Sourcing guide · Quality control
Pre-shipment inspection:
the checklist that pays
Inspection costs a fraction of a container and catches the mistakes that would otherwise arrive as chargebacks. This is what a real inspection covers, and what the report should contain.
Why inspect before loading, not after arrival
Once a container is sealed and sailing, your only remedies are expensive: air-freight replacements, negotiated credits, or selling seconds. A pre-shipment inspection happens while the goods are still in the factory, where a defect can actually be fixed, replaced or excluded from the load.
How much to inspect: AQL sampling
Inspection is not "look at every piece". It uses AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) sampling: a statistically valid number of cartons are drawn from the finished batch and inspected against a defect threshold. Typical practice treats critical defects (safety, structural failure) with zero tolerance, and major/minor defects on tighter limits than cosmetic ones. On a 1,000-piece order an AQL inspection may draw 80 pieces — enough to judge the batch without opening everything.
The checklist by category
| Area | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Quantity & identity | Carton count against the packing list; model numbers and labels match the PO |
| Packaging | Carton strength and print, inner protection, hardware bag, assembly instructions, barcode/label placement |
| Dimensions | Key dimensions measured against the approved specification sheet |
| Appearance | Upholstery stitching, colour consistency between pieces and against the approved swatch, finish defects, scuffs |
| Function | Gas lift travel, tilt and lock, caster roll and spin, armrest adjustment, assembly trial on a sample |
| Structure | Weld quality, base flatness, screw hole alignment, load/rock testing where applicable |
Colour lots: the defect buyers forget to check
Fabric is dyed in lots. Two production batches of the same colour can differ visibly under daylight. This is why the approved swatch must travel to the inspection, and why a report should include photographs of the checked pieces side by side with the swatch. If your order spans several fabric lots, ask for them to be loaded so that each carton in a set matches.
What a usable report contains
- Date, inspector, factory, PO reference and batch size inspected.
- Sample size and AQL levels applied, with defects classified critical / major / minor.
- Photographs: carton labels, packaging, defects found, measurements with a tape in frame, assembly trial, loading.
- A clear verdict: pass, pass with conditions, or fail — and exactly what must change before loading.
Loading supervision: the last chance to verify
Even a passed inspection can be undone at loading if the wrong cartons go in. Loading supervision confirms the inspected goods are the goods shipped, photographs the container before and during loading, and records the seal number. ALBAHAUS inspections include loading supervision so the report covers the seal, not just the samples.
Planning an order? Tell us the model, quantity and destination port and we will quote inspection together with FOB pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What is AQL in a furniture inspection?
AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) is the sampling method used to judge a batch: a defined number of cartons is drawn and inspected, and defects are classified as critical, major or minor against agreed limits. It avoids opening every carton while still giving a statistically valid verdict.
Does pre-shipment inspection replace a factory audit?
No. An audit evaluates the factory as a supplier (capability, systems, capacity); inspection checks one specific production batch before it ships. Serious buyers do both, on different rhythms.
What happens if the inspection fails?
The goods stay at the factory. The report identifies the defects and classification, and the supplier either reworks or replaces the affected pieces before a re-inspection. This is why inspection must always happen before the container is loaded, never after.
Should loading be supervised as well?
Yes. Loading supervision verifies that the inspected cartons are the cartons actually loaded, documents the container condition and records the seal number — closing the gap between inspection and shipment.
Ready when you are