Critical
Likely to injure the user or breaks a mandatory rule of the destination market. One critical defect in the sample means the lot is not accepted.
Quality · Inspection checkpoints
What our inspectors check.
Our inspectors check each product against a category checklist: defects classed as critical, major or minor, on-site tests, measurements, packing, labels and market marks. Pick your category to see the full list.
- 10
- product categories
- 3
- defect classes
- Z1.4
- sampling standard
Defect classesANSI/ASQ Z1.4
CriticalLikely to injure the user or breaks a mandatory rule of the destination market.
AQL 0MajorLikely to cause a failure, reduce usability or make the product unsaleable, so a customer would return it.
AQL 2.5 typicalMinorA departure from the specification that does not affect use and is unlikely on its own to cause a return.
AQL 4.0 typical By product category
Choose your product. See every checkpoint.
Each page lists the defects by class, the tests we run on site, the measurements we take, the packing and labelling checks and the marks your market expects.
- Apparel and textiles T-shirts, shirts, dresses, knitwear, denim, outerwear, sportswear, childrenswear and fabrics by the metre. 18 defects · 6 tests · 6 measurements →
- Home textiles Bed linen, duvets and pillows, towels, cushions, throws, curtains, table linen and rugs. 16 defects · 6 tests · 6 measurements →
- Metal hardgoods Kitchenware and drinkware, hardware and fittings, tools, fasteners, brackets, castings and sheet-metal parts. 15 defects · 6 tests · 6 measurements →
- Plastic products Housings and covers, food containers and kitchenware, bottles, garden and household products, and technical parts. 15 defects · 6 tests · 6 measurements →
- Electronics and electricals Small appliances, chargers and power supplies, lighting, audio, wearables, battery-powered devices and accessories. 16 defects · 6 tests · 5 measurements →
- Furniture Case goods and storage, tables, dining and upholstered seating, office chairs, outdoor furniture and flat-pack. 16 defects · 6 tests · 5 measurements →
- Leather goods and footwear Bags, wallets and small leather goods, belts, gloves, and leather, textile and synthetic footwear. 15 defects · 6 tests · 5 measurements →
- Ceramics and glass Stoneware, porcelain and earthenware tableware, mugs, bakeware, vases and decorative pieces, and glassware. 15 defects · 6 tests · 5 measurements →
- Toys Plush and soft toys, plastic and wooden toys, battery-operated and ride-on toys, games and puzzles, and baby toys. 16 defects · 6 tests · 5 measurements →
- Packaging Corrugated shipping cartons, folding cartons, rigid gift boxes, labels and sleeves, mailers, bags and inserts. 13 defects · 6 tests · 4 measurements →
- See how we report it Flip through an example pre-shipment report: summary, photos of every defect, measurements and tests. Example report · 7 pages →
- Not listed here? Send us the product, specification and approved sample. We build the checklist with you before the inspection. Any product category →
How we class defects
Three classes. One clear decision.
Every defect we find is recorded, photographed and classed. The count in each class is compared with the accept number from your AQL plan to give the result.
Major
Likely to cause a failure, reduce usability or make the product unsaleable, so a customer would return it.
Minor
A departure from the specification that does not affect use and is unlikely on its own to cause a return.
Plan your inspection
Free tools that work with these lists.
Checkpoint questions
Straight answers.
Anything else, ask us directly. A principal replies, not a bot.
anirudh@sourcesquid.coWhat is the difference between critical, major and minor defects?
Critical defects could injure the user or break a mandatory rule, and none are allowed. Major defects affect use or saleability, so a customer would likely return the product. Minor defects are small deviations that do not affect use.
Which AQL do inspectors use?
Most consumer goods use ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 General Inspection Level II with AQL 0 for critical, 2.5 for major and 4.0 for minor defects. Toys and premium goods often tighten major to 1.5.
Can you inspect a category that is not listed here?
Yes. These ten pages cover the categories we inspect most. For anything else, send us the product, specification and approved sample and we build the checklist with you before the inspection.
Book a check
Your product, checked point by point.
Tell us the product, the factory and the date. We confirm the inspector and the fixed price the same working day.