During Production Inspection (DUPRO)

During Production Inspection (DUPRO) is a quality control inspection conducted during the manufacturing process to verify whether products conform to approved specifications, workmanship requirements, production standards, and buyer expectations before production is completed. DUPRO inspection is commonly performed when approximately 20% to 80% of production has been completed, allowing quality issues to be identified and corrected before final shipment.

Unlike final inspection activities conducted at the end of production, during production inspection focuses on monitoring manufacturing quality while products are still being produced. The objective is to identify defects, process inconsistencies, material deviations, production risks, or workmanship issues early enough to support corrective action before shipment deadlines are affected.

During production inspection is widely used in global supply chains to improve production visibility, reduce shipment risk, and strengthen product consistency across manufacturing batches.

Why During Production Inspection Matters

Production problems identified late in manufacturing may lead to delayed shipments, rework costs, product inconsistency, or failed pre-shipment inspections.

During production inspection helps verify:

• Product quality consistency during manufacturing
• Production progress against schedule
• Workmanship conformity
• Material and component consistency
• Product functionality and assembly quality
• Packaging readiness where applicable
• Corrective action opportunities before final production completion

Because inspection occurs while production is ongoing, manufacturers may still adjust processes, replace defective materials, improve workmanship, or correct production errors before goods are completed.

For buyers sourcing products internationally, DUPRO inspection provides visibility into factory performance before final shipment. Learn more about the operational benefits and quality control value of DUPRO in Why During Production Inspection (DUPRO) Matters.

When Is a During Production Inspection Conducted?

During production inspection is generally conducted after production has started but before manufacturing is completed.

In practice, DUPRO inspection is commonly scheduled when:

• Approximately 20% to 80% of goods are produced
• Production lines are operating at stable output
• Products are available for sampling
• Semi-finished or finished goods are accessible for inspection
• Packaging activities may already be partially underway

The exact inspection timing depends on product category, production complexity, manufacturing cycle, and buyer requirements.

Conducting inspection too early may limit visibility because sufficient products may not yet be available for representative sampling.

Conducting inspection too late may reduce the opportunity for corrective action before shipment deadlines.

During Production Inspection Process

During production inspection follows a structured evaluation process to assess product quality, manufacturing consistency, and production readiness during active manufacturing.

Inspection activities vary depending on product type, production stage, technical specifications, and buyer requirements.

Production Status Verification

Production status verification helps confirm actual manufacturing progress.

Inspectors commonly review:

• Production completion percentage
• Production line status
• Daily output levels
• Manufacturing schedule progress
• Product availability for inspection
• Packaging progress where applicable

This process helps determine whether production is progressing according to agreed timelines.

Production status review may also identify delays, bottlenecks, or operational concerns that may affect shipment schedules.

Quantity Verification

Quantity verification confirms whether manufacturing output aligns with production plans and purchase order requirements.

Inspectors commonly verify:

• Quantity produced
• Semi-finished product count
• Finished product quantity
• Assortment consistency
• SKU production status
• Size or color breakdown

This step helps identify shortages, production imbalance, or inconsistencies between production planning and actual manufacturing output.

Product Specification Verification

Inspectors compare products against approved specifications, reference samples, technical drawings, or buyer requirements.

Verification activities commonly include:

• Material consistency
• Product dimensions
• Color conformity
• Assembly requirements
• Construction details
• Product configuration accuracy

The objective is to confirm whether products being manufactured align with approved specifications before production is finalized.

Specification deviations identified during DUPRO may often be corrected before large production quantities are completed.

Workmanship and Visual Inspection

Visual inspection evaluates workmanship quality and production consistency during active manufacturing.

Inspectors commonly review:

• Surface defects
• Assembly quality
• Cosmetic appearance
• Stitching or finishing quality
• Material damage
• Construction consistency
• Product cleanliness

Common findings during production may include:

• Scratches
• Poor finishing
• Misalignment
• Surface contamination
• Loose components
• Assembly defects

Workmanship inspection during production helps identify recurring factory issues before they affect larger production quantities.

Functional Testing

Functional testing verifies whether products operate according to intended use requirements.

Testing methods vary depending on product category.

Examples include:

• Operational testing for electronics
• Stability checks for furniture
• Fit and assembly verification
• Switch or control operation checks
• Mechanical movement testing

Functional issues identified during production may allow corrective action before mass completion.

Where applicable, inspectors perform testing using approved methods, buyer instructions, or factory procedures.

Measurement and Dimension Checks

Measurement inspection verifies whether products meet approved dimensional specifications.

Inspectors may review:

• Length
• Width
• Height
• Thickness
• Diameter
• Weight
• Dimensional fit

Results are compared against technical requirements and approved tolerances.

Dimension inconsistencies identified during production may indicate process variation or tooling issues.

Production Line and Process Assessment

A key objective of DUPRO inspection is evaluating production consistency.

Inspectors commonly observe:

• Production line conditions
• Assembly consistency
• Workmanship variation
• Material handling practices
• Production flow consistency
• Process control implementation

Observations during this stage may help identify manufacturing weaknesses affecting quality consistency.

Production process assessment may also identify whether corrective actions are being implemented effectively.

Packaging and Labeling Verification

Where packaging activities have started, inspection may include packaging verification.

Inspectors commonly review:

• Packaging configuration
• Barcode placement
• Product labeling
• Carton marking accuracy
• Packaging material condition
• Quantity per carton

Early packaging review may help prevent downstream packing errors before shipment preparation.

Corrective Action Review

When defects or quality concerns are identified, inspectors may review corrective action implementation.

This process may include verification of:

• Rework activities
• Process adjustment measures
• Corrective action effectiveness
• Replacement of defective components
• Updated production procedures

Corrective action review helps determine whether identified problems are being controlled before production completion.

AQL Sampling in During Production Inspection

During production inspection commonly follows AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) sampling methods.

Inspectors select representative samples from products available during production to assess quality conditions across the manufacturing batch.

Sampling criteria commonly depend on:

• Production quantity available
• Product category
• Inspection level
• Agreed quality requirements

AQL inspection provides a structured and repeatable method for assessing quality conditions during manufacturing.

Inspection findings are assessed according to agreed acceptance criteria and defect severity.

Defect Classification in During Production Inspection

Inspection findings are commonly categorized according to severity to support corrective action decisions.

Critical Defects

Critical defects are issues that may create safety hazards, regulatory concerns, or severe product failure risk.

Examples may include:

• Safety-related failures
• Hazardous product conditions
• Missing required safety elements
• Product defects creating injury risk

Critical defects generally require immediate corrective action.

Major Defects

Major defects are issues that significantly affect usability, performance, durability, or commercial acceptance.

Examples include:

• Functional failures
• Incorrect measurements
• Broken components
• Significant workmanship issues
• Product configuration errors

Major defects may affect production approval and require corrective measures.

Minor Defects

Minor defects are small deviations that do not materially affect product function or intended use.

Examples may include:

• Small cosmetic defects
• Minor appearance inconsistencies
• Slight finishing variation

Minor defects may still require improvement depending on buyer expectations.

Common Problems Found During Production Inspection

Recurring findings during DUPRO inspection commonly include:

Workmanship Defects

• Scratches
• Poor finishing
• Loose parts
• Misalignment
• Surface contamination
• Assembly inconsistency

Production Consistency Problems

• Color variation
• Measurement inconsistency
• Material substitution
• Process instability
• Batch variation

Functional Issues

• Product malfunction
• Weak assembly performance
• Incorrect operation
• Incomplete assembly

Packaging and Labeling Problems

• Incorrect barcode placement
• Missing labels
• Incorrect carton markings
• Wrong packaging configuration

Early identification of these issues may reduce rework, shipment delays, or failed final inspection outcomes.

Why Third-Party During Production Inspection Matters

Third-party during production inspection provides independent visibility into manufacturing quality before production completion.

Independent inspectors help evaluate whether manufacturing conditions, product quality, and workmanship conform to agreed requirements during active production.

Third-party inspection commonly supports:

• Manufacturing quality verification
• Early defect identification
• Production consistency monitoring
• Supplier performance visibility
• Corrective action tracking
• Reduced shipment quality risk

Inspection reports commonly include defect findings, production observations, photographic evidence, production status, and inspection conclusions.

Independent verification may help strengthen quality control, particularly when production occurs remotely or across multiple suppliers.

Find Out Which Inspection Applies to Your Production Stage.

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During Production Inspection helps improve production visibility and defect control before manufacturing is completed. For a detailed comparison of inspection timing, objectives, and use cases, refer to During Production Inspection vs Pre-Shipment Inspection: Which One Do You Need?