Inspection Before Shipping

Most quality problems are cheaper to fix on the factory floor than at the destination port. Here is what actually happens to your order between the purchase order and the container leaving.

The three inspection points

There are three moments where a bedding order can be checked, and most suppliers only do one of them.

• Fabric inspection on receipt. The roll goods are checked before cutting — GSM, width, colour against the approved swatch, and visible defects per roll.
• In-line inspection during sewing. This is the one that saves money. Checking after 500 pieces are sewn means 500 pieces to fix; checking at 50 means 50.
• Final random inspection before packing. Sampling by a recognised standard (AQL is the usual one), checking measurements, stitching, colour and packing.

We run all three. The middle one is the one most suppliers skip, because it interrupts production — which is exactly why it catches things early.

What AQL actually means

If your supplier says 'AQL 2.5' without further detail, ask which standard and which defect classes. AQL inspections classify defects as critical, major and minor, each with its own acceptance number.

A critical defect — a safety issue, or a wrong size labelled as correct — normally has an acceptance number of zero. Major defects (visible stitching faults, colour deviation, wrong measurements) typically allow a small number. Minor defects (loose threads, minor creasing) allow more.

Without the defect class breakdown, 'AQL 2.5' tells you very little.

What we check on a bedding order

• Measurements against the size spec, with tolerance — typically ±2 cm on flat dimensions.
• Colour against the approved swatch, under standard lighting, not daylight in the workshop.
• Stitching: stitch density, seam strength, no skipped stitches.
• Elastic tension on fitted sheets, tested over a mattress rather than flat.
• Labelling: care label present, correct, and positioned as specified.
• Packing: piece count per polybag, barcode scans, carton weight and marking.

What you should ask for

Ask for the inspection report, not just a statement that it passed. A report shows the sample size, the defect counts found, and the inspector's name and date.

If you want your own third-party inspection, we will work with it — the usual arrangement is for the inspector to attend the final random inspection, which requires a few days' notice so the order is complete and packed.