Final inspection at the factory before sealing the container
We verify on the production floor that the finished goods comply with the agreed-upon documentation. This is the final check where you can still decide whether what’s being shipped is what you ordered, or whether any adjustments need to be made before shipment.
Once the container leaves, the decisions take on a different nature
It’s not a matter of a margin for error; it’s that the margin no longer exists. What is shipped determines what is received. The Pre-Shipment Inspection is the last point where the two can still match up.
The point of no return: once sealed, the container travels with whatever is inside it.
The quantity is counted, verified, and confirmed.
The difference between the amount billed and the amount received becomes a claim. The reconciliation with the supplier is done remotely, using photos, in a different time zone.
Packaging and labeling are checked based on the destination.
Incorrect labeling can prevent the product from being sold in the destination country. Relabeling 50,000 items in the warehouse is neither a quick nor a cheap option.
The merchandise is checked against the invoice and packing list.
A discrepancy in the documentation detected by customs halts the entire shipment. Storage, delays, and correction costs accumulate daily while the goods remain held up.
A single inspection. Thoroughly conducted, performed on-site
Our team goes to the factory once production is complete and the goods are packed, ready to verify what is to be shipped. We take samples, check against your invoice, and verify the documentation. Within 24 to 48 hours, you’ll receive the report so you can decide whether to approve, correct, or hold the shipment.
Before the inspection, we review your purchase order, your approved sample, your packing list, and your invoice. The verification is based on your commercial agreements, not on a universal checklist.
We schedule the visit in coordination with your supplier so that the merchandise is packed but not yet shipped. That is the exact point where quality control can still make a difference.
You’ll receive the final recommendation within 24 to 48 hours after the inspection. That gives you enough time to authorize the shipment or request adjustments from your supplier before the truck heads to the port.
Scope of service: checks to determine what is being shipped
Three verification stages with standardized criteria under our ISO 9001:2015-certified processes.
The information you need to authorize shipment
This isn’t an archive—it’s your action plan to authorize or halt a shipment before it leaves.
Release, release with comments, or hold. Information to help you decide.
Lot size, sample size, inspection level applied, critical/major/minor defects found, and comparison against the agreed-upon limit.
Quantities counted on-site and verified against the invoice and packing list. Any discrepancies are noted with supporting documentation.
Photographs organized by type of inspection (packaging, labeling, findings).
Verification of physical goods against commercial documents: invoice, packing list, certificates. No discrepancies that would cause customs to hold the shipment.
All of the above is stored in your Asia IBS portal. You can view, download, and share it with your sales, logistics, and customs teams.
Just a moment. The right one
Unlike Quality Control, which can be applied at various stages of production, pre-shipment inspection has a specific timeframe.
Production 100% Complete
All PO units have been manufactured.
Goods packed and ready
Final packaging, palletizing, and labeling according to destination.
Before closing the container
Between 3 and 5 business days before departure.
Ready for shipment
Results of the pre-shipment inspection.
We have streamlined shipping processes in every industry where a single mistake at the end costs more than the entire inspection process
Every industry has specific packaging, labeling, and documentation requirements. A Pre-Shipment Inspection for wine is not the same as one for electronics. Our inspectors are trained by industry.
What Matters When There's No Room for a Second Opinion
Pre-boarding wraps up what the previous services have ensured
If you audited the supplier (SA) and performed quality control (QC), the pre-shipment inspection confirms that the goods arrive intact in the container. If you did not perform those steps, PSI is the last available check—and the mostrigorous one.
Pre-Shipment Inspection
Questions We Are Asked Before the First Pre-Shipment Inspection
Ideally, the Pre-Shipment Inspection should be conducted a few days before shipment, so that you have sufficient time to request corrective actions, reprocessing, or a re-inspection if necessary. When the inspection is scheduled for the same day as shipment or very close to the departure date, at Asia IBS we promptly document the findings and report them to you; the decision to ship, hold, correct, or accept the risk is up to you, and our team is available to assist you with any questions.
We recommend coordinating it in advance of the Shipping Order (SO) and scheduling it once the merchandise is finished and packed, or at least when a representative sample of all models is ready. Ideally, you should allow a few days’ buffer before the shipment date, as this allows for timely corrections if any significant issues are detected.
No, they are different but complementary services. The Pre-Shipment Inspection is a final check, conducted days before the goods are shipped, designed to confirm the condition of the product and allow for last-minute corrective actions. Quality Control (QC), on the other hand, can be integrated into various stages of the production process, from initial manufacturing through packaging. The scope of each is defined based on your objectives, and we’d be happy to advise you on the combination that best suits your operation.
Yes, we inspect consolidated shipments, provided that the scope, the list of suppliers involved, the packing list, the number of SKUs, the available documentation, and a single location for the cargo are confirmed in advance. Generally, these types of inspections are conducted at consolidation warehouses or at the facilities of the supplier who receives goods from the others. To ensure a thorough inspection, it is important that the warehouse or supplier authorize the opening of all SKUs; if this is not possible, we will notify you promptly and can coordinate additional visits to each supplier to document all models.
Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, Vietnam.
Chile, Colombia, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Peru, Sri Lanka.
Cyprus, South Korea, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Slovakia, Spain, France, Greece, Honduras, Italy, Malta, Panama, Poland, Portugal.
Germany, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Slovenia, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay.
Brazil, United States
The report is delivered within 48 to 72 business hours after the audit, inspection, or review is completed. The exact timeframe may vary depending on the agreed-upon scope, the volume of information reviewed, the number of SKUs, the number of suppliers involved, and the complexity of the case. As soon as it is ready, we will share it with you for your review.
Talk to a pre-shipment specialist
To understand your product, your supplier, and your shipping schedule. We help you determine the exact date when an inspection will ensure the shipment departs on time rather than delaying it.
