Pre-shipment Inspection -PSI
Pre-shipment Inspection is part of Third-Party Inspection activities – which is generally performed by a competent / accredited Third Party Inspection Agency. The accredited Third Party Inspection Agencies are chosen by Buyer or Supplier because TPI organizations are independent organizations being accredited by the Competent Authority /Accreditation Body based on ISO 17020 compliance requirements including competency for delivery of Inspection Services. So, any buyer / Supplier can trust the outcome of Inspection results of an accredited Inspection Agency. So, while choosing the Inspection Agency the client can look into the credentials / Competency / Experience of the Inspection agency to perform the Pre-shipment Inspection.
About Pre-shipment Inspection
Pre-shipment Inspection is an Inspection activity that is performed to do the inspection of the product, Product Quality, Product Quantity, Leveling, Functional Test, safety, Packing, Marking, etc prior to shipment of the product to the destination. Pre-shipment Inspection criteria depend on the Buyer and supplier agreement and other Terms & Condition Related to the Products.
Pre-shipment Inspection Process
During the Pre-shipment Inspection activities, the Third-Party Inspection Agency does the following activities (But it is not Limited). The Pre-shipment Inspection activities may change based on Buyer requirements. Generally, the most common pre-shipment Inspection activities are given below
- Sampling Plan and Sample Selection
- Quality Verification (Dimensional Inspection / Comparison with Sample)
- Measuring / Testing Equipment Functional Test and Calibration Status
- Quantity Verification
- Visual Inspection (Aesthetic Look verification- If any)
- Workmanship Verification
- Functional Test
- Witnessing of Test (If any requirements)
- Label and Marking Verification
- Packing verification
Pre-shipment Inspection Report
Generally, the Third-Party Inspection Agency used its own standard Pre-shipment Inspection reporting method – But as per the Buyer’s requirement the pre-shipment inspection report can be modified to suit the requirement of the buyer, it is mutual agreement between Third Party Inspection Agency and Buyer.
Standard Pre-shipment Inspection reporting covers the Followings
- Inspection Report Number
- Buyers Order Reference Number
- Product Name and Product Number
- Date of Inspection
- Place of Inspection
- Sampling plan and Sample Qty
- Instruments Functional and Calibration observation
- Dimensional Inspection observation
- Quantity Verified / Total Quantity
- Visual Inspection observation
- Product Workmanship observations
- Functional Test Results
- Witnessing Test Results
- Label and Marking verification and Observation
- Packing verification and Observation
Apart from these Inspection Observation – The Inspection agency takes Photographs of each and every activity of the Inspection attached to the Pre-shipment Inspection report to justify the observation of the Pre-shipment Inspection. In some cases, buyers may require the live Inspection video recording also. So, if such a requirement the Third-Party Inspection Agency takes the Video of a Live Pre-shipment Inspection and submits it to the Buyer Along with the Inspection Report.
Cost of Pre-shipment Inspection Activities
Cost of Pre-shipment activities – As such there is no standard defined on the cost of Pre-shipment Inspection activities. Third-party Inspection services are professional services. So the Cost of Pre-shipment Inspection activities is mutually agreed upon between Buyer and Third Party Inspection Agency.
Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency
We are one of the Leading Third-Party Inspection agencies offering many types of Inspection services including Pre-shipment Inspections for the last many years.