Buyer guide
Quality Control When Sourcing from India
Quality control that works happens while the outcome can still change — not as a post-mortem on goods that have already shipped. This guide sets out the inspection points that prevent claims and the specific failure modes worth checking for.
Approve a golden sample first
Before production, seal and sign a golden sample on both sides. Without an agreed physical reference, "as per sample" is unenforceable. Lock tolerances, materials, finish and packaging in writing against that sample.
The three inspection points that matter
Pre-production inspection checks raw materials and first pieces against the golden sample. In-line inspection at roughly 20–30% complete catches a systematic fault while it can still be corrected. Final random inspection at 100% packed, sampled to AQL — commonly 2.5 major and 4.0 minor — with a full photographic record, is the last gate before shipment.
Category-specific failure modes
In textiles, watch for shade variation between dye lots, shrinkage beyond tolerance and GSM drift. In wood and metal, moisture content, joinery and finish adhesion. In ceramics and glass, breakage in transit driven by packaging. In plastics, colour matching and flash from worn tooling. Undisclosed subcontracting is a cross-category risk.
Use independent testing where it is required
Where a retailer or insurer requires independence, brief and manage an accredited third-party laboratory — for example OEKO-TEX for textiles, or destination-market flammability and chemical tests — and pass the cost through at cost.
Frequently asked questions
What is AQL inspection?
Acceptable Quality Limit sampling inspects a statistically chosen sample from a packed order against defined limits for major and minor defects, giving a pass or fail without checking every unit.
When should inspection happen?
At three points: before production on materials and first pieces, in-line at 20–30% complete, and a final random inspection at 100% packed.
Should quality control be independent?
For high-value or regulated products, independent third-party inspection or testing is worth the cost. For established suppliers, a buyer-side inspector managing the process is often sufficient.
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