A garment quality inspection takes a random sample from an apparel order and checks it against the approved sample and the tech pack: does it look right, is it sewn right, does it measure right, is it labeled right, and is it packed right. The result — pass, fail or hold — decides whether the order ships. This checklist follows the way an inspector works through a lot: confirm the order and the AQL plan, draw the sample, compare style and shade, tally every defect by class, measure the points of measure for each size, check the trims and labels, run quick function tests on fasteners and elastic, then look at the packing. You can fill it in here and download a finished PDF without creating an account.
Inline or final: when to inspect
An inline inspection happens while the order is still being sewn — often once the first finished pieces come off the line. It is the cheap moment to catch a wrong measurement or a recurring stitching fault, before it is in every garment. A final random inspection happens when the order is finished and most of it is packed, and it is the one that decides shipment.
The same form works for both. Record the stage at the top, and for a final inspection note how much of the order was actually finished and packed when you sampled it — sampling from a half-packed order means half the order was never at risk of being drawn.
AQL in plain terms
Most apparel buyers sample using the acceptance sampling tables in ISO 2859-1 (ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 in the US). From the lot size and an inspection level — usually General II — the table gives a sample size. The buyer sets an AQL for each class of defect, often zero tolerance for critical, 2.5 for major and 4.0 for minor, and the table gives the largest number of defects you may find in the sample and still accept the lot.
This form does not do that arithmetic for you. Type the sample size and the accept numbers from the table your buyer uses, tally the defects you find, then record whether the totals are within those numbers. That keeps the decision traceable to the buyer's own plan.
Count every defect once, in the right class
Each defect gets an entry: what it is, where on the garment, its class and how many pieces had it. A critical defect could hurt the wearer or breaks a legal requirement — a needle left in a seam, a drawstring on a child's hood. A major defect would likely cause the garment to be returned — an open seam, a visible stain, a measurement well out. A minor defect falls short of the standard but probably would not stop a sale — a loose thread end, slight puckering.
Count each defective piece by its worst defect if that is the buyer's rule, and note it. Photograph the worst example of each defect type; the report keeps them with the tally.
Measure the same points, the same way
A measurement sheet is only as good as its points of measure. Use the buyer's spec sheet: the exact description of where each measurement is taken, the target for each size and the tolerance. Lay the garment flat, smooth it without stretching, and measure several pieces per size. The measurement list records spec, tolerance and actual side by side, and marks each one within or outside tolerance.
Speak while you walk, and the document writes itself: say "size medium, chest width, spec fifty-two, plus or minus one, measured fifty-three point five, out" and the entry fills in.
Common questions
What is checked in a garment quality inspection?
Quantity and packing status, style and color against the approved sample, workmanship defects by class, measurements against the spec sheet, fabric, trims and labels, simple function tests on fasteners and elastic, and the packing — ending with a pass, fail or hold result.
What AQL is normally used for clothing?
Many buyers use General Inspection Level II with AQL 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor defects, and accept no critical defects at all. Your buyer's quality manual is the authority — this form records whatever plan you were given.
What is the difference between a critical, major and minor garment defect?
Critical: a safety or legal risk, such as a sharp object or a missing required label. Major: a defect likely to make a customer return the garment, such as an open seam, a hole or a clear shade difference. Minor: a small departure from the standard that would probably not stop the sale.
What should a care label include?
It depends on the destination market. In the US, apparel generally needs fiber content, country of origin and the maker's or seller's identity, plus care instructions. Check the buyer's labeling requirements for the country the order is going to.
What happens when an order fails inspection?
The factory usually sorts and reworks the lot, and a re-inspection is booked. In the ReportWalk app, start a re-inspection from this report and only the failed checks come back, each asking whether it is now right, with a photo. Re-inspections are free.