In brief
Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) is an inspection of goods at the supplier's site before dispatch so that deviations are detected before delivery.
Contents
What is Pre-shipment inspection?
In a pre-shipment inspection, the finished goods ready for dispatch are inspected at the supplier's location before they leave the factory. Typical inspection points are the quantity, identity and version of the items, marking and nameplates, workmanship and external condition, random dimensional and functional checks, packaging and the completeness of the accompanying documents.
The advantage lies in the timing. Errors can be corrected with little effort before shipment; after arrival at the customer, by contrast, return and replacement delivery are lengthy and expensive, especially for deliveries from abroad. The inspection is frequently carried out by independent inspection bodies or by the buyer itself, often using sampling plans in accordance with ISO 2859-1.
There is also officially mandated pre-shipment inspection: some importing countries require a conformity inspection before shipment for certain goods as a prerequisite for customs clearance. Which programmes apply depends on the destination country and the product category.
In practice: maintenance and procurement
For spare parts with long lead times, inspection before shipment prevents a wrong version from being discovered only weeks later. Inspection scope and acceptance criteria should already be specified in the purchase order.
Synonyms and abbreviations: PSI · pre-dispatch inspection · final random inspection (FRI) · pre-shipment check
Frequently asked questions
When is a pre-shipment inspection worthwhile?
It is particularly useful with new or little-known suppliers, high order values, custom-made items and parts with long replenishment lead times. Inspection on site also provides certainty when a defect would only become apparent during installation or a complaint over a long distance would be difficult. For low-value standard parts from known sources, the effort is often disproportionate.
What does a pre-shipment inspection report contain?
An inspection report typically contains the order reference, inspection date and location, scope of inspection and sample size, the characteristics checked, deviations found with classification by severity, photos and an overall result such as pass or fail. On this basis, the buyer decides whether the goods are released, reworked or re-inspected.
Does a pre-shipment inspection replace incoming inspection?
Not completely. The inspection at the supplier covers workmanship and condition at the time of inspection. At goods receipt, it still has to be checked whether the inspected goods have arrived complete and undamaged and match the documents. However, the scope of the incoming inspection can be reduced considerably after a passed pre-shipment inspection.