Inspection
Inspection is the process of checking whether materials and products that have undergone sewing or processing meet the quality, appearance, dimensions, quantity, and other requirements specified in the specification sheet or sample, and preventing defective items from being shipped.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Overview
Inspection is the work of checking apparel and garment materials for damage, dirt, sewing defects, accessory defects, specification mismatches, and the like, and determining which items pass and which require action. It is performed not only by visual inspection, but also by combining measurements, functional checks, and verification.
The scope of inspection is not limited to finished goods. By setting checks at each process stage, such as incoming textile and accessories, cut parts, semi-finished goods during sewing, and processed products, it becomes easier to reduce rework and accidents in later processes.
Position in Product Manufacturing
In general, inspection is carried out when materials are received, before cutting, during sewing, after processing, and before shipping. What is checked at each stage is determined by material characteristics, product specifications, and the division of responsibilities with the customer.
Fabric inspection is the work of checking the roll for damage, dirt, and color differences, and its scope and purpose differ from inspection of finished goods. On the other hand, rechecking at the cutting and sewing stages is important for preventing defects from being introduced and accidents during processing.
Check Items and Procedure
Inspection standards are organized based on the specification sheet, approved sample, and pre-production approval details so that anyone is likely to make the same judgment. For items that are easy to judge differently, the acceptable range, checking method, and response method are shared in advance.
During inspection, item number, color, size, quantity, hangtags and labels, as well as dirt, tears, holes, seams, thread finishing, left-right differences, pattern placement, accessory attachment condition, and the function of zippers and buttons are checked for each product.
When a defect is found, the content, location, quantity, lot, photos, and other details are recorded and used to determine repair, reprocessing, exclusion, and cause verification. If the same defect continues to occur, it is important to quickly feed the information back to the process.
- Whether the sample matches in color, shape, and specifications
- Whether dimensions and left-right balance meet the specifications
- Whether there are seam irregularities, skipped stitches, puckering, or remaining thread
- Whether there are dirt, scratches, color unevenness, or processing unevenness
- Whether accessories and labels are attached correctly and function properly
Notes on Ordering and Quality Control
When placing an order, make clear who will perform the inspection, when it will be performed, what will be inspected, the check items, and how to report defects. In particular, how much difference from the sample is acceptable should not be handled verbally alone; it is important to share it using the specification sheet and images.
Whether to inspect 100% or to inspect only a sample is determined based on quantity, product application, quality risk, and delivery schedule. Even when sample inspection is used, the conditions for expanding the scope and reinspecting when a problem is found should be defined in advance.
Needle detection is a safety control process for checking for broken needles or metal fragments that may be mixed in during sewing and other processes. Its purpose differs from inspection, which focuses on appearance and specifications, so it should be planned as a separate control when necessary.
Differences from Similar Terms
Fabric inspection is the work of checking the roll before cutting and identifying fabric defects and color differences. Inspection is a broader term that refers to confirming quality and specifications for materials, semi-finished goods, and finished goods.
Needle detection mainly aims to confirm metal contamination, while inspection covers a wide range of quality items such as sewing, appearance, dimensions, accessories, and labels. Puckering and skipped stitches are typical sewing defects that may be found and judged during inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of defects are checked in apparel inspection?
Dirt, scratches, holes, color differences, seam irregularities, poor thread finishing, dimensional differences, left-right differences, pattern misalignment, and poor accessory attachment are checked. The check items vary depending on the item and specifications, so priority items are documented and operated based on the approved sample and specification sheet.
Are inspection and needle detection the same work?
No, they are not. Inspection is the broad work of checking whether appearance, dimensions, sewing, accessories, and labels meet the specifications. Needle detection is mainly safety control for checking for metal contamination such as broken needles. Depending on the product and sales destination conditions, both are carried out as separate processes.
When are mass production inspection standards decided?
Basically, they are decided before mass production starts, based on the specification sheet and approved sample. The inspection points, judgment criteria, inspection method, contact person for defects, and handling measures are shared between the ordering party and the production side. If there is a specification change during mass production, the standards document is also updated to prevent mixing with the old standards.
