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EDIFACT message guide · Communications

INSREQ Inspection request

The UN/EDIFACT message a supplier sends to tell a customer that items are ready for inspection before despatch.

Sent by
Supplier
Received by
Customer or its inspection service
Standard
UN/EDIFACT · Batch message
X12 equivalent
No direct equivalent

What is the EDIFACT INSREQ message?

INSREQ is the UN/EDIFACT inspection request. The directory defines it as a message sent by a supplier to inform a customer that items are ready for inspection prior to despatch.

Many buyers, especially of manufactured goods made overseas, inspect goods before they ship. The request tells the buyer or its inspection agency what is ready, where and when, so an inspector can be scheduled. The results come back in an inspection report (INSRPT), and goods usually ship only after passing.

How the EDIFACT INSREQ message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT INSREQ Inspection request message. Supplier sends it to customer or its inspection service. It usually follows ORDERS. It is usually followed by INSRPT. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message) and DTM (Date/time/period) and body and segment groups: the required SG2 loop with NAD (Name and address) and the required SG3 loop with DOC (Document/message details). 4 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT INSREQ message worksInspection request: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSORDERSPurchase orderINSREQSENDERSupplierRECEIVERCustomer or itsinspection serviceCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYINSRPTInspection report2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDsUNB … UNZMessage INSREQUNH … UNTSTART OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageDTMDate/time/periodBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG2 · repeats up to 99NADName and addressMandatory group SG3 · repeats up to 99DOCDocument/message details+ 4 conditional groups, starting with:RFFNADLINBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditional groups are listed by the trigger segment that starts them; a group is sent only when its data applies.Conditional segments outside groups are not drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in the UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for INSREQ. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT INSREQ message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT INSREQ Inspection request message. Supplier sends it to customer or its inspection service. It usually follows ORDERS. It is usually followed by INSRPT. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message) and DTM (Date/time/period) and body and segment groups: the required SG2 loop with NAD (Name and address) and the required SG3 loop with DOC (Document/message details). 4 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT INSREQmessage worksInspection request: who sends it, where it fitsand what the directory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSORDERSPurchase orderINSREQSENDERSupplierRECEIVERCustomer or itsinspectionserviceCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYINSRPTInspection report2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDs(UNB … UNZ)Message INSREQ (UNH … UNT)START OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageDTMDate/time/periodBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG2 · repeats upto 99NADName and addressMandatory group SG3 · repeats upto 99DOCDocument/message details+ 4 conditional groups, starting with:RFFNADLINBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditionalgroups are listed by the trigger segment thatstarts them; a group is sent only when its dataapplies. Conditional segments outside groups arenot drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in theUN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for INSREQ.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends INSREQ, to whom, and which messages usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what the directory D.21A itself requires: the envelopes around INSREQ and the segments and segment groups it marks mandatory. Conditional groups are listed by their trigger segment rather than drawn in full. This is the directory's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: a message implementation guide, such as an industry subset or a partner’s own guide, usually makes some conditional groups mandatory, restricts the codes and may use an older directory.

Expand diagram Download SVG

When it is used

  • Requesting pre-shipment inspection of finished goods
  • Scheduling inspections at a factory
  • Requesting re-inspection after rework

Where it fits in the message flow

Usually follows ORDERS Purchase order
This message INSREQ Inspection request
Usually followed by INSRPT Inspection report

Structure

Mandatory segments in INSREQ (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the INSREQ message has 29 segment positions arranged in 9 segment groups. These are the segments and segment groups marked mandatory at message level, in order; a mandatory group is shown with the segment that starts it. Segments inside conditional groups are needed only when the group is used. This is the directory’s requirement, not your trading partner’s: each partner’s message implementation guide names the directory it uses, often an older one such as D.96A or D.01B where the structure can differ, makes some conditional segments mandatory and restricts the codes.

  • UNH
  • BGM
  • DTM
  • SG2 (NAD)
  • SG3 (DOC)
  • UNT

Practical example

INSREQ in practice

A garment factory finishes production of an order for a European retailer. It sends the retailer's inspection agency an INSREQ with the order, styles, quantities packed, the factory address and the dates the goods are available. The agency schedules an inspector, who checks a sample and reports the results.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for INSREQ

  • Send requests early enough for inspectors to be scheduled.
  • Reference the orders and items exactly as ordered.
  • State quantities ready, especially for partial shipments.
  • Hold goods until inspection results arrive.

How ECOM helps

Automate INSREQ with ECOM

Industry

Retail

Retail and eCommerce EDI for suppliers and retailers, from purchase order to payment, with compliance built in.

Industry

Consumer Goods

Retail, distributor, marketplace and direct-channel integration for consumer brands.

Solution

Supply Chain Visibility

Track orders, shipments and invoices across partners and catch exceptions early.

Compare X12 and EDIFACT, or see answers to general questions in the EDI FAQ.

Related messages

Related communications messages

All 7 communications messages

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