Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI)

b2bsupply chain

A pre-shipment inspection is a third-party or in-house quality check performed at the factory once at least 80% of a press-on nail order is produced and packed, verifying quantity, workmanship, sizing, packaging and labeling before the goods are allowed to ship.

Trend context

PSI is the last quality gate where defects are still fixable at the supplier's cost, which is why it anchors press-on sourcing playbooks. QIMA's inspection data shows 32% of China inspections fail at least one quality check, and Mordor Intelligence values the global pre-shipment inspection market at $16.53B in 2025, growing toward $21.32B by 2030. For press-ons specifically, inspectors verify piece counts per set, size-run completeness, adhesive tab presence, surface defects like bubbles and chips, and carton drop-worthiness - a $200-$400 inspection day that protects five-figure orders and Amazon review scores.

Key fact QIMA data shows 32% of factory inspections in China fail at least one quality check, while a standard third-party pre-shipment inspection from firms like QIMA, SGS or Intertek costs about $200-$400 per day.

How to get the look

Executed as a five-part factory audit: the inspector counts packed cartons against the PO, pulls an AQL-based random sample, checks each sampled set for sizing accuracy, missing sizes or glue tabs, surface flaws and color match against the golden sample, verifies retail box artwork, barcodes and carton markings, then issues a same-day illustrated pass/fail report with defect photos. Booking requires production to be at least 80% complete; a failed report means rework or replacement before any balance payment is released.

How to wear

Schedule a PSI on every order from a new supplier for the first three to five shipments, then relax to spot checks once a factory earns a track record; always sequence it before paying the 70% balance so the report retains leverage. For tiny pilot runs, a video inspection or photographed sample pull is the budget substitute. Pairs well with AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit), Lead Time (Press-On Nails) and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid).

Related terms

AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit)Lead Time (Press-On Nails)DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)

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