DUPRO & PSI Inspection Guide — During Production and Pre-Shipment Inspection from China

Quality problems caught after your container arrives at the port cost 10-20x more to fix than problems caught during production in China. DUPRO (During Production Inspection) and PSI (Pre-Shipment Inspection) are the two most important quality checkpoints in any China sourcing order. This guide explains exactly what each inspection covers, when to book them, what inspectors check, and how to read the reports.

What is a DUPRO Inspection?

DUPRO (During Production Inspection), also called an In-Process Inspection or IPI, is conducted when 20-30% of the production run is complete. At this stage, enough units have been produced to identify systematic defects — but early enough that the factory can correct problems before the entire batch is finished. For a brand-new supplier, we also recommend running a factory audit before the first DUPRO so the production environment is validated up front.

When to book a DUPRO

• Orders where defects are costly to fix post-production (electronics, furniture, garments with complex construction)
• First orders with a new supplier
• Orders with tight specifications or complex assembly
• Any order where you've had quality issues before

What DUPRO inspectors check

DUPRO report outputs

• Defect rate at inspection stage
• Photo evidence of each issue found
• Production schedule assessment
• Recommendation: Continue / Hold / Re-inspect

What is a PSI (Pre-Shipment Inspection)?

A PSI (Pre-Shipment Inspection), also called a Final Random Inspection (FRI), is conducted when at least 80% of the production run is complete and packaged, ready for shipment. This is the last checkpoint before goods are loaded into the container.

When to book a PSI

• Every order above $5,000 — the inspection cost is always less than the cost of a defective shipment
• Especially important for first orders with any supplier
• Orders where the factory has had previous quality issues

What PSI inspectors check

PSI report outputs

• Overall result: Pass / Fail / Pending
• AQL defect count by category
• Photo evidence for every finding
• Carton and product measurements
• Recommendation on whether to ship

AQL Standards — What the Numbers Mean

AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) defines the maximum defect rate considered acceptable in a batch. It determines how many units are inspected and how many defects are allowed before a batch fails.

Sample size

AQL inspection sample sizes are determined by the total order quantity and the inspection level (usually General Inspection Level II):

Defect categories

• Critical defects (AQL 0): Safety hazards, legal violations, total non-conformance. Zero tolerance — any critical defect = FAIL.
• Major defects (AQL 2.5): Functional failures, significant appearance issues. Standard allowance: max 2.5% of inspected sample.
• Minor defects (AQL 4.0): Small cosmetic issues that don't affect function. Standard allowance: max 4.0% of inspected sample.

Most Elite Global Trade inspections use Critical: 0 / Major: 2.5 / Minor: 4.0. This is the industry standard for B2B importers.

DUPRO vs PSI — Which Do You Need?

Our recommendation: For orders above $10,000 or with a new supplier, book BOTH a DUPRO and a PSI. The combined cost ($400-800) is a fraction of the cost of a rejected shipment, rework at destination, or a dissatisfied end customer. Pair this with proper supplier verification up front and quality risk drops sharply.

For repeat orders with trusted suppliers with a clean track record: PSI only is usually sufficient.

How to Read a DUPRO or PSI Report

A professional inspection report contains:

1. Cover page — order details, inspection date, factory name and address, inspector ID
2. Summary — overall result (Pass/Fail/Pending), key findings at a glance
3. Quantity check — units produced vs ordered, units available for inspection
4. AQL sampling — sample size, defects found by category, pass/fail determination
5. Defect log — every defect found with description, category (critical/major/minor), quantity affected and photo evidence
6. Measurement report — dimensions checked against spec sheet
7. Function test results — for electronic or mechanical products
8. Packaging check — carton markings, inner packaging, barcodes
9. Conclusion & recommendation

What to do when a report shows FAIL

• Do not authorise shipment until the root cause is identified
• Request a corrective action plan from the factory within 48 hours
• Book a re-inspection after corrective actions are completed
• For serious failures, consider whether this supplier relationship should continue

DUPRO & PSI Inspection Costs in China

Inspection costs vary by:

• Location (major cities vs remote factories)
• Product complexity
• Report turnaround time
• Inspection body (international vs local)

Typical cost ranges

• Standard DUPRO (half day): $200-400
• Standard PSI (full day): $200-400
• Combined DUPRO + PSI: $400-700
• Express 24-hour report: add $50-100
• Re-inspection after failure: $200-400

How to book

Elite Global Trade coordinates DUPRO and PSI inspections across all major Chinese manufacturing regions — Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Fujian and beyond. We book inspectors with category-specific experience and manage the full process: booking, on-site inspection, report delivery and corrective action follow-up.

Typical timeline

• Booking to inspection: 2-5 business days
• Report delivery: within 24-48 hours of inspection
• Re-inspection (if needed): 48-72 hours after corrective actions

Frequently Asked Questions