supplier’s systems. Many buyers audit once when onboarding, then rely on PSI (and sometimes loading supervision) for every shipment.
Next steps with CloudSpects
Send your PO, SKU list, packing plan, and any golden samples. We will propose a PSI checklist in writing, schedule the nearest qualified inspector, and deliver a structured English report—typically within about 24 hours after the visit for standard scopes. Request timing and a quote.