Service · Shipment release
Pre-shipment inspection China (PSI): report
- What you get:
- Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) in China checks the goods at the factory and gives the buyer a report with a release recommendation.
- Turnaround:
- Same-day photo summary; formal report within two working days after inspection.
- Price:
- USD 1,250 to 2,150 per assignment, including the agreed on-site days, travel within China and reporting.
- Sample report:
- View sample (PDF)·Scope and fee example (PDF)
Send the purchase order, packing list, supplier location and readiness information to scope a PSI in China. Sinospect agrees the checks, sampling or unit-by-unit coverage and evidence needed before the goods leave the factory. The buyer receives the inspection findings and a release recommendation.
- Buyer-side control point
- Factory-side shipment release
- Where it runs
- Chinese supplier factories, packing areas and consolidation handoff points
- Engagement output
- PSI report, photo evidence, open-item log and written recommendation
Quick answers
What does a pre-shipment inspection in China include?
Sinospect carries out pre-shipment inspection in China against the order, checking quantity, visible workmanship, product identity, packing, marks and shipment documents. The report records findings and open actions for the release decision. On a buyer-direct inspection assignment Sinospect works for the buyer and is paid by the buyer only.
| Aspect | PSI focus | Buyer outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Final factory-side check before dispatch | Shipment-readiness confirmation |
| Scope | Quantity, identifiers, packing, marking, documents | Order-to-shipment reconciliation |
| Performance acceptance | Functional performance (handled by FAT) | Separate FAT tier if required |
| Decision | Evidence log plus disposition recommendation | Buyer makes the release/hold call |
What does a pre-shipment inspection in China cover?
The agreed PSI brief defines the lot, readiness for inspection, checks and sampling plan. At the agreed stage, Sinospect checks quantity, workmanship, conformity to specification, packaging, labelling and marking, sampling to an agreed AQL. Sinospect adds the order-side checks a release needs: serial-number and as-tested match, document-pack consistency and a written non-conformity disposition. The agreed PSI brief can include basic functional checks; measured performance acceptance follows the FAT protocol.
| PSI scope to agree | What Sinospect checks | Recorded as |
|---|---|---|
| Timing — production complete, goods substantially packed | The visit is booked against the supplier's confirmed ready date, so the lot is finished and packing is advanced enough to judge what actually ships | Inspection scope and date |
| Quantity | Counted against the purchase order, supplier invoice or agreed item list, then reconciled to the packing list | Packing-list reconciliation |
| Quality and workmanship | Visible workmanship, finish, visible damage and visible defects on the goods and their assemblies | Findings log with photo evidence |
| Conformity to specification | Models, variants, ratings, nameplates and accessory sets checked against the specification and the order | Specification-match record |
| Function | Agreed basic functional checks are recorded in the PSI; measured performance acceptance follows the FAT protocol before packing | PSI findings; FAT report for measured performance |
| Packaging | Cartons, pallets, crates, wrapping, moisture protection and fitness for the planned route | Transport-readiness log |
| Labelling and marking | Labels, labelling, barcodes, shipping marks, handling marks and destination references against the buyer's instructions | Marking check |
| Sampling (AQL, ISO 2859-1) | For a lot suited to sampling, record the standard and edition, inspection regime, plan, lot size, inspection level and agreed AQL for each defect class, then follow the table instructions. Verify small runs one by one where the brief requires it | Sampling basis stated in the report |
What is pre-shipment inspection (PSI) in China?
PSI in China is the final factory-side shipment-readiness gate before goods leave the supplier. It checks that the goods are the correct items, correctly packed, marked, documented and ready for dispatch, and records non-conformities. It is not a performance test: functional acceptance is handled by FAT. PSI supplies the factory-side evidence for the buyer's release decision.
| Aspect | PSI focus | Buyer outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Final factory-side check before dispatch | Shipment-readiness confirmation |
| Scope | Quantity, identifiers, packing, marking, documents | Order-to-shipment reconciliation |
| Not in scope | Functional performance (handled by FAT) | Separate FAT tier if required |
| Decision | Evidence log plus disposition recommendation | Buyer makes the release/hold call |
What control points does a pre-shipment inspection in China check before dispatch?
Sinospect checks six control points: scope, quantity and packing-list reconciliation against the purchase order; the sampling basis and AQL that govern how the lot is examined; serial-number and model match to the order and release record; packing, labelling, marking and transport readiness; document-pack consistency with the physical goods; and non-conformity disposition with the supplier response logged. Each produces a record the buyer uses to authorise dispatch.
| Control point | Items checked | Record produced |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and quantity | Purchase order, supplier invoice, item list, SKUs, models, cartons, crates | Packing-list reconciliation |
| Sampling basis | Lot size, inspection level and the accept and reject numbers for the agreed AQL under ISO 2859-1, or unit-by-unit verification for small engineered runs | Sampling basis stated in the report |
| Identifiers | Serial numbers and models tied to order and release record; FAT-unit linkage | Serial-number and model match |
| Packing and marking | Cartons, pallets, crates, labels, shipping marks, moisture protection, visible damage | Transport-readiness log |
| Document pack | Packing list, invoice structure, certificates, manuals, test records, compliance documents | Document-consistency check |
| Non-conformity | Shortages, wrong markings, damaged packing, missing documents, visible defects | Disposition and supplier response |
When is PSI in China enough, and when is FAT needed first?
PSI is often the right tier on its own for finished goods, packaging, accessories, spare parts and many repeat production runs. Complex equipment with functional acceptance criteria needs FAT first as the performance gate, then PSI before dispatch to confirm the unit that passed FAT is the unit being packed and released.
| Goods type | Control tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Finished goods, accessories, spare parts | PSI alone | Shipment-readiness focus before dispatch |
| Packaging | PSI alone | Quantity, packing, marking and document checks |
| Many repeat production runs | PSI alone | Factory-side release evidence |
| Complex equipment with functional acceptance criteria | FAT first, then PSI | Performance acceptance is not the role of PSI |
| Any unit that passed FAT | PSI after FAT | Confirms the tested unit is packed and released |
What deliverables do pre-shipment inspection companies in China provide?
Buyers receive factory-side evidence that supports, but does not replace, their release decision. Sinospect's PSI deliverables are a report with photo evidence; packing-list and serial-number reconciliation; a non-conformity and corrective-action log; a release, hold or reinspection recommendation; and a logistics handoff note. The buyer makes the final release decision.
| Deliverable | What it records | Buyer use |
|---|---|---|
| PSI report and photo evidence | Factory-side inspection findings, written and visual | Evidence base for release |
| Packing-list and serial-number reconciliation | Match between goods, packing references and identifiers | Confirms shipment identity |
| Non-conformity and corrective-action log | Shortages, wrong markings, damaged packing, missing documents, defects, supplier response | Tracks corrective action |
| Release/hold/reinspection recommendation | Sinospect's practical disposition | Guides the buyer's decision |
| Logistics handoff note | Dispatch handoff information | Supports logistics coordination |
01 · Scope
PSI checks shipment readiness against the agreed brief
PSI is booked against the supplier’s confirmed readiness and an agreed inspection brief. It checks what is physically prepared to ship. Finished goods, packaging, accessories and repeat lots may need PSI alone; complex equipment may first require FAT for performance, then PSI to confirm that the tested unit, serial numbers, accessories, packing and documents match the shipment. AQL sampling is used only when the agreed lot and purchase order make it appropriate.
It becomes useful when
- Finished goods, packaging, accessories or spare parts are leaving the supplier and need a final factory-side release standard before dispatch.
- A multi-supplier or consolidated shipment needs the same quantity, marking, packing and document standard applied before each supplier's goods enter the logistics flow.
- The buyer needs written shipment-readiness evidence before authorising release of the order from the supplier.
- Equipment has passed FAT and now needs a final PSI gate to confirm that the same tested unit, serial numbers, accessories and documents are being packed and released.
- Packing, marking or documentation mistakes could delay customs clearance, regulator review, bank review, partner review or downstream-customer acceptance.
- A visible defect, shortage, wrong marking, damaged packing or missing document must be dispositioned before goods are handed to the forwarder or consolidator.
02 · Controls and evidence
PSI-specific control points inside the QA layer
Control point
Scope, quantity and packing-list reconciliation
Sinospect checks the inspected goods against the purchase order, supplier invoice or agreed item list, then reconciles quantities, SKUs, models, variants, cartons, crates and packing-list references before release.
Control point
Sampling basis, AQL and inspection level
Before counting starts, Sinospect fixes how the lot will be examined: lot size, inspection level and the accept and reject numbers that follow from the AQL agreed in the purchase order under ISO 2859-1, recorded in the report so the result can be read back. Acceptance sampling decides the disposition of the lot rather than measuring its quality. Where the order is a small run of engineered units, a sample says little about the units not examined, so the agreed brief can require each unit to be verified instead.
Control point
Serial-number, model and as-tested match
Where the goods carry serial numbers, model references, batch numbers or equipment nameplates, Sinospect ties those identifiers to the order and the release record. When FAT came first, PSI verifies that the unit that passed FAT is the unit being packed, marked and released.
Control point
Packing, labelling, marking and transport readiness
Cartons, pallets, crates, labelling, shipping marks, handling marks, moisture protection, visible damage and transport-readiness are checked before the goods leave the supplier. Where packing is not fit for the route, the correction is handled before the logistics handoff.
Control point
Document pack verification
Packing list, commercial invoice structure, certificates, manuals, test records, country-specific compliance documents and any required shipping references are reviewed for consistency with the physical goods. The goal is a document pack that matches the shipment.
Control point
Non-conformity disposition and release authorisation
Shortages, wrong markings, damaged packing, missing documents and visible defects are logged at the release gate. Sinospect records the supplier response and issues a practical disposition: release, release with comments, hold, rework, replacement or reinspection.
Evidence reviewed
Evidence captured during the PSI tier
- Shipment scope record
- Purchase order, supplier invoice or item list checked against physical goods and packing-list references.
- Quantity, SKU, model, batch, serial-number, carton and crate references recorded where applicable.
- Visible workmanship, finish and condition of the goods and their assemblies recorded against the specification, with findings classed by severity and photographed.
- Sampling basis recorded: lot size, inspection level and the accept and reject numbers for the agreed AQL, or unit-by-unit verification where the brief requires it for a small run.
- Packing, marking and document readiness
- Carton, pallet, crate, wrapping, moisture protection and visible transport condition documented before release.
- Shipping marks, labelling, barcodes, handling marks and destination references checked against the buyer's instructions.
- Supplier corrections captured where packaging, marking or visible condition is not ready for dispatch.
- Packing list, invoice structure, certificates, manuals, test records and compliance documents checked against the goods being released.
- Packing and marking readiness record
- Carton, pallet, crate, wrapping, moisture protection and visible transport condition documented before release.
- Shipping marks, labelling, barcodes, handling marks and destination references checked against the buyer's instructions.
- Supplier corrections captured where packaging, marking or visible condition is not ready for dispatch.
- Document and disposition record
- Packing list, invoice structure, certificates, manuals, test records and compliance documents checked against the goods being released.
- Non-conformities and open items logged with severity, supplier response, corrective-action owner and target closure.
- Release, conditional release, hold, rework, replacement or reinspection recommendation prepared for the buyer's decision.
03 · Deliverables
Deliverables issued
Deliverable
For · Procurement, import and QA teamsPSI report and photo evidence
A structured record of quantity, scope, serial numbers, packing, marking, visible condition, document status and release recommendation.
Deliverable
For · Import and logistics teamsPacking-list and serial-number reconciliation
A practical cross-check tying the physical goods to the purchase order, packing list, crates, cartons, serial numbers and shipment references.
Deliverable
For · Procurement and supplier teamsNon-conformity and corrective-action log
Each shortage, damaged packing, wrong marking, missing document or visible defect recorded with supplier response and required closure evidence.
Deliverable
For · Procurement and operationsRelease, hold or reinspection recommendation
A written disposition supporting the buyer's release decision: release, release with comments, hold, rework, replacement or reinspection.
Deliverable
For · Logistics, consolidation and documentation teamsLogistics handoff note
A concise handoff of what was released, what documents are attached, what remains open and what must be watched during consolidation or dispatch.
04 · Risks controlled
Risks controlled
Risk
Goods leave the supplier with wrong quantities, wrong models or missing items.
Control response
Physical goods are reconciled against the order, packing list, item list, carton count and visible identifiers before release.
Risk
Equipment passed FAT, but the wrong unit, accessory set or crate is prepared for shipment.
Control response
PSI ties serial numbers, model references, accessories, labels and crates back to the FAT record and the approved shipment scope.
Risk
Packing or marking fails only after the goods reach the forwarder, consolidator or destination port.
Control response
Cartons, crates, pallets, labels, shipping marks and visible transport readiness are checked while the supplier can still correct them.
Risk
The document pack does not match the cargo, delaying import, regulator review, bank review, partner review or downstream-customer acceptance.
Control response
Documents are checked against the physical shipment before release so packing lists, certificates, manuals and compliance records match what is actually shipping.
Risk
Non-conformities are discussed verbally and disappear from the release record.
Control response
Each issue is logged with supplier response, corrective-action evidence and a release implication: release, conditional release, hold, rework or reinspection.
Risk
PSI is used where FAT was required, so performance defects remain invisible until installation.
Control response
Sinospect separates the tier decision first: FAT verifies technical performance; PSI verifies shipment readiness. Sinospect selects the control level during the quality-assurance review, based on the project's complexity and risk.
05 · Background resources
Related
- Service · Quality assuranceThe umbrella service where Sinospect chooses the right QA tier: spot check, PSI or FAT.
- Service · Factory acceptance testing in ChinaThe sibling depth tier for performance-tested equipment: witnessed testing against the agreed inspection-and-test plan.
- Service · Logistics & consolidationThe downstream flow after PSI release, when goods move into consolidation, forwarding, document handover and shipment.
- Service · Documentation controlThe cross-cutting layer for certificates, packing lists, test records, manuals and shipment documents.
- Resource · Certificate of conformity (COC)Why a destination may require a certificate before goods can clear customs, which party issues it, and how the inspection report feeds the application.
- Resource · Pre-shipment inspection checklistPractical checklist for quantity, serial numbers, marking, packing, documents, NCRs and release decisions.
- Resource · AQL sampling in pre-shipment inspectionHow ISO 2859-1 acceptance sampling works — lot size to accept/reject numbers, defect classes, and the purchase-order clauses that make it enforceable.
- Resource · Inspection companies in China, by jobFlat-rate consumer-goods inspection, programme certificates and lab tests: the firms built for each, and where Sinospect’s PSI fits.
- Resource · The controlled order packageWhere the PSI record and the order’s QC evidence live — one bilingual, version-controlled order package that supports the release decision.
- Resource · FAT vs SATThe boundary between the factory acceptance test and the site acceptance test — and where the PSI release gate sits between the two.
- Selected field notesAnonymised examples of supplier-side findings, release decisions and shipment-readiness work.
06 · Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I book a pre-shipment inspection in China?
Send the order, packing list, supplier location and readiness information. Sinospect agrees the inspection scope and evidence with the buyer before the visit.
What does the China PSI report contain?
The report records the quantity and identity checks, visible condition, packing, marking, documents, sampling basis and open findings covered by the assignment.
Should I choose PSI or a FAT witness in China?
PSI checks shipment readiness. FAT witnessing records agreed functional and performance tests; an equipment order can use FAT before packing followed by PSI before dispatch.
Who pays Sinospect for a buyer-direct inspection?
On a buyer-direct inspection assignment Sinospect works for the buyer and is paid by the buyer only. The buyer retains the final release decision.
Does a pre-shipment inspection get me the certificate of conformity my broker is asking for?
Not on its own. A certificate of conformity is issued by the authorised or accredited conformity-assessment body appointed for the destination programme; neither Sinospect nor the supplier can issue one. Establish first whether this destination requires a certificate for this product, ideally before the order is placed. Where it does, the request for certification is lodged with that body first, with the supplier's documents and the importer's destination-side documents, so the body can schedule its own inspection. Only where the programme accepts another inspector's report does the inspection come first and the report go with the request. Sinospect can help identify the applicable route and assemble the factory-side evidence the body asks for.
How do I know if PSI is enough, or if I only need a spot check?
That decision belongs in the Quality Assurance stage. Selection is based on product value, technical complexity, repeat-order history, downstream consequence if something is wrong, and how much evidence the buyer needs before release. A small repeat order may need only a spot check; a shipment with many cartons, markings, documents or destination requirements usually justifies PSI.
Is PSI a performance test?
No. PSI is a shipment-readiness gate. It checks quantity, identity, visible condition, packing, marking, document pack and release status. If the buyer needs witnessed performance testing, operating sequence verification or measured technical acceptance, the right tier is FAT, not PSI alone.
What does release authorisation mean?
On a buyer-direct order the buyer makes the release decision; on an order Sinospect supplies, Sinospect decides its own factory release. In both cases the factory-side evidence is the same: what was inspected, what matched, what deviated, what documents were present, what non-conformities remain open and whether the practical recommendation is release, release with comments, hold, rework or reinspection.
What happens if PSI finds a problem?
The issue is logged and dispositioned before release. Depending on severity, the supplier may correct packing, replace goods, update documents, relabel cartons, provide missing certificates, accept a conditional release or hold the shipment for reinspection. The outcome is recorded so the logistics team does not inherit an undocumented problem.
When during production is a pre-shipment inspection run?
At the end of it. The visit is placed once production is complete and the goods are substantially packed, at or beyond 80% packed, because the point of the check is what is about to leave. Sinospect books the visit against the supplier's confirmed ready date. If the lot is still in production or packing has yet to start, the visit moves: the report covers the shipment as it will leave.
07 · Getting started
What to send — so we know what 'ready to ship' means
Send what you have now — enough to identify the order, reach the factory and judge the goods against your specification; final packing documents or prior QA records can follow.
Purchase order and shipment details
Quantities, who is shipping, and the expected ready date the inspection has to hit.
Technical specification or cahier des charges
The basis for accept or hold — what the goods have to be before they ship.
Inspection requirements
AQL level, standards, and any earlier FAT result that needs closing out.
Supplier and factory details
Where the goods are and the supplier-side contact for access and scheduling.
Destination and document needs
Market, and the customs or lender documents the shipment file has to carry.
Send the documents available. Sinospect identifies the information needed to define the scope.
Check the shipment before it leaves China
Send the PO or order scope, supplier ready date and any packing, marking or destination requirements you have. Sinospect acknowledges the request within one business day. When the file is sufficient, the initial written assessment follows within two business days with what will be checked and the earliest feasible inspection timing; otherwise, Sinospect identifies what is missing. Once booked, Sinospect inspects before dispatch and issues the report your team uses to release the shipment, hold it or request corrections.