TL;DR: Three types of quality inspection in China. Pre-shipment inspection at the end. During-production inspection in the middle. Factory audit at the beginning. Each costs $250-500. Together they form a QC system that catches problems when they can still be fixed.
Quality inspection in China is not one thing. It is three things at three different times. The importers who use all three rarely receive bad product. The ones who only do the final check sometimes catch problems. The ones who skip inspection entirely are gambling.
The Three Inspection Types
| Type | When | Cost | What It Catches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory Audit | Before you place an order | $300-500 | Whether the factory is even real |
| During-Production (DUPRO) | 20-30% through production | $250-400 | Process errors, wrong materials |
| Pre-Shipment (PSI) | 100% produced, before shipping | $250-400 | Final quality, workmanship, packaging |
Pre-Shipment Inspection
This is what most importers mean when they say QC. The inspector samples the finished goods using AQL 2.5 statistical sampling. They check dimensions, materials, workmanship, function, packaging, and labeling. Report delivered within 24 hours.
The limitation is timing. If the PSI fails, production is already complete. The factory has to rework or remake, which delays shipment. You have limited leverage because the goods exist and the factory wants to be paid.
During-Production Inspection
DUPRO catches problems when they can still be fixed without delaying shipment. The inspector visits when 20-30 percent of production is complete. They check the first units off the line. If something is wrong, the factory adjusts the remaining 70-80 percent.
DUPRO costs the same as PSI but delivers far more value. The problem is that most importers do not know to ask for it.
Factory Audit
A factory audit happens before you place any order. It answers one question: is this factory real. The auditor checks the business license, production equipment, QC systems, and worker conditions. A factory that passes an audit is not guaranteed to deliver quality. A factory that refuses an audit is guaranteed not to.
The Smart Sequence
Audit first. If the factory passes, place your order. DUPRO second. If the early production looks right, let them finish. PSI third. If the final goods pass, pay the balance and ship.
Three inspections totaling $800-1,200 to protect a $20,000 order is 4-6 percent of order value. That is cheap insurance.
Written by Xinya Zhang. I do factory audits and QC inspections across Shandong, Zhejiang, and Guangdong. Tell me what you need checked