Technical Sourcing Guides
AQL 1.5 vs 2.5 Industrial Sampling Handbook
An engineering-grade breakdown of statistical quality inspection under ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 (ISO 2859-1) Normal Sampling Level II for global apparel sourcing.
Sampling Standard
ANSI/ASQ Z1.4
Inspection Level
General Level II
Critical Defects
0 (Zero Allowed)
Major Acceptance
AQL 1.5 Threshold
ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 Normal Level II Sampling Table
| Order Batch Size (Units) | Sample Size Inspected | Critical (AQL 0) [Ac / Re] | Major (AQL 1.5) [Ac / Re] | Minor (AQL 4.0) [Ac / Re] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 – 1,200 | 80 Pcs | 0 / 1 | 3 / 4 | 7 / 8 |
| 1,201 – 3,200 | 125 Pcs | 0 / 1 | 5 / 6 | 10 / 11 |
| 3,201 – 10,000 | 200 Pcs | 0 / 1 | 7 / 8 | 14 / 15 |
| 10,001 – 35,000 | 315 Pcs | 0 / 1 | 10 / 11 | 21 / 22 |
Defect Categorization Standards
In apparel manufacturing, an Acceptance Quality Limit (AQL) indicates the maximum percentage of defective units considered acceptable in a random sample:
- Critical Defects (Ac = 0, Re = 1): Any hazard rendering the garment dangerous or legally unmarketable (e.g., broken needle pieces, toxic chemical odors, missing mandatory care symbols). A single critical defect fails the entire shipment.
- Major Defects (AQL 1.5): Defects affecting consumer usability or aesthetics beyond acceptable commercial tolerances (e.g., open seams, severe shade variance, measurements exceeding allowed tolerance bands).
- Minor Defects (AQL 4.0): Cosmetic imperfections not affecting functionality or wearability (e.g., loose uncut threads, slight label tilt within 2mm).
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