Standard and method for inspection and testing of protective clothing, as well as inspection and verification methods for factories and certification services

The blazer, as an important fashion accessory, its craftsmanship quality, fabric quality and detail processing directly affect the brand image and consumer experience. For brand owners, purchasers and quality inspection professionals, establishing a comprehensive supply chain quality management system through strict factory audits and pre-shipment inspections (PSI) is crucial. It is of vital importance. This article takes a fashionable patchwork vest as an example to systematically elaborate on the inspection and testing standards, quality control (QC) process, and inspection methods for vest products. 
I. Source Control: Key Points for Factory Audits by Clothing Manufacturers 
Before commencing mass production, conducting a comprehensive supplier audit for clothing manufacturers is the foundation for ensuring the consistency of product quality. 
Quality management system certification: Does the factory have established and implemented a complete quality management system? Does it have complete procedures and records for incoming material inspection (IQC) of fabrics and accessories, cutting machine control, production line inspection (IPQC), and final product inspection (FQC)? 
Production equipment and technical capabilities: Assess the condition of equipment such as automatic cutting machines, special vehicles (such as quilting machines, double-needle machines), and bonding machines. The factory should have a professional quality inspection area, equipped with standard light boxes, fabric inspection machines, size measurement tables and other testing equipment. 
Supply chain management of accessories: Verify the qualifications and test reports (such as color fastness, shrinkage rate, material certification) of raw materials including fabrics (such as knit fabric, rib fabric, lining fabric), zippers, labels, and leather materials of the products. 
Pre-production Sample approval process: Verify whether the factory strictly follows the production sample creation and approval procedures. This is a crucial pre-requisite step for quality control. 
II. Finished Product Inspection: Standard Sampling Inspection Procedure for Malaiko Product AQL 
The inspection of the protective clothing should be conducted according to the AQL sampling standard (usually using LEVEL II, with AQL = 2.5/4.0), through random sampling, covering multiple aspects such as appearance, craftsmanship, size, and packaging. 
Packaging and Labeling Inspection 
Packaging materials: Check the thickness and ventilation holes of the plastic bags; Verify whether the material, size and shipping mark information (model number, color, size, quantity) of the outer box are correct and clear. 
Label and marking: Verify the contents, positions and stitching of the washing label, main label and size label. Ensure that all the labels (tags, price tags) are accurately and firmly sewn. All the label information must be correct. 
Barcode scanning: Use the scanning gun to check the barcodes on the outer box and the tags, ensuring that the information is legible and consistent with the order. 
2. Appearance and Fabric Inspection 
Fabric quality: Under standard lighting conditions, check for any color differences, different surfaces, backlit or frontlit conditions, embroidery, stains, holes, etc. on the fabric. The weight of needle-punched cotton and spray-gummed cotton (such as 600G/1000G) must meet the specification requirements. 
Overall appearance: The product is clean overall, without oil stains, water marks, or loose threads. The left and right symmetrical parts (such as pockets, hems, and sleeve openings) should have consistent shapes, sizes, and positions. 
3. Workmanship Inspection (Process and Production Inspection) -  Core inspection items 
Sewing Process: 
Pitch: The required pitch is 3 centimeters with 11-12 stitches. The line should be uniform and smooth, without skipped stitches, floating stitches or missed stitches. 
Thread ends: Both internal and external thread ends must be trimmed neatly. 
Wiring: There should be no more than two wiring points within a 30-centimeter area, and the wiring must be neatly arranged. 
Key areas of process: 
Zipper: The front zipper of the door should be straight and smooth, without any waves or knots. 
Pockets: The pocket positions are accurate, with consistent height on both sides, and the pocket corners are square without any frayed edges or missing parts. 
Cuff and hem: The upper ribbing and the hembing are evenly spaced and have consistent shrinkage, without any twist or slant. 
Overlapping (if applicable): The overlapping lines are smooth, the cotton filling is uniform, and there is no cotton bulging or needle holes. 
Material quality: The zippers, buttons, and ribbons used as accessories are free from rust, damage, and function properly. 
4. Dimensional Measurement 
Use a soft tape measure to accurately measure the key dimensions and compare them with the allowable tolerances specified in the process sheet (Tech Pack). The main measurement areas typically include: 
Length of the garment (front center, back center) 
Chest circumference (1 inch below the armpit) 
Wide hem 
Shoulder width

Shoulder strap (cup height) 
All measurement dimensions must be within the allowable tolerance range. 
5. Internal Process Inspection 
Check whether the internal seams are evenly sewn, whether the edge folding (locking) is properly done, and whether there are any loose hairs. 
Check whether there are any remaining sharp items such as broken needles or scissors inside (Critical defect). 
Whether the stitching or insertion of leather materials is neat, without any glue spilling out or wrinkles. 
III. Common Defect Classification 
Critical (Serious Defect): Holes, sharp foreign objects, severe stains (unremovable), incorrect main label/bleach label information, severe imbalance in symmetry. 
Major Defects: Obvious color difference, size deviation, poor zipper function, large areas of loose threads, jumping stitches / broken threads. 
Minor (Minor Defect): Minor wire ends, minor stains (removable), connections in non-critical areas. 
IV. Inspection Rules and Judgments 
Sampling Plan: Based on the order batch size, samples are randomly selected in accordance with the AQL standard. 
Defect determination: The determination is made based on the defect level and quantity. If the number of Critical or Major defects exceeds the AQL acceptance limit, the entire batch can be deemed不合格 (unqualified). 
Report Output: Provide a detailed inspection report, including the sample quantity, defect description, defect pictures, size measurement records, and the final determination result. 
To implement professional quality control for the garment products, it is necessary to start from the source of supply chain management. Through rigorous factory inspection to ensure that the manufacturers have stable production capacity, and then conduct final random inspection (FRI) before shipment to objectively evaluate the finished products, thus forming a closed-loop quality assurance system. This set of inspection and testing methods covering the entire process from cutting machines to packaging is the core strategy for brands to maintain their reputation, avoid risks, and enhance customer satisfaction. Mastering these key points will make your garment inspection work more efficient and accurate. Our Chinese HuiBang Focus specializes in product inspection and quarantine, testing and certification, supplier background checks, audits, factory inspections, and other services.