Pre-production inspection in India
Clear To Load's pre-production inspection in India verifies raw materials, components, the approved golden sample and the production plan before manufacturing starts, for US$249 per man-day. It typically covers wood species and moisture content, fabric and foam specifications, hardware, finishes, and whether the factory can realistically meet your ship date.
- Price
- US$249 per man-day
- Report
- Within 24 hours
- Coverage
- Any factory in India
- Result
- Cleared to load · Hold · Not cleared
A pre-production inspection (PPI) checks raw materials, components and the approved golden sample before an Indian factory starts mass production, so the specification is fixed before anything is cut, sewn or cast. This page covers how Clear To Load runs it, when to book and what it costs. For making and sealing an approved sample, read golden samples and approved samples; for timber, read wood moisture content for export furniture.
Materials and samples checked before the first cut
A PPI records what the factory has bought and plans to use, so every later inspection can compare production against it.
| Check | What the inspector does |
|---|---|
| Golden sample | The approved sample is sealed, photographed and measured, so the first production units can be compared with it. |
| Raw materials | Timber species and moisture content, fabric composition labels and weight, foam grade, metal gauge, against the specification. |
| Composite wood | For plywood, MDF and particleboard going to the US, TSCA Title VI labels or the supplier's certificates on the panels in stock. |
| Components and hardware | Hinges, slides, fittings, zips, labels and packaging materials against the bill of materials. |
| Finish and colour | Finish samples or colour panels against the approved sample, under daylight, with photos. |
| Production plan | Capacity, subcontracting and the schedule against your ship date. |
PPI timing: between material arrival and the first cut
The best day for a PPI is after the main materials arrive and before cutting starts. Earlier, there is nothing to check; later, the materials are already in your product.
| Step | When | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase order and approved sample | Before the visit | Send the specification, approved-sample photos and any material certificates you expect the factory to hold. |
| Main materials in the factory | Usually days before cutting | Ask the factory for the date timber, fabric, foam, hardware and cartons are all on site. |
| Your booking | At least the notice for the factory's travel band (table below) | We confirm the inspector, date and price within 24 hours. |
| Report | Within 24 hours of the visit | After supervisor review. Approve or reject the materials before production starts. |
| First units | Shortly after the PPI | An initial production check or a DUPRO compares the first units with the sealed sample. |
| Monsoon (June to September) | Re-measure timber moisture | Air-dried timber picks up moisture in humid months. A reading taken at the PPI may not hold by assembly if stock is kept in open sheds; ask how it is stored. |
| Diwali (October or November) | Check before the break | If materials arrive before the festival and production starts after it, a PPI before the break records what was bought, and storage can be checked on restart. |
Notice by travel band
Notice runs from your booking to the visit. A PPI can often be planned weeks ahead, which makes it the easiest inspection to schedule. Check your factory's band on the coverage page.
| Band | Where | Notice | Travel fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | Jodhpur | Same day when an inspector is free, otherwise 1–2 working days | No travel fee |
| Band B | Jaipur, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Delhi NCR or Kolkata, where our other inspectors are based | Same day to 3 working days, depending on the city | US$99 per man-day |
| Band C | Anywhere else in India | Up to 5 working days, depending on distance | Actual travel cost, quoted before you book |
PPI cost and when it pays for itself
A PPI usually takes one man-day: US$249, plus travel by band, report included. A capability audit on the same visit is priced per audit day (US$449); we quote the combined visit before you book.
Worked example. A buyer places a first order for sheesham dining sets with a new factory in Saharanpur, which is in Band B. The PPI checks timber species and moisture, the hardware and the finish panel against the approved sample:
| Line | Sum | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-production inspection | 1 man-day × US$249 | US$249 |
| Travel, Band B (Saharanpur) | 1 man-day × US$99 | US$99 |
| Total before tax | US$348 |
Wet timber or a substituted hardware set found at this stage costs the factory a new delivery. Found at the final inspection, it means a Not cleared verdict on finished goods, rework, and a reinspection at US$149 plus travel. See pricing for all rates.
Material risks in Indian supply chains
Timber and moisture
Wood moisture content is one of the most common causes of cracking and warping in Indian furniture after it arrives in drier climates. We measure moisture on timber stock before production, using the target you set for the destination market.
Material substitution
Foam density, fabric weight and plywood grade are easy to substitute once production starts. A pre-production check records the approved materials so later inspections can compare against them.
Timber origin documents
For EU and US buyers, species and origin matter under the EUDR and the Lacey Act. A PPI can record the species named on purchase documents and photograph the stock; it cannot prove legal harvest on its own.
What a PPI can confirm on site, and what it cannot
On site the inspector can confirm what is visible and measurable: species as declared and as it looks, moisture by meter, dimensions, weights, labels, batch and roll numbers, and the documents the factory holds. Fibre composition, foam density by a test method, formaldehyde emissions and flammability need an accredited laboratory; the inspector can pull and seal samples for that through lab testing coordination.
For timber rules, see the EUDR for wood furniture, the Lacey Act and TSCA Title VI for composite wood.
The PPI report: a reference for every later inspection
Cleared to load Hold Not cleared
The report lists each material and component with what was specified, what was found and a photo; moisture readings by timber batch; the golden sample's photos, measurements and seal where one was sealed; and the factory's production schedule. It ends in a verdict, Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared, on whether production can start as planned.
Real reports show why this matters. In Sample 05, a Jodhpur lot of mango wood furniture, a set of nesting tables came in two size variants with a varying colour finish, found only at the final inspection. In Sample 01 no sealed sample was available, so finish and colour could not be judged at all. A sealed golden sample and a pre-production check of sizes and finish are the usual way to prevent both. See all sample reports.
See all sample reports- Sample (ISO 2859-1, level II, code G)
- 31 pcs
- Critical defects
- 0 · zero tolerance
- Major defects (AQL 2.5)
- 0 · accept ≤ 2
- Minor defects (AQL 4.0)
- 2 · accept ≤ 3
- Quantity vs PO
- 181 of 181 offered
- Barcodes
- Scanned · passed
Often booked with pre-production inspection
During-production inspection
Catch systematic defects while there is still time to fix them.
Factory audit
Check a supplier exists, can deliver and meets your standards before you order.
Pre-shipment inspection
A final random check of finished, packed goods before you release payment.
Pre-production inspection: questions buyers ask
Is a pre-production inspection needed for a repeat order?
It is most useful for new products, new factories or changed materials. For an unchanged repeat order with a proven factory, a DUPRO or pre-shipment inspection is usually enough.
Can it be combined with a factory audit?
Yes. A capability audit and a pre-production check can be done on the same visit. The audit is priced per audit day (US$449); we quote the combined visit before you book.
What moisture content do you check timber against?
Your target for the destination market, typically 8–11%, set by the destination's climate (our default limit is 11%). Readings are taken with a moisture meter on stock from different stacks and batches.
What if there is no golden sample yet?
We measure and photograph the factory's reference sample and send it to you for approval. Until a sample is approved and sealed, finish and colour can only be judged against the purchase order description.
Can you test fabric composition or foam density on site?
No. On site we check labels, supplier documents, batch and roll numbers, and what can be measured, such as dimensions and weights. Composition, foam density by a test method and flammability need an accredited lab; we can pull samples for it.
Know before it ships
Tell us the product, the factory's city and your ready date. We confirm the inspector, the notice time and the price before you book.