During Production Inspection China
Catch defects early with during production inspection (DPI) before the factory completes your entire order.
Waiting until the whole batch is finished to inspect means every defect is already baked in. During production inspection (DPI), also called DUPRO, checks the first 10-20% of production so you can catch issues, request rework, and correct the production line while the factory still has materials and labor set up. Early detection saves weeks of delay and thousands in rework costs.
What is during production inspection (DPI)?
DPI inspects work-in-progress at a pre-agreed production milestone — typically when 10-20% of the order is complete. The inspector visits the production line, samples finished units, and evaluates workmanship, materials, and assembly quality.
The goal is to catch defects before they propagate through the remaining 80-90% of production. Instead of discovering a problem at pre-shipment inspection when the whole batch is done, DPI alerts you while the factory is still running the job.
Because production is still active, the factory can correct defects, adjust tooling, replace materials, or retrain workers immediately — without restarting from scratch. This saves both time and money compared to post-production rework.
Beyond the product itself, DPI checks production line conditions, worker training, assembly station organization, material handling, and any process changes since the sample approval stage.
DPI vs PSI: When to use each
During production inspection and pre-shipment inspection serve different purposes and are often used together for maximum protection:
- DPI (during production) — Use when you need early visibility into production quality. Best for high-value orders, complex products, long lead times, and new supplier relationships. DPI gives you time to correct issues before the factory completes the run.
- PSI (pre-shipment) — Use as your final quality checkpoint before payment and shipment release. PSI is the strongest stage for protecting your final payment and verifying the complete batch. See pre-shipment inspection China for details.
- Combined DPI + PSI — Many importers book DPI at 10-20% production and PSI at 100% completion. This covers both early correction and final verification. It is the recommended approach for first orders from new suppliers.
Read our detailed comparison: DPI vs PSI: What's the difference between during production and pre-shipment inspection.
What DPI checks
- First-run quality — inspect sampled units from the first production run against the approved sample, specification sheet, and quality standards.
- Workmanship and appearance — check stitching, molding, assembly gaps, surface finish, color matching, and cosmetic standards on in-process units.
- Materials and components — verify that raw materials, sub-assemblies, and components match the approved BOM and material specifications.
- Production line conditions — assess line organization, equipment setup, worker training, tooling condition, and cleanliness on the active production line.
- Early defect detection — identify recurring defects, process errors, or material issues that could affect the remaining 80-90% of the order. Flag them immediately to the factory management.
- Production progress and timeline — confirm the factory is on schedule to meet your agreed delivery date and flag any delays or capacity issues.
Best products for DPI
During production inspection delivers the most value for certain product categories and order types:
- High-value products — Electronics, machinery, medical devices, and branded goods where defects are expensive to fix after production.
- Long production lead time — Products with 4+ week production cycles. Waiting until completion to inspect wastes weeks if rework is needed.
- Complex assembly — Multi-component products, custom tooling, injection molding, CNC machining, and products with critical tolerances.
- First orders — The first production run from any new supplier should always include DPI to confirm their process delivers what the sample promised.
- Seasonal or time-sensitive goods — Products with fixed retail windows (holiday, back-to-school, seasonal) where delays from post-production rework would miss the market.
Book during production inspection
CloudSpects DPI starts from $169 per man-day in all major China manufacturing regions. We coordinate directly with your supplier to schedule the visit at the correct production milestone. Results and recommendations are delivered in an English photo report within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
At what production stage should DPI be performed?
The standard DPI milestone is when 10-20% of the order quantity is completed. This gives the inspector enough finished units to sample meaningfully, while leaving the factory enough production remaining to correct any issues found. For very large orders (10,000+ units), the percentage can be adjusted to 5-10%.
Can I skip DPI if I already ordered pre-shipment inspection?
You can, but you lose the ability to correct defects before the full batch is done. PSI only catches problems after production is complete — at that point rework means tearing down finished units, reordering materials, and restarting production lines. DPI + PSI together give you both early correction and final verification.
Does DPI delay production?
No. A DPI visit typically takes 2-4 hours and causes minimal disruption to the production schedule. The inspector works around the existing production flow, sampling finished units from the line and checking materials and assembly stations. Factories in China are accustomed to third-party inspections and accommodate them as standard practice.
What happens if DPI finds defects?
Our inspector documents every defect with photos and detailed descriptions, then discusses findings with the factory quality manager on site. You receive a report with pass/fail/rework recommendations within 24 hours. You can then request the factory to correct specific issues, adjust tooling, replace materials, or retrain workers before production continues. A re-inspection can be scheduled to verify corrections.