Once your loaded container is driven out the factory gate, fixing a quality issue becomes exponentially harder.
The solution? Pre-shipment inspections.
Inspect orders when production finishes, before shipping. Find defects? Fix them at the factory.
Use third-party providers, your own inspectors, or self inspections from trusted suppliers.
*** This isn’t new news—yet many still ship from China without inspections ***
Benefits of pre shipment inspections:
✅ Cheaper, faster to fix defects at the factory vs trying to fix in your DC, your stores or with your customer
✅ When defects are found preshipment, factories see firsthand = more ownership
✅ This gives maximum leverage on the factory to fix. Once shipped, there is much less leverage
✅ Protects your supply chain from disruption, your customers from defective products and your company from financial loss
Here are some controls that should be built around pre shipment inspections:
➡️ Clear specifications – Factories and inspectors need a crystal-clear definition of what good looks like (samples or detailed specs)
➡️ Fast inspection report turnaround – Review and respond within 1 business day
➡️ Verify rework – Confirm fixes are done right
➡️ Control shipping release – Your forwarder accepts shipments only with your approval
➡️ Drive corrective action – Investigate root causes of the defect. Push for improvements so the same doesn’t happen again next order.
If you’re shipping without finished goods inspections, it’s time to reconsider.
quality control
The Power of Pre Shipment Inspections
Pre-shipment inspections are a valuable control that protects your supply chain from disruption, your customers from defective products and your company from financial loss. Pre-shipment inspections have been around for decades but are still not used by many brands and retailers. Here is the case for conducting pre-shipment inspections before shipment release.
IAA
In Asia Advantage
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