Shirt inspection methods and inspection testing standards; Inspection and certification services for factories and products

Clothing, as a product that directly comes into contact with the human body, its quality directly affects the consumer experience and brand reputation. For brand owners, purchasers, and quality inspection professionals, establishing a comprehensive supply chain quality management system is of utmost importance. This article will systematically elaborate on the factory inspection standards for clothing products, the shipping inspection process, and the key points of quality control. 
I. Source Control: Key Points for Factory Audits of Clothing Manufacturers
Before the order is confirmed, conducting a comprehensive supplier audit of the clothing manufacturer is the foundation for ensuring consistent product quality. 
Quality Management System Certification: 
Has the factory established and implemented the ISO9001 quality management system? 
Does the company have a complete incoming material inspection (IQC), production line process inspection (IPQC), and final product inspection (FQC) procedure? 
Does it have a complete quality traceability system? 
Production equipment and technical capabilities: 
Evaluate the equipment conditions and process levels of the cutting, sewing, ironing, packaging, etc. procedures 
Check whether the standard light box, color fastness tester, strength testing machine and other testing equipment are all equipped. 
Verify the validity of the equipment maintenance records and calibration certificates 
Raw material supply chain management: 
Verify the qualifications of the suppliers for the fabrics and accessories (buttons, zippers, stitching) and their test reports. 
Verify whether the materials meet environmental protection requirements (such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100) 
Check the storage conditions and management standards of raw materials 
Social Responsibility Compliance: 
Verify whether the factory complies with social responsibility standards such as BSCI and Sedex. 
Check whether the working hours, salary and benefits comply with local regulations. 
II. Finished Product Inspection: Standard Process for AQL Sampling Inspection of Clothing
The inspection of clothing should be conducted through random sampling in accordance with the AQL sampling standards (typically using LEVEL II), covering multiple aspects such as appearance, size, and craftsmanship. 
1. Packaging and Labeling Inspection
Packaging materials: Check the materials and thickness of the outer box and plastic bags, and ensure that the marking information is correct and clear. 
Product identification: Verify that the labels such as the washing tag, ingredient label, care label, and price tag are all accurate and error-free. 
Barcode scanning: By using the scanning gun to check the barcode information, it can be confirmed that it is readable and consistent with the order. 
Ratio check: Verify that the color and size ratios meet the requirements of the order. 
2. Appearance Quality Inspection (Visual Inspection)
Fabric inspection: Check for color differences, stains, holes, embroidery defects, etc. under standard lighting conditions. 
Symmetrical parts: The consistency of symmetrical parts such as the left and right collar tips, sleeve length, and pocket sizes. 
Seam sewing process: Check whether the needle spacing density, thread end handling, and seam strength meet the process requirements. 
3. Dimensional Measurement
Key dimensions: Measure key dimensions such as shirt length, bust size, shoulder width, sleeve length, etc. 
Tolerance range: Ensure that the dimensions of each part are within the allowable tolerance range (typically ±1 - 1.5 cm) 
Measurement method: Adopt a unified measurement standard and method 
4. Process Detail Inspection (Workmanship Inspection) - Core Inspection Items
Collar Process:

The collar is symmetrical on both sides and of the same length. 
The collar is smooth and the tightness is just right. 
The outer edge is straight without any curling backward. 
Sleeves and cuffs: 
The cuff is smooth and the lengths of the sleeves on both sides are the same. 
The opening height and width of the sleeves are uniform. 
The cuffs are of uniform width and have no loose threads. 
Cuff and hem: 
The front opening is straight, smooth and does not flare out. 
The bottom edge is smooth and the folded edges are of uniform width. 
The inner cuff must not be longer than the outer cuff. 
Buttons and zippers: 
Stitching is secure and free of loose threads. 
The zipper is smooth and does not ripple. 
LOGO direction is consistent 
Alignment: 
The front and rear bodies are symmetrical on both sides. 
The front part meets the back in a straight line. 
The waist is aligned with the body. 
5. Performance Testing
Color fastness test: Conducted in accordance with AATCC standards to test wash fastness and rubbing fastness. 
Dimensional stability: Test the rate of dimensional change after washing 
Strength test: Testing the strength of seams, button tension, etc. 
Component analysis: Quantitative analysis of fiber components was conducted in accordance with the AATCC 20 standard. 
III. Common Defect Classification
Critical (Severe Defects): Holes, sharp objects, broken needles, severe stains, significant size deviations. 
Major Defects: Obvious color difference, sewing thread breaks, buttons fall off, inconsistent symmetrical parts. 
Minor (Minor Defects): Minor wire ends, non-critical size deviations, slight packaging damage. 
IV. Inspection Rules and Criteria
Sampling Plan: Based on the batch size, the sampling quantity is determined according to the AQL standard. 
Defect determination: 
If just one Critical defect is found, the entire batch can be judged as不合格 (unqualified). 
The number of major defects exceeded the AQL acceptance limit, and thus it was determined to be unqualified. 
The safety project adheres to the principle of "zero tolerance". 
Report Output: The detailed inspection report should include the sample size, measurement data, defect description (with attached pictures), and rating results.
The quality inspection of clothing products requires professional knowledge and meticulous operation. Through strict factory audits to ensure that the manufacturers have stable production capabilities, and then through the final random inspection before shipment to objectively evaluate the finished products, a complete quality assurance system is formed. Purchasers and brand owners should, based on product positioning and target markets, formulate corresponding acceptance standards to ensure that the product quality meets expectations and provides consumers with safe and comfortable clothing products.