Accepted Quality Level (AQL) Chart for Apparel Industry

Accepted Quality Level (AQL) Chart for the Apparel Industry 

Noor Ahmed Raaz
Specialized in Apparel Manufacturing
Owner and Editor in chief Textile Merchandising
Asst. Prof., Department of Textile Engineering
Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology
Email: mnnabi@adust.edu.bd

AQL:

AQL means Accepted Quality Level. AQL is designed as the maximum average defective items in a lot. Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) is a widely used standard in the apparel industry to determine the acceptable number of defective units in a batch of garments. Factories and suppliers rely on AQL standards to ensure product quality, maintain consistency, and reduce the risk of defects before shipping orders to buyers. AQL helps businesses define the level of quality that is considered acceptable and provides a method for sampling inspection.

It is expressed in a percentage number of average defective items that can simply be identified by following a formula,

Average defective item = No. of defective items found during inspection / Total no. of item inspection X 100.

The following AQL system can be used in the garments industry for final inspection.

1. AOL 1%
2. AOL 1.5%
3. AOL 2.5%
4. AOL 4%
5. AOL 6.5%
6. AOL 10%

AQL Process:

This AQL standard will be used for inspection dependent on the price and the quality of the product. Normally lower figure AQL standard such as AQL 1% is used for higher price garments and lower figure AQL standards such as 10% are used for lower quality and lower price garments. As, for example, AQL 2.5% means,the maximum average defective item is 2.5%, which is acceptable in the inspection system.

It is the supplier’s responsibility to ensure that the product is manufactured based on the AQL standard. The supplier must have an internal audit system in place on all stages of production. Normally standard garments factory work to an AQL 2.5 for major defects and AQL 4.0 for minor. For critical defects, they adopt a Zero Acceptance Level. For deliveries that fail the AQL, a 100% inspection must be completed.

AQL Chart for the Apparel Industry:

Almost every factory recommends Suppliers use a tighter AQL in executing their internal audit. Please see the AQL chart below-

This chart is a tool provided to help determine the sample lot. The effectiveness and efficiency of a quality audit largely depend upon proper audit execution.

This means:

1. Correct selection of sampling lot.

2. Good random sample pick-up.

3.  Accurate classification of defects.

AQL is a crucial part of quality control in the apparel industry, ensuring that garments meet buyers’ quality expectations. By following AQL standards, manufacturers can reduce defects, improve customer satisfaction, and maintain strong industry reputations.

Reference:

AQL Chart for Apparel Industry (Source: Apparel Manufacturing Quality Control Standards).