Business
Inspection Services
By the time a shipment reaches your customers, it is too late to fix a quality problem. Inspection services give you an objective, professional assessment of your product at the point in production where corrective action is still possible.
Independent. Certified. Built Around Your Standards.
Our inspectors are experienced QC professionals with deep category knowledge across clothing, footwear, home, handbags and accessories. Every inspection is conducted against your approved specifications and reported through CLIV, giving you real-time visibility of results and defect data wherever you are.
Our Inspection Services
Pre-Production Inspections
An on-site quality check conducted at the factory before bulk manufacturing begins.
DUPRO & In-Line Inspections
Measurements, stitching, materials, assembly at production milestones.
Pre-Shipment Inspections (PSI)
We conduct final inspections either at the factory or container freight station (CFS).
On-Demand Inspections
Flexible on-demand inspection service, no lock-in contract, real-time inspection reports.
Pre-Production Inspections
Once raw materials, trims, components, and pre-production samples have arrived, our inspectors verify that everything is in place, meets your specifications, and the factory is ready to produce at the required quality level, before a single unit is cut, sewn, or assembled.
What we check:
Raw materials & components: quantity, quality, colour, weight, and specifications against your approved standards.
Trims & accessories: zippers, buttons, labels, hangtags, thread, and packaging materials verified for conformity.
Factory conditions & equipment: machinery calibration, workstation setup, and production line readiness.
DUPRO & In-Line Inspections
Our DUPRO (During Production) and In-Line Inspections monitor product quality at critical early stages. We identify and fix defects before they multiply, saving time and costs.
What We Inspect
Component Quality: Fabrics, trims, hardware, and early assembly accuracy.
Production Processes: Machine setup, cutting, sewing standards, and defect rates.
On-Site Corrections: Immediate feedback to factory teams for real-time fixes.
Pre-Shipment Inspections (PSI)
A pre-shipment inspection (PSI) is a quality control check performed on your goods at the factory when 80–100% of production is complete and packing is finished. It is the most effective way to verify product quality, quantity, and compliance before your goods leave the supplier — reducing costly surprises upon delivery.
What We Inspect
Visual & Functional Checks: Stitching, measurements, color accuracy, hardware, and performance testing.
Packaging & Labeling: Compliance with specs, barcodes, and shipping readiness.
Quantity & Documentation: AQL sampling against PO, with full traceability via CLIV.
Container Freight Station Inspections (CFS)
Our Final Inspections at the CFS, offers real-time transparency and efficiency in inspections. By centralising operations, we ensure consistent SOP execution, enhanced security, and dedicated product specialist inspectors, leading to significant cost savings.
Benefits of CFS Inspections
Our platform provides live visibility and operational efficiency, reducing costs by 50% compared to third-party on-site services.
With rapid report uploads and a 62% increase in operational efficiency.
We help you achieve the lowest cost per unit for inspections while maintaining the highest standards of quality and compliance.
On-Demand Inspections
The On-Demand Inspection service gives brands, retailers and agents access to TWO EIGHT ONE’s experienced QC inspection teams with no contract commitment. Book a single inspection, receive a full CLIV-powered report in real time.
Service Overview
Access TWO EIGHT ONE’s network of certified inspectors across 11 countries and 18 locations – live within days, no contract required. This service covers all of TWO EIGHT ONE’s inspection services: In-Line, DUPRO and Pre-Shipment Inspections.
Why Independent Inspection Matters
Relying on supplier self-reporting leaves you exposed. Our inspectors operate independently, with no commercial relationship with the factory. You get an honest, unbiased picture of your product quality before goods leave the facility.
We understand what’s at stake when goods leave the factory. We make sure you have the facts.
Talk to us about building an inspection programme that fits your supply chain.
FAQs
01. What are third party inspections and why do brands need them?
Independent inspections provide objective quality verification at key production stages. They catch defects before shipment, reduce returns, and protect brand reputation when supplier self-reporting isn't enough.
02. What is a Final Product Inspection and when should I book it?
Final Inspections use AQL sampling at 80-100% production completion. We check visual quality, measurements, packaging, labelling, and documentation before shipment, ensuring goods meet specs.
03. How do DUPRO Inspections differ from other factory checks?
DUPRO (During Production) inspections at 20-50% completion focus on early component quality, fabrics, trims, and production processes. They enable real-time corrections before defects spread across the full order.
04. What is a CFS (Container Freight Station) Inspection?
By centralising operations and conducting them at the CFS (Warehouse), we ensure consistent SOP execution, enhanced security, and dedicated product specialist inspectors, leading to significant cost savings.
05. What does TWO EIGHT ONE inspect in every service?
All inspections cover visual/functional quality, measurements, defect classification per your AQL, packaging, quantity verification, and full visibility. Certified experts use your specifications via CLIV digital checklists.
06. How fast do I get inspection results and reports?
Real-time CLIV reporting delivers photos, measurements, defect data, and pass/fail recommendations within seconds. Access detailed reports with photographic evidence instantly from any device.
07. Why choose independent inspectors over supplier QC?
Our certified professionals have no factory relationships, ensuring unbiased assessments. With 25+ years category expertise across clothing, footwear, and accessories, we protect your standards objectively.
08. How does CLIV improve the inspection process?
CLIV powers booking, live reporting, defect tracking, and data analytics. Get instant alerts, historical records, vendor scorecards, and supply chain visibility, trusted by Pepkor, Matalan, Paul Smith, River Island, Superdry.
Our Services
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Ready to strengthen your quality management strategy? Get in touch with our team.