Quality control
Inspection is only useful before the goods ship. After that, your leverage is a polite email and a long wait, and the mill knows it.
We inspect against the standard written in the purchase order — not against a feeling. Weight, width, shade and defects are measured and recorded, and the report is something you can act on rather than file.
What is included
Weight and width measurement
A known area is cut and weighed on a calibrated scale, and width is measured selvedge to selvedge at three points per roll. Both are compared with the tolerance in the PO.
Shade check against the approved dip
Under a stated light source, with the grey-scale rating recorded. A shade that matches in the office and not in daylight is not a match.
4-point defect scoring
Defects are scored by length, normalised per 100 square yards, and reported per roll with photos and roll numbers.
Packing and quantity check
Roll length, cores, poly, labels and shipping marks, checked against the packing list before loading.
A pass or fail conclusion
Referenced to the standard in the PO, signed and dated, with the remedy proposed if the lot fails.
Photos you can use in a claim
Each major defect photographed with a tape measure in frame and the roll number visible. That is what makes a claim settle quickly.
Inline checks, not just a final pass
A final inspection tells you what went wrong. An inline check catches width drift or shade movement while the machine is still running, which is the only point where it can be corrected cheaply.
How it works
- 01
Agree the standard
Before production: the 4-point threshold, the AQL level, the tolerance for weight and width, and the defects that are zero-tolerance.
- 02
Inline checks
During production we check weight, width and shade so a problem is caught while it can still be corrected, not after the roll is finished.
- 03
Pre-shipment inspection
A sample of rolls is inspected by the agreed rule, scored, photographed and reported.
- 04
Remedy before loading
If the lot fails, the mill reworks, replaces or credits before the container is booked. That is the whole point of inspecting early.
Timeline
| Stage | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Inline check | During production | Catches drift early |
| Pre-shipment inspection | 1–3 days | Depends on roll count |
| Report | 24 hours | With photos and scores |
| Remedy if failed | 3–7 days | Before loading |
What we need from you
- · The approved standard: lab dip, sample and spec sheet
- · The AQL level and the 4-point threshold you will accept
- · Access to the mill at inspection time
- · The ship date, so inspection is not squeezed at the end
What we do not do
- · We do not inspect after the goods are loaded. There is nothing to negotiate then.
- · We do not accept a mill inspecting its own fabric as assurance.
- · We do not sign off a lot that fails the standard in the PO, whatever the commercial pressure.
FAQ
What is the difference between AQL and 4-point?
AQL decides how many rolls to inspect. The 4-point system decides how a defect is scored. You need both written into the PO.
Do you inspect 100% of the rolls?
Usually a sample by AQL. For a first order or a high-value lot, full inspection is worth discussing.
Can you inspect a mill you did not source?
Yes. We inspect against your standard, wherever the goods are produced.
What happens if the lot fails?
The mill reworks, replaces the defective rolls or issues a credit — before shipment. We do not ship a failed lot and argue later.
Do you test composition or harmful substances?
No. That needs an accredited laboratory. We can arrange the sample submission, but the result comes from the lab.
How is a roll counted as defective?
By the points it accumulates under the 4-point system, not by whether a single defect exists. Almost every roll has some defects; the question is density.