The quality control checklist should be used while the shipment inspection is done by auditor and quality inspector. In the apparel manufacturing, checking of raw materials, semi-stitched garments, stitched garments, and finished garments is done by internal quality assurance team. The manufacturer aims to pack the quality garments for shipping. But as a buyer, one should not completely trust the manufacturer’s inspection report. Therefore, buyer’s QA representative needs to do the shipment inspection after complete shipment is packed by the supplier factory.
As a buyer or quality assurance personnel or shipment auditor, you need to follow a quality control checklist for ensuring everything is covered during the inspection process. Assessment of the product quality should be done unbiased. A quality checklist is very helpful in this regard.
In the post, I will show you the quality control checklist those need to be followed for product sourcing. While doing a quality inspection of the shipment, various parameters are considered to ensure the product quality, packaging quality, and product safety.
Through stitching, process fabric is converted into garments. Therefore, the stitching quality must be as per the standards.
In the visual inspection cover following points
You may also need to check the quality of the trims. For this follow the fabric and trims test report.
Follow this checklist for checking garment packing. If available refer to the approved packed garment.
The above checklist is a primary guide for quality inspection of the shipment. Follow the detailed inspection instruction from the buyer’s quality manual (if available). The same quality control checklist can be used during internal quality checking and quality inspection.
A checklist for quality control saves time and improve productivity in the inspection process. This checklist is a part of the inspection process and but the complete inspection procedure.
As a buyer or quality assurance personnel or shipment auditor, you need to follow a quality control checklist for ensuring everything is covered during the inspection process. Assessment of the product quality should be done unbiased. A quality checklist is very helpful in this regard.
In the post, I will show you the quality control checklist those need to be followed for product sourcing. While doing a quality inspection of the shipment, various parameters are considered to ensure the product quality, packaging quality, and product safety.
Quality Control Checklist
1. Workmanship and stitching quality
Through stitching, process fabric is converted into garments. Therefore, the stitching quality must be as per the standards.
- The workmanship of the garment is as per the approved sample
- Check no open seam
- Check for jump stitch
- No undesired puckering in the seam lines
- In case different fabrics are used in the garment, check fabric quality and color combination is correct
- Check whether correct thread size and thread color are used for stitching or not
- All trims and accessories (like drawstrings, beads) are attached to the garment as per safety norms.
Also read: How to make garment inspection report?
2. Visual Inspection
In the visual inspection cover following points
- Check if the garment is balanced (left and right side of the garment) and falls properly when holding with two hands.
- There is no twisting in the garment
- Check all labels (main label, size label, care label and special label) are attached as per instruction - at the right place
- Text and print layout in the content label and care label are matched with the buyer approved labels.
- Size label - Check the garment size and the label is matching
- All trims and fasteners are secured and attached right place.
- Print and embroidery (if applicable) placement are as per the design.
- No undesired stain, oil mark, chalk mark, pressing mark, and soiling is there on the garments (invisible zones).
3. Fabric and raw material quality report
- All the fabric, lining, and material used in the garments are as per approved design
- Compared trims details against the approved trim card.
- Check the fabric quality test report (FPT and GPT) for the order you are inspecting – parameters like - fabric GSM, fabric weight, color fastness properties, seam slippage, button pulling strength, dimensional stability, fabric shrinkage user limit (whichever is applicable for the shipment.
- Compare the print and embroidery work with the approved samples (swatch)
- If you found shade different between garments, look at approved shade band and compared that all shades are within the approved fabric shade bands
- Do a visual inspection for any kind of defects
- There should not be an iron mark (shiny mark) and should not be an unwanted crease on the pressed garments.
- Measurement checking - check the measurement of all sizes of garments. If there is measurement variation in some point of measure (POM) compared to the spec sheet, it must be within the tolerance level
- If required check the garment fit in a dress form
- In case pattern matching is required (for prints, stripes, check patterns) – check it is under allowance
- Check garment hand feels and washing quality (if applicable) are as per standards.
4. Garment Packing
Follow this checklist for checking garment packing. If available refer to the approved packed garment.
- Packing list - check the complete packing list and verify whether packing is done as per buyer’s instruction.
- Garments are folded as per specified dimensions
- All tags and stickers on the tags are correct
- Garments are packed as per buyer size ratio (if the buyer asked for a ratio packing). correct poly bag size and poly bag material are used.
- All garments are passed through broken needle detection machine (metal detection machine) – if applicable
5. Carton box quality and labeling:
- Carton quality – check carton quality for its size and cardboard strength. Carton shape and no space inside the carton.
- The carton labeling should be checked thoroughly. Check all the required information and carton number is there.
- All carton boxes are closed with tape (as per standard packing)
The above checklist is a primary guide for quality inspection of the shipment. Follow the detailed inspection instruction from the buyer’s quality manual (if available). The same quality control checklist can be used during internal quality checking and quality inspection.
A checklist for quality control saves time and improve productivity in the inspection process. This checklist is a part of the inspection process and but the complete inspection procedure.