Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI)
On-Ground Verification Before Your Goods Leave Vietnam
Dewin's team physically visits the factory. We check finished goods against your specs — dimensions, appearance, function, packaging, and COO documentation — before the container is sealed. Real photos. Real measurements. 24-hour report.
What Is Pre-Shipment Inspection?
Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) — also called Final Random Inspection (FRI) — is an independent quality check performed at the factory when production is 80–100% complete and before goods are loaded into containers for export.
Dewin's on-ground team selects a random sample of finished units using internationally standardized AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) sampling tables, and inspects against your approved specifications: dimensions, appearance, function, labeling, packaging, and documentation.
Within 24 hours, you receive a full photographic PSI report. If the batch passes, shipment proceeds. If it fails, the factory corrects before loading — at their cost.
Order Flow — Where PSI Fits
Dolphin Audit + PSI — Dual-Layer Quality Protection
Dewin's quality system operates on two levels. The Dolphin Audit qualifies the factory. PSI verifies each shipment. Together, they close every quality gap.
Dolphin Audit
Factory-level qualification. Done once (refreshed annually). Scores the factory's quality system.
- 50-point scoring across 5 pillars
- Quality System & Certifications
- Equipment Inventory & Calibration
- Process Control & Documentation
- Workforce Competency
- Facilities & Safety Compliance
Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI)
Order-level verification. Done every shipment (or periodic). Verifies each batch actually conforms.
- AQL random sampling (ISO 2859-1)
- Dimensional verification
- Visual & cosmetic check
- Functional testing
- Packaging & labeling audit
- COO documentation review
Dolphin Audit Pillars × PSI Relevance
| Dolphin Audit Pillar | What It Qualifies in the Factory | How It Enables Better PSI |
|---|---|---|
| Quality System & Certifications | ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 / AS9100 status, QMS documentation, internal audit history | Factory QC records are reliable; PSI inspector can reference internal inspection data |
| Equipment & Calibration | Metrology equipment on-site (CMM, VMM, hardness tester, gauges), calibration certs | Dewin PSI can use factory's own calibrated instruments, reducing inspection cost and time |
| Process Control & Documentation | Process traveler, work instructions, inspection plans, SPC records | Enables PSI to cross-check production records vs physical parts — catch process drift early |
| Workforce Competency | Operator training records, QC inspector qualifications, 5S discipline | Trained operators produce fewer defects; PSI acts as statistical verification of process output |
| Facilities & Safety Compliance | Clean room, ESD controls, environmental conditions, customs documentation | COO documentation and FTA certificate preparation traceable to factory-level compliance records |
What Dewin PSI Covers
Every PSI follows Dewin's 8-category inspection checklist. You receive a full photographic report within 24 hours.
Dimensional Verification
- ✓ Critical dimensions vs drawing
- ✓ GD&T callout spot checks
- ✓ Caliper / CMM / VMM records
- ✓ Tolerance conformance evidence
Visual & Cosmetic
- ✓ Surface finish & texture
- ✓ Color delta-E (where applicable)
- ✓ Burrs, scratches, voids, cracks
- ✓ Plating / coating uniformity
Functional Testing
- ✓ Fit & assembly check
- ✓ Torque / pull-out / load test
- ✓ Electrical continuity (electronics)
- ✓ Sealing & leak checks
Packaging & Labeling
- ✓ Inner / outer carton condition
- ✓ Label accuracy & legibility
- ✓ Part numbers & rev levels
- ✓ Qty per carton vs PO
Documentation
- ✓ Material certs vs spec
- ✓ RoHS / REACH compliance docs
- ✓ Heat treatment / plating records
- ✓ Factory QC test reports
Country of Origin
- ✓ Certificate of Origin review
- ✓ Substantial transformation check
- ✓ No transshipment evidence
- ✓ Invoice / packing list alignment
AQL Sampling
- ✓ ISO 2859-1 Level II tables
- ✓ AQL 2.5 standard (1.0 optional)
- ✓ Sample size by order qty
- ✓ Accept/reject documented
Photographic Evidence
- ✓ Factory floor production photos
- ✓ Packing process photos
- ✓ Defect closeups (if any found)
- ✓ Sealed carton confirmation
Factories with In-House Inspection Equipment
These Dewin-audited factories have in-house metrology equipment that enables comprehensive, cost-efficient PSI without coordinating external labs.
NAPEC Precision CNC Machining
Full GD&T dimensional inspection, Cpk-capable, FAI/PPAP support
HDP Precision Mechanical Engineering
Non-contact optical measurement, complex 2D profiles, FAI documentation
Huynh Duc Production Trading Services
Full GD&T inspection, multi-process (machining + sheet metal), FAI/PPAP capability
Hirata Precision Industrial VN
Optical non-contact inspection, lot traceability, Japanese QC culture
Ming Chuan Electronic Technology VN
L*a*b* delta-E measurement, color QC records, appearance conformance
Lidovit Trading and Industrial
Rockwell/Brinell hardness cert, lot traceability with QR/barcode scanning
Dewin's 6-Step PSI Process
No remote inspections. No paper-based self-reporting. Our team physically visits the factory.
Inspection Booking
You share drawings, specs, AQL requirement, and production completion timeline. Dewin schedules the inspector within 48–72 hours of production completion notification.
Factory Visit & Production Verification
Inspector confirms qty produced vs PO, reviews factory's own QC records and material certs, and verifies the correct factory (not a subcontractor) is producing.
AQL Random Sampling
Inspector independently selects sample units from finished goods inventory. Sample size per ISO 2859-1 General Level II. Not factory-selected — truly random.
8-Category Inspection
Dimensional, visual, functional, labeling, packaging, documentation, COO verification, and photographic evidence — all completed in a single factory visit.
24-Hour Report Delivery
Full PSI report with photos, AQL tally, defect classification (critical / major / minor), and Pass/Fail decision delivered before shipment authorization.
Ship Auth or Corrective Action
Pass → shipment authorized. Fail → corrective action negotiated at factory cost, re-inspection scheduled. Critical defects trigger Dolphin audit escalation.
Dewin PSI vs Unverified Sourcing
What buyers experience when they skip on-ground inspection.
| Factor | Dewin PSI | No PSI / Self-Managed |
|---|---|---|
| Defect discovery timing | At factory — before loading | After delivery — too late to act cheaply |
| Corrective action cost | Factory bears cost for their defects | Buyer bears sorting + return shipping |
| AQL methodology | ISO 2859-1 standardized | Ad hoc or none |
| Inspection independence | Dewin team — neutral, buyer-aligned | Factory self-report — conflict of interest |
| COO verification | Full review before shipment | No review — tariff risk if CBP audits |
| Photographic evidence | Full photo report per shipment | Factory self-reported, unverified |
| Dolphin audit integration | PSI escalates to Dolphin team if critical defects found | No escalation path — issues repeat |
| FTA documentation readiness | CPTPP / EVFTA / RCEP / UKVFTA docs verified | No verification — FTA benefit at risk |
PSI + FTA COO Documentation
Vietnam's 16+ Free Trade Agreements give buyers significant duty advantages — but only if COO documentation is correct. Dewin PSI includes FTA document verification.
* US not yet a CPTPP member — most relevant for CA, AU, JP, SG buyers
Strong duty reductions on industrial goods — growing fast since 2020 ratification
Largest FTA by GDP coverage — covers most APAC buyer countries
Post-Brexit Vietnam-UK bilateral agreement, in force from 2021
Pre-Shipment Inspection FAQ
What is Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI)?
How does PSI connect to the Dolphin Audit?
Which factories in Dewin's network support in-house metrology for PSI?
Does Dewin PSI verify COO documentation for FTA and tariff compliance?
Quality Verified Before It Leaves Vietnam
Dewin's team physically visits your factory. We check finished goods against your specs, sample per AQL tables, verify COO docs, and deliver a full photographic report — all before the container is sealed.