Quality is not something added at the end of a production run. It is a standard agreed before the run starts and verified at several points along the way.
When inspection should happen
- Fabric inspection on arrival, before cutting
- First piece inspection at the start of sewing
- In line checks during the run
- Final inspection before packing
Catching a construction error on the first piece costs one garment. Catching it at final inspection costs the run.
What gets checked
- Measurements against the approved specification and tolerance
- Seam quality, stitch density and thread tension
- Symmetry and alignment of panels, pockets and closures
- Fabric faults, shading and dye lot variation
- Labels, care content and packaging accuracy
Define acceptable before you start
Agree what constitutes a defect, what tolerance applies to each measurement, and what happens to pieces that fall outside it. Without that agreement, inspection becomes a negotiation after the fact.
The approved sample is the standard
Production is measured against the pre production sample, which is why signing that sample off in writing matters. If the standard is ambiguous, so is the outcome.
Full inspection versus sampling
Statistical sampling is normal at volume. For small domestic runs, inspecting every piece is practical, and it is one of the advantages of producing at a smaller scale.