Checklist 05
Inspection checklist
Inspection checklist
1. Arrival · paperwork
Finish this before opening a single carton. A mistake here corrupts every count that follows.
2. Count by SKU
Ordered − received = outstanding, per SKU (size × colour). This number is what the balance is billed on.
3. Fabric · colour
Compare side by side with the approved sample, under the same light. Photos do not show shade variation.
4. Sewing
Inside and out. Folding the garment in half lengthways shows asymmetry in one glance.
5. Measurements
Tolerances come from the tech pack and size chart. Nothing here sets its own.
6. Trims · function
Operate them, do not just look. Zips get opened and closed, buttons get pulled.
7. Labels · tags · markings
Mandatory markings differ by destination. Get the exact wording in writing from the brand and a customs broker.
8. Print · embroidery · wash
Compare with the approved strike-off. Stretch the print — cracking only shows under tension.
9. Appearance · finish · safety
What the customer sees when the bag is opened. Finish by hanging a piece next to the approved sample.
10. Packing · cartons
Weigh and measure the cartons. The forwarder's quote changes with these numbers.
11. Decision · records · dispatch
Results have to survive as numbers and photos. They set the balance payment and the baseline for the next order.
Defect grades and what to do
| Grade | Examples | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | Needle left in garment, holes, wrong fibre or origin marking, safety-rule breach | Hold dispatch. Re-inspect the whole lot. Destroy if unrepairable |
| Major | Open seams, shade variation, out-of-tolerance measurements, faulty zips or buttons, staining | Repair and re-inspect. If unrepairable, reject and remove from the billed quantity |
| Minor | Loose threads, small removable marks, slightly uneven stitching | Fix on the spot and pass. Record the count and feed it into the next order |
Questions
Should I do a 100% inspection or an AQL sample inspection?
If one defective piece costs you more than inspecting one piece, inspect every piece. For low-value basics a sample plan is reasonable; for a new brand's first order, where one defect becomes one review, it usually is not. Just choose knowing that AQL sets an acceptable defect rate, not zero defects.
How many pieces should I measure?
Even when appearance, sewing and labels are checked on every piece, measurements are taken on a sample per size and colour. How many belongs in the purchase order or inspection instruction; if it is not written down, decide before you start and put it in writing. What matters more than the count is that the same person measures the same way every time.
The factory says it already inspected. Do I need to inspect again?
Yes. The factory sees goods off the line; the warehouse sees goods after packing and transport. Assortment errors, crushed cartons, damp and mislabelling happen after the factory's check. Keep the factory's report, but base the dispatch decision on what you opened yourself.
Who pays for the pieces that fail?
That is a contract question and it should be settled before production, not after. Our own terms invoice the balance on the quantity that passed inspection, so the pieces that fail never reach the customer's invoice. Many arrangements do the opposite by default.