Sourcing glossary
Pre-Shipment Inspection
Also known as: PSI, Final Random Inspection, FRI
A quality check carried out when production is at least 80% complete and packed, in which an inspector samples finished goods before the buyer pays the balance and the goods ship.
A pre-shipment inspection normally covers quantity, workmanship against the AQL plan, functional checks, measurements, packaging and labelling. It is the buyer's last practical chance to have defects fixed in the factory.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Fairs
How to Plan a China Sourcing Trip: Cities, Itinerary, Visas
Plan a 5–7 day China sourcing trip: cities by product, a sample Guangzhou and Yiwu itinerary, visa-free entry rules, mobile payments and a factory checklist.
Updated 2026-09-26 · 6 min read
QC
AQL Explained: How Pre-Shipment Inspection Sampling Works
What AQL means in product inspection, how sample sizes are chosen, and which AQL levels importers typically set for critical, major and minor defects.
Updated 2026-09-26 · 3 min read
Private label
Custom Packaging from China: Options, Printing, MOQs and Labels
How to order custom packaging from China: poly bags, colour boxes, mailers and inserts, printing methods, MOQs, dielines, barcodes and origin marking.
Updated 2026-09-24 · 5 min read
Platforms
Alibaba Trade Assurance: What It Covers and How to Claim
What Alibaba.com Trade Assurance covers and excludes, which payments qualify, refund windows, delivery-delay compensation and how to file a claim.
Updated 2026-09-23 · 5 min read
Compliance
CE, UKCA, FCC and CPC: Product Certifications for Imports from China
What CE, UKCA, FCC and the US Children's Product Certificate mean, which products need them, who is responsible, and how to check a supplier's certificate.
Updated 2026-09-22 · 7 min read
QC
Defective Goods from China: What to Do When Your Order Arrives Wrong
Defective goods from a Chinese supplier? How to document evidence, use your PO terms, negotiate a fix, file Trade Assurance or insurance claims, and prevent repeats.
Updated 2026-09-21 · 5 min read
Part of Quality Control.