CALCURATES BLOG
The Pre-Shipment Inspection Procedure in 2025
Whether you are a supplier, importer, or online seller, one key element in maintaining your product quality is implementing pre-shipment inspections (PSI). These quality control examinations and methods of pre shipment inspections take place before shipping to ascertain the quality, quantity, and volumetric size of newly manufactured goods.
Trained inspectors can arrange a pre-shipment inspection report at any stage: at the manufacturer's warehouse, when the importer receives the items, or when the supplier prepares the final shipment for sale. The best way to implement a pre-shipment inspection into your production cycle will depend on the way products are produced, your location and the nature of the product itself. But whatever the circumstances, that pre shipment inspection checklist must be followed to maintain effective quality control.
Trained inspectors can arrange a pre-shipment inspection report at any stage: at the manufacturer's warehouse, when the importer receives the items, or when the supplier prepares the final shipment for sale. The best way to implement a pre-shipment inspection into your production cycle will depend on the way products are produced, your location and the nature of the product itself. But whatever the circumstances, that pre shipment inspection checklist must be followed to maintain effective quality control.
What Is Pre-Shipment Inspection?
A Pre-shipment inspection is a step in freight shipping that allows you to fix any issues before you initiate payment; since inspection companies examine items before shipping, you can hold the final payment until you get the report and be certain that quality control is everything it should be. A pre-shipment inspection will only occur once 100% of the ordered units are produced and 80% are packed to eliminate the risk of only checking cherry-picked samples.
Pre shipment inspection agencies that secure PSI are certified following the Agreement on Pre-Shipment Inspection, introduced by the World Trade Organization in 1994. The guidelines for the pre-shipment inspection process are universally used to this day.
Pre shipment inspection agencies that secure PSI are certified following the Agreement on Pre-Shipment Inspection, introduced by the World Trade Organization in 1994. The guidelines for the pre-shipment inspection process are universally used to this day.
Pre-Shipment Inspection Basics
- The Pre-Shipment Inspection Should be Non-Discriminatory
- Pre-Shipment Inspection Procedures Should not Cause Delays
- Pre-Shipment Inspection Should be Transparent
- All Sensitive Commercial and Business Information Should be Protected During Pre-Shipment Inspections
- No Conflict of Interest Between the Agency carrying out the pre-shipment inspection, the Producers, or the Client
- The Price of the Inspected Goods Should Correspond to the Market Average
- Appeals for the outcomes of a pre-shipment inspection Can be Filed Under the Rules of the Agreement
- Pre-Shipment Inspections are not Provided for Shipments Below the Minimum Value Established by the Agency
An inspection results in the award of a pre-shipment inspection certificate that confirms the various attributes of the goods and reflects the level of quality control the goods display. This comprehensive inspection report is essential for confidence of the shipment at the destination market.
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Your Pre Shipment Inspection Checklist for 2025
When there are no complications, a pre-shipment inspection procedure is generally straightforward.
- 1Order PlacementOrder placement is optional for most common goods. In this case, a pre-shipment inspection service is ordered by a client who wants to be assured of the quality of the goods in question. Medical equipment always requires inspection to comply with international trade standards.
- 2Inspector on siteWhen there are no complications, pre-shipment inspections are generally straightforward. Inspections take place at the warehouse or production house.
- 3Off-site shipping inspectionsAn off-site pre-shipment inspection can be arranged only for items that require special handling, such as toxic substances.
- 4Quantity checkThe agent performs a quantity verification to make sure that the number of boxes and items is correct and also verifies the destination and the integrity of the boxes.
- 5Randomized samplingTo ensure the whole batch is of good quality, PSI inspections are carried out on several items chosen at random using the ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 (ISO 2859-1) statistical sampling procedure. 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.
- 6Visual checkA visual inspection includes looking at both potential mechanical damage and flaws in the production (e.g., missing screws or gaps between the parts).
- 7Next, the inspector compares all the physical attributes (height, width, length, color, weight, markings, and labeling) with the client's specified ones.
- 8Functionality verificationItems are then tested to make sure that there are no functional defects.
- 9Safety testThe safety test consists of two parts: checks for mechanical safety and for electrical safety. The first step includes a PSI inspection to highlights any mechanical hazards, like sharp edges or moving parts, that are stuck and can cause accidents. The latter is more complex and is rarely done on-site since electrical testing requires laboratory-grade equipment and conditions. During the electrical safety testing, experts test electronic products in search of hazards like gaps in ground continuity or faults of the power elements. Inspectors also check the certification labeling (UL, CE, BSI, CSA, etc.) for the destination market and ensure all electronic parts are up to standard.
- 10Inspection reportFinally, all the information is gathered into a pre-shipment inspection report listing all the failed and passed tests, relevant findings, and optional comments from the inspector. This report can be used in the case of any disputes with the manufacturer and highlight the acceptance quality limit of the production run and provide a full, uncpmpromised status of the shipment for the destination market.
Pre-Shipment Inspections in E-Commerce
Pre-shipment inspections are a must for any e-commerce store. Managing all the pre-shipment inspection processes, keeping track of all the shipments, dealing with stock, and working with multiple carriers while offering a wide array of shipping options can be a challange though. Ease the burden by using the Calcurates shipping extension for Magento 2, WooCommerce, and Shopify.
Having configured Calcurates once, you can forget about updating shipping prices, dealing with categories of products that require special handling, and guaranteeing your clients get all the tracking information on their purchases, since the extension does all that automatically for you.
Having configured Calcurates once, you can forget about updating shipping prices, dealing with categories of products that require special handling, and guaranteeing your clients get all the tracking information on their purchases, since the extension does all that automatically for you.
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