MM SEMINAR OF BASIC INSPECTION AND PROCEDURE

1. BASIC INSPECTION AND PROCEDURE
NAME:M.DEEPAN
ROLL NO:222ME15
BRANCH:MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2. What is a Pre-Shipment Inspection?
A pre-shipment inspection is a step taken by trade operators
(buyers, suppliers, agencies) to inspect newly manufactured
products before they are shipped for export/import.
The purposes of a pre-shipment inspection are to:
•Check the quantity and quality of the merchandise
•Check products for any defects
•Ensure products meet the safety requirements of the
destination market
•Issue report for import and billing
Pre-shipment inspections were officially

3. introduced in 1994 as an agreement to improve international
trade standards under the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT), which was later replaced by the World Trade
Organisation (WTO).
A number of obligations were included in the “Agreement on
Pre-Shipment Inspection,” stating that pre-shipment
investigations should be applied according to the following
principles:
•Non-discrimination
•Transparency
•Protection of confidential business information
•Avoidance of delays
•Price verification based on the price of

4. identical or similar goods in the country of exportation, in
which the exporter has the opportunity to explain the price
charged
•Inspection agencies establish appeals procedures, the
findings of which are made available to other exporters
Accredited inspection agencies perform pre-shipment
inspections when production is at least 80% complete. This is
your final opportunity to take corrective action before your
production is shipped, making it an effective tool to
safeguard your product against costly import risks.
The pre-shipment inspection typically covers: functionality,
performance, durability, overall appearance, and dimensions.
Following a successful pre-shipment inspection, the agency
issues an inspection report document

5. which accompanies the consignment to its destination.
7 Important Steps in a Pre-Shipment
Inspection Procedure
Step 1. Inspection Visit
Pre-shipment inspections are carried out on-site at the
factory or production house. If the inspectors suspect that
the products could contain restricted chemicals, they may
advise further off-site lab testing of those products. An
example would be products suspected of containing toxic
chemicals such as lead and toxins derived from azo dyes,
which are tightly regulated by Europe’s REACH directives and
the Federal Trade Commission in the US.

6. Step 2. Quantity Verification
The inspectors count the shipping cartons to verify the
correct quantity. In addition, this step ensures that the
correct number of products and boxes will be sent to the
correct destination; therefore, the pre-shipment inspection
can be agreed upon between a buyer, a supplier, and a bank
to initiate payment for a letter of credit.
The packaging is also checked to verify that the correct
packing materials are being used to ensure safe
transportation, and that correct packaging labels are applied.
Step 3. Random Selection
Professional pre-shipment inspection services use the
internationally recognized statistical

7. sampling procedure ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 (ISO 2859-1).
The acceptable number of defects in a batch before it’s
rejected is defined with an Acceptance Quality Limit (AQL).
The AQL varies depending on the type of product being
evaluated, but the objective is to provide a balanced,
unbiased view.
Step 4. Cosmetic and Workmanship Check
The first thing an inspector looks at from the random
selection is the overall workmanship of the finished
products, to check for any immediately visible defects.
Defects are typically classified as minor, major, or critical
based on predetermined acceptable tolerance levels, which
are usually agreed upon between the manufacturer and
supplier during

8. product development.
Step 5. Conformity Verification
Quality control inspectors check product dimensions,
material and construction, weight, color, marking, and
labeling. If the pre-shipment inspection is for garments, the
inspector checks whether correct sizes have been assigned to
the shipment and that the sizes correspond with production
dimensions and the labels.
For other products, dimensions may be much more
important, so this is when the dimensions of the finished
product can be measured and compared with your original
specifications.
Step 6. Function and Safety Test

9. Function Testing for Garments
For garment, apparel and footwear inspections, the
inspectors perform physical tests on the products to
determine the strength of buttons, zippers, and other
accessories with pull tests, fatigue tests, and stretch tests.
Fabric density and composition tests determine the density
or thickness of fabrics used in garment production. Special
tools are used to measure fabric density. The quality control
inspectors can also physically count the number of stitches
per inch.
A fabric that’s too thin or not dense enough could mean your
manufacturer has used an inferior fabric or textile that won’t
stand up to normal wearing and washing.

10. Mechanical Safety Tests
Mechanical safety tests are required for products with
moving parts such as bicycles and pushchairs that could
potentially cause injuries if they are defective.
The inspection involves testing the product’s shape and
design to see whether there are any sharp edges or parts
that could pinch or entrap fingers, toes, and other
appendages.
Mechanical safety testing includes checking the safety of
critical components such as screws and hinges used in a
completed product.
Electrical Safety Testing
Electrical and electronic products must be tested

11. to ensure they comply with a wide range of safety
regulations before they can be certified and labeled.
Evaluating a product for electrical safety is often performed
under laboratory conditions rather than on-site at the
factory. It includes the following tests:
•High voltage test (dielectric withstand test) - Measures the
ability of an electrical product to withstand a high voltage
applied between a product’s electrical circuit and the
ground.
•Leakage current test - Evaluates whether current that flows
between an AC source and the ground exceeds a specified
limit.
•Insulation resistance test - Calibrates the quality of the
electrical insulation used.
•Ground continuity test - Ensures that a clear path is
available between all exposed metal

12. surfaces and the power system ground.
Country-Specific Labels & Markings for Electrical Products
What are the country-specific labels and markings for
electronic products? The type of electrical safety testing
required depends on the type of product as well as the
destination market.
•UL Certification Mark - Underwriters' Electrical Bureau for
the U.S. federal agency Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA).
•CE Marking - The CE mark is recognized worldwide and
indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental
protection standards for products sold within the European
Economic Area (EEA).

13. •VDE e.V. (Germany) - The VDE Association for Electrical,
Electronic & Information Technologies (Verband der
Elektrotechnik, Elektronik und Informationstechnik) is a
standard widely recognized in Germany and internationally
for electrical engineering, developing recognized technical
regulations as national and international standards as well as
testing and certifying electrical and electronic devices and
systems.
•CSA (Canada) - The Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
registered mark shows that a product has been
independently tested and certified to meet recognized
standards for safety or performance required for Canada.
•BSI (UK) - The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the
national standards body of the

14. United Kingdom. BSI produces technical standards on a wide
range of products and services, and also supplies certification
and standards-related services to businesses.
•CCC Mark (China) - The China Compulsory Certificate mark
(CCC) is a compulsory safety mark for many products
imported, sold, or used in the Chinese market