Process
Re-shipment acceptance sampling, involving inspection, andRandom selection
* At the 80 percent completion point, random pieces are pulled. The goal is 8 and 2: for every ten products, two are allowed defects. If There are more, and the entire batch may be pulled. * ANSI / ASQC Z1.4 (ISO 2859-1) is the international standard for the inspection process. The Acceptable Quality Limit, AQL, is previously determined by agreement of importer and manufacturer and is a necessary part of the contractual agreement.Defects
There are three levels of defects in a pre-shipment inspection with each defect escalating into the next. * Small - Defects of this level will not affect functionality like small miscolorations. * Major - The defects are problematic and must be resolved immediately. The manufacturer risks the entire batch in this case. * Critical - The batch has serious issues and is refused. Products involving chemicals such as cosmetics, often require professional laboratories to complete the inspection.Compliance
The inspection team covers the order and shipment. That is perhaps the most detailed of all the process and is when issues are most likely discovered. This step takes considerable time but importers consider it to be the ''de facto'' part of the inspection process.Functionality
Does the product work in its intended manner, which is important for electronics, toys, and the like.Safety
UL, CE, BSI, CSA, FDA, etc. Are all parts of a safety check. It is of the best interest of the importer to be sure that all products meet the requirements, particularly for machinery and any product using electricity.Inspection companies
There are two types of PSI companies: *Free-market companies which are privately owned, selling their services to the market. Risks involved might be, especially if it is a smaller company, that the company is paid by the manufacturer and working in its interest. The two largest pre-inspection private and free market companies are SGS and Bivac. *State owned inspection companies: only very few companies operating on the market are state-owned or partly state-owned. The shareholding of governmental institutions guarantees independence and objectivity. A higher form of the PSI is calledTermination on the PSI requirement
PSI increases burdens and costs in international trade and can be counter-productive for the country of importation and its traders. Several countries are considering termination on the use of inspection companies' service, following upon WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation Article 10.5 Pre-shipment Inspection : 5.1. Members shall not require the use of pre-shipment inspections in relation to tariff classification and customs valuation. In 1988,Particular reasons for pre-inspections from Chinese manufacturers
Many manufacturers in China have reputations that are far from positive. Cutting corners, using sub par raw materials and other methods to raise profits are common. This often works in the manufacturer's favor as the importing country and customer often lacks both the means and labor to return products to China. Refunds can pose to be equally difficult as manufacturers will not return email, refuse to answer phones or feign ignorance of the order. A quality pre-shipment inspection on Chinese products helps keep these issues to a minimum.References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pre-Shipment Inspection Procurement Quality management