--- title: "Pre-Shipment Inspection in Bangladesh — PSI Guide" description: "Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) in Bangladesh: AQL levels, how to book, and the complete garment PSI checklist for buyers." canonical: "https://taeen.com.bd/blog/pre-shipment-inspection-bangladesh" breadcrumb: ["Home", "Blog", "Pre-Shipment Inspection in Bangladesh — PSI Guide"] author: "Tanvir Ahmed Khan" published: "July 7, 2026" updated: "July 7, 2026" tags: ["Quality Control", "buying house Bangladesh", "apparel sourcing"] --- Quality Control # Pre-Shipment Inspection in Bangladesh — PSI Guide By TAEEN TeamJuly 7, 202610 min read ![Pre-Shipment Inspection in Bangladesh — PSI Guide](https://taeen.com.bd/images/blog/thumb-pre-shipment-inspection-bangladesh.svg) **Quick Answer:** A pre-shipment inspection (PSI) in Bangladesh is a quality control check conducted on finished garments before the shipment is approved for loading. Inspectors draw a statistical sample from the completed production lot and check against the buyer's specifications using AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) sampling plans. Standard AQL levels are 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor defects. A PSI typically costs $200–$400 per man-day and takes 6–8 hours for a standard garment order. For a comprehensive overview, see our [buying house in Bangladesh](https://taeen.com.bd/) guide. PSI is the most important single quality control checkpoint in Bangladesh garment production. It is your last opportunity to catch defects, measurement deviations, packing errors, and labelling mistakes before goods are loaded into a container. Approving shipment without a PSI is one of the highest-risk decisions a buyer can make. This guide covers what PSI covers, how AQL sampling works, how to book a PSI in Bangladesh, and what happens when a shipment fails. It should be read alongside our AQL inspection guide and our broader [apparel quality control guide](https://taeen.com.bd/blog/quality-control-apparel-guide). For shipping steps after PSI approval, see our [Bangladesh shipping guide](https://taeen.com.bd/blog/shipping-from-bangladesh-guide). TAEEN's pre-audited factory panel and in-house QC infrastructure are explained in our [buying house overview](https://taeen.com.bd/blog/bangladesh-buying-house-list). ## What Does a Pre-Shipment Inspection Cover? A comprehensive garment PSI in Bangladesh covers the following inspection categories: ### 1\. Workmanship / Visual Inspection - Seam quality — skip stitches, open seams, uneven tension - Fabric defects — holes, stains, snags, shading, barre - Trim attachment — buttons, zippers, rivets, drawcords correctly attached - Embellishment quality — print registration, embroidery coverage, sequin attachment - Label placement — care label, brand label, country of origin label positioned correctly - Thread trimming — loose threads present - Symmetry — pocket placement, collar points, panel matching ### 2\. Measurement / Specification Check - Key measurements checked against the approved spec sheet: chest, length, sleeve, hem, inseam, waist, hip — typically 8–12 key measurement points per garment style - Tolerances: typically ±0.5cm for core measurements on adult garments; ±0.3cm for children's garments - Grade checks across size range to verify grading is correct ### 3\. Colour / Shade Verification - Comparison against approved bulk fabric swatch or sealed sample - Check for shading between different production lots of the same colour - Colour-fastness issues (crocking, bleeding) visible on finished garment ### 4\. Packing and Labelling - Correct poly bag size and type - Garment folded to agreed method - Correct hangtag attached in correct position - Barcode scanned and verified correct (product code, size, colour) - Carton marking — correct PO number, destination, quantity, weight, dimensions - Carton count vs packing list - Correct assortment (size ratio per carton) ### 5\. Safety Tests - Cord and drawstring length (children's wear — EU/US safety regulations) - Button pull test (children's wear) - Sharp point and sharp edge check - Any market-specific safety requirements (REACH, California Prop 65, CPSC) ## AQL Sampling: How It Works PSI uses AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) sampling — a statistical method that defines how many units to inspect from a production lot and how many defects are acceptable before the lot is rejected. The standard used in Bangladesh garment PSI is ISO 2859-1 (equivalent to ANSI/ASQ Z1.4), General Inspection Level II. ### AQL Levels for Garments | Defect Type | Standard AQL | Premium/Retail AQL | | --- | --- | --- | | Critical defects (safety hazard) | 0 (zero tolerance) | 0 (zero tolerance) | | Major defects (affect function/appearance) | 2.5 | 1.5 or 1.0 | | Minor defects (slight imperfections) | 4.0 | 2.5 | AQL 2.5 for major defects means: for a 3,200-piece production lot, the inspector draws 125 samples (per the AQL table). If 8 or more major defects are found in those 125 pieces, the lot fails. If 7 or fewer are found, the lot passes. Our dedicated AQL inspection guide covers sampling tables and defect classification in detail. ## How to Book a Pre-Shipment Inspection in Bangladesh ### Option 1: Third-party inspection company The major inspection companies operating in Bangladesh are: - **Intertek:** Largest global testing, inspection and certification company. Standard inspection report within 24–48 hours. - **Bureau Veritas:** Strong Bangladesh presence. Good for combined QC + compliance engagements. - **SGS:** Global standard. Widely accepted by US, European, and Australian buyers. - **QIMA (formerly AsiaInspection):** Online booking platform, 48-hour booking lead time, digital reports. Popular with smaller brands. - **V-Trust / Insight Quality:** Competitive pricing; popular with SME brands. Cost: **$220–$400 per man-day** in Bangladesh. A standard 3,000-piece garment order typically requires 1 man-day. Complex styles or large lots may require 2 man-days. Booking lead time: 48–72 hours from booking to inspector on-site (Dhaka). Allow 1 week for Chittagong EPZ factories. ### Option 2: Buying house in-house QC team A full-service buying house like TAEEN conducts PSI using its own QC staff. This is faster, cheaper (included in commission for active client programs), and provides better continuity — the same QC team that monitored production conducts the final inspection and has context the third-party inspector lacks. TAEEN's in-house PSI reports include: defect photographs, measurement table, AQL result, packing verification, and a pass/hold/fail recommendation with remediation plan if required. ## PSI Checklist: Before You Book Before booking a PSI, ensure these documents and conditions are in place: - Approved pre-production sample (PPS) is at the inspection location for comparison - Approved bulk fabric swatch is available for colour comparison - Final approved tech pack and spec sheet are sent to the inspection company - AQL level required is communicated explicitly (do not leave it to the default) - Packing instructions (fold method, polybag size, carton marking) are confirmed in writing - 100% of production is finished and packed before the inspection date — inspecting partially packed orders wastes inspection time and produces unreliable results ## What Happens When a Shipment Fails PSI? A failed PSI triggers one of three outcomes depending on defect type and severity: - **100% sort and re-inspection:** For lots with major defects at or near the AQL limit, the factory sorts the entire production, removes defective units, and a re-inspection is conducted. Cost: typically 3–7 days, $220–$400 for re-inspection. - **Rework and re-inspection:** For lots with fixable defects (loose buttons, thread trimming, minor stitching issues), factory reworks affected pieces. Re-inspection confirms completion. Cost: 5–14 days depending on defect volume. - **Replacement production:** For critical defects or widespread construction failures, a replacement production run is required. Cost: full production lead time, typically 3–5 weeks minimum. The average cost of a failed PSI to a buyer — including rework charges, delayed shipment, airfreight to meet delivery deadline, and buyer chargebacks from retail partners — is $8,000–$40,000 on a typical $50,000–$150,000 order. This is why inline QC during production (not just PSI at the end) is critical. ## Inline vs Pre-Shipment: The Full QC Picture PSI is the last checkpoint — not the only one. A robust Bangladesh QC program includes: - **Fabric inspection on receipt:** 10% of fabric rolls inspected using 4-point system before cutting begins. - **Cutting inspection:** Marker efficiency check, shade sorting confirmation, interlining adhesion test. - **Inline QC (during sewing):** Random checks at each sewing line, every 2 hours. Defects caught and corrected in-line rather than accumulating. - **End-of-line QC:** 100% check of finished garments before packing in some factory quality systems. - **Pre-shipment inspection (PSI):** Statistical AQL sampling of packed, ready-to-ship production. Brands that invest in inline QC through their buying house consistently have lower PSI failure rates — typically 3–5% failed PSI vs 15–25% for brands that only inspect at the pre-shipment stage. ## Conclusion Pre-shipment inspection in Bangladesh is your final quality gate before goods ship. Book it with adequate lead time, provide complete reference documents, insist on AQL 2.5 for major defects as a minimum, and treat a failed PSI as a signal to review your inline QC process — not just the final result. TAEEN's in-house QC team conducts PSI as a standard component of all client programs. Combined with systematic inline QC and an approved PPS process, our PSI pass rate on first inspection exceeds 94%. Learn more about our QC approach in our [apparel quality control guide](https://taeen.com.bd/blog/quality-control-apparel-guide) and our [AQL guide](https://taeen.com.bd/blog/aql-quality-control-guide), or [contact us](https://taeen.com.bd/services) to discuss your specific program requirements. [All articles](https://taeen.com.bd/blog)[Get a sourcing quote](https://taeen.com.bd/contact) ## Related articles [ ![Knitwear Sourcing in Bangladesh: Complete Buyer's Guide 2026](https://taeen.com.bd/images/blog/thumb-knitwear-sourcing-bangladesh.svg)Product Sourcing July 6, 202614 min read ### Knitwear Sourcing in Bangladesh: Complete Buyer's Guide 2026 Source knitwear from Bangladesh in 2026. T-shirts, hoodies, activewear — factory types, MOQs, pricing, compliance, and sourcing tips. 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Read article ](https://taeen.com.bd/blog/bangladesh-vs-india-apparel-sourcing-comparison) ## Partner with the premier Buying House in Bangladesh Whether you are an established retailer, an emerging brand, or an importer exploring Bangladesh for the first time, TAEEN has the experience, factory network, and operational infrastructure to deliver. Contact us today for a free consultation. [Get a Free Consultation](https://taeen.com.bd/contact) [Call +880 1805 205 716](tel:+880****5716) Or email [info@taeen.com.bd](mailto:info@taeen.com.bd) — we respond within 24 hours.