Inspections
Beyond Basic Checks: QC inspection, measurement, fault, and AQL shading
With decades of experience in high-volume garment logistics and value-added services, we understand that true quality control goes far beyond a cursory glance. We conduct detailed, multi-point inspections at strategic stages of your supply chain – from inbound goods verification to pre-retail final checks – ensuring perfection before your products reach the consumer.
Our QC processes are systematic, robust, and tailored to the unique demands of apparel and retail products. We deploy skilled inspectors and advanced methodologies to scrutinise every detail:
Precise Measurement Verification:
Inaccurate sizing is a leading cause of garment returns. Our teams conduct precise measurement checks against your specified tolerance levels and grading rules. This includes:
- Key Dimension Checks: Verifying critical points like chest, waist, length, sleeve, and inseam.
- Size Grade Conformance: Ensuring consistent grading across all sizes within a style.
- Tolerance Adherence: Confirming measurements fall within your acceptable variations to guarantee a consistent fit for your customers.
Comprehensive Fault Identification:
Our inspectors are trained to identify a vast array of manufacturing and material faults, no matter how subtle. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Fabric Defects: Stubs, holes, pulls, runs, dye marks, and weave inconsistencies.
- Stitching Irregularities: Broken stitches, loose threads, uneven seams, skipped stitches, and puckering.
- Component Issues: Missing or faulty buttons, zippers, snaps, embellishments, and labels.
- Construction Flaws: Asymmetry, poor pattern matching, twisted seams, and incorrect assembly.
- Contamination: Spotting any unwanted debris or marks from transit or handling.
Accurate Shading (AQL) Checks:
Shading variations, even minor ones, can significantly impact the aesthetic appeal and perceived quality of a garment. Our QC includes rigorous AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) shading checks to ensure colour consistency across batches and within multi-panel garments:
- Batch Consistency: Comparing garments from different production runs to identify shade variations.
- Panel Matching: Ensuring that different panels of a single garment (e.g., sleeves, body, collar) are perfectly matched in shade.
- Lighting Protocols: Conducting inspections under standardised lighting conditions to ensure accurate colour assessment.
- AQL Application: Applying your defined AQL standards to determine the acceptable level of quality for your shipments, allowing for informed decisions on acceptance or rejection.
A Lacoste success story
Lacoste
Post-Brexit, the French-headquartered business wanted to establish a UK warehouse and fulfilment centre to overcome UK-Europe border delays.
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