Pre shipment inspection of your goods before they leave the factory

What a pre shipment inspection covers

A pre shipment inspection, often called a final random inspection, takes place when production is finished and most of the order is packed, usually at least 80 percent. The inspector selects cartons at random, opens them and checks a statistical sample of products against your purchase order, specifications and approved sample.

The check covers the things that cause disputes and returns: quantity and packing, product appearance and workmanship, dimensions and weight, function and safety tests, markings, labels and barcodes, packaging and shipping marks. Problems found here can still be fixed at the factory, which is far cheaper than fixing them after arrival.

For importers who pay a balance on shipment, the inspection report is often the deciding document: it gives independent evidence of what is in the cartons before money and goods leave.

• Quantity and packing check against the order
• Random sampling of cartons and products
• Visual and workmanship inspection with defect classification
• Measurements, function tests and basic safety checks
• Labels, markings, barcodes and packaging check
• Report with photos, defects found and an overall result

Approved samples are the reference that settles most arguments. Seal a golden sample with the supplier before production, or share clear photos and specifications, so the inspector compares the goods with what you actually approved.

Sampling and acceptance levels in plain terms

Most pre shipment inspections use acceptance sampling according to ISO 2859-1, known as AQL sampling. The order size and the inspection level decide how many units are checked; the acceptable quality limits decide how many defects of each type are allowed before the lot fails.

Defects are usually classified as critical, major and minor. Critical defects make a product unsafe or illegal and are often not accepted at all. Major defects make a product unlikely to be sold or used as intended. Minor defects are small departures from the specification that do not stop use.

You choose the inspection level and the acceptance limits for each type of defect, ideally in your purchase terms with the supplier. If you do not have them yet, we suggest common settings for your product type that you can adjust.

A container loading check can be added on the day of shipment, to confirm the right goods and quantities are loaded in good condition, and to record the container and seal numbers.

Tighter acceptance limits catch more defects but fail more lots, so choose them with the end customer and the product risk in mind rather than using the strictest settings for everything.

What decides the price

Pre shipment inspection with EUROTECH starts at $1,500. Your written quote shows exactly what is included.

• Order size and the sample size it requires
• Number of product styles or models in the order
• Tests required, such as function, drop or fatigue tests
• Factory location and travel
• Loading supervision added on shipment day

Regular orders from the same factory can be planned as an inspection programme, which makes each visit quicker.

Orders with many colours, sizes or models need larger samples or more time, because each variant must be represented in the check.

Tests that need special equipment are confirmed with the factory before the visit.