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During Production Inspection (DPI)

Find it at 30–50% — while there’s still time to fix it

Why small and mid-sized importers need DPI

  •  Still time to correct. CQI steps in at 30–50% completion, when problems can still be fixed — instead of being forced into rework just before loading.
  •  Real visibility on progress. Production status and capacity allocation are verified on site, not taken from the factory’s word.
  •  Process under control. Confirms whether issues found earlier have actually been corrected, keeping defects inside the production line.
  •  Lower cost of quality. Avoids the secondary damage of bulk rework — crushed packaging, soiled surfaces, degraded cleanliness.
  •  An easier conversation with the factory. Most units are still unpacked, so targeted corrections are far easier to get accepted and implemented.
  •  One consistent standard. Sampling follows ISO 2859, aligning seamlessly with your pre-shipment inspection.

By the time a pre-shipment inspection runs, 100% of the order is finished and at least 80% is packed. Rework then means heavy labor and material cost, risks secondary damage, and persuading the factory becomes extremely difficult. DPI intervenes at the moment that works — creating the conditions for a constructive fix on both sides.

1. What DPI Is

1.1 Definition

A During Production Inspection is a quality check run mid-cycle, typically when the factory has completed 30–50% of finished units. Its purpose: ensure the order will meet your quality and delivery standards by the time the pre-shipment inspection takes place. Sampling is performed to the ISO 2859 international standard.

1.2 What CQI DPI delivers

CQI DPI gives you live visibility of both production progress and product quality, so issues are caught and corrected early — securing compliance and on-time delivery before full mass production is locked in.

2. How DPI Differs from Initial Production Inspection (IPI)

2.1 IPI — the early check

IPI takes place early, at roughly 5–10% completion, and focuses on identifying quality and workmanship issues in the small-batch stage.

2.2 DPI — the deeper verification

DPI is the deeper verification and tightening of control that follows. By then, production has moved into its middle-to-late phase, and the focus shifts to holding overall quality and production efficiency together — connecting directly to pre-shipment inspection criteria.

IPI

DPI

PSI

IPI — 5–10% complete: catch issues in the small-batch stage.DPI — 30–50% complete: verify, tighten control, still time to fix.PSI — 100% complete: final gate, rework is expensive.

3. Where Pre-Shipment Inspection Falls Short

3.1 Rework at full cost

A pre-shipment inspection happens when everything is finished and mostly packed. Problems found at that point mean rework at significant factory cost — extra labor, material and time.

3.2 Secondary damage and resistance

Rework also creates secondary problems: damaged packaging, reduced cleanliness, and lower final product quality. Getting a factory to agree is difficult unless the defect is severe.

4. Why a Professional Inspection Partner Matters

4.1 Depth over form-filling

CQI insists on depth over form-filling. A professional DPI goes deep into the production process instead of performing a superficial check.

See How to Avoid a Superficial Inspection.

4.2 Tailored to your requirements

We start from your requirements and your industry, then tailor the inspection protocol — addressing the immediate defect while also assessing production progress and capability, and proposing improvements such as tighter control of critical dimensions.

4.3 Why large inspection firms miss the point

Large inspection firms are built for supermarket and retail chains. They treat DPI as a copy of pre-shipment inspection — sampling and counting only — and miss what DPI clients actually need: production progress, capacity, quality stability, and whether capacity is being allocated sensibly.

5. The Value of DPI

5.1 Correctable on the spot

At this stage most units are still on the line or waiting to be packed, so problems can be corrected immediately — no large-scale rework, no heavy loss.

5.2 Requests the factory will actually act on

Improvement requests backed by a CQI report carry weight. They open a practical dialogue with the factory and drive fast process adjustment, raising both cooperation and satisfaction.

Example

Reducing a plastic injection gate length from over 2 mm to 0.5 mm is something a factory will readily act on at this point.

5.3 Brand and relationship protection

Proactive correction protects your brand, reduces potential returns and quality complaints, and — over time — strengthens customer relationships and repeat orders. See Why Returns Happen.

5.4 Far cheaper than overseas rework

With Western labor costing at least USD 30 per hour, DPI prevents the far more expensive scenario of reworking goods overseas. For your supplier, adjusting in-house at the right moment is simply better economics.

6. Timing Is the Value

6.1 Entering at the right moment

DPI enters the production chain at exactly the right moment, giving both sides a fact-based platform to adjust and optimize — raising efficiency and quality together.

6.2 A live feedback mechanism

It builds a live feedback and immediate-correction mechanism: quality secured, supply chain more flexible and responsive. That is what keeps a project on track.

Find the problem while it can still be fixed. Send us your order and production schedule — CQI will schedule your DPI.Schedule My CQI During Production Inspection© CQI Quality Consulting Ltd. · Xiamen, China · During Production Inspection (DPI)