AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) sampling is the international standard for determining whether a production lot meets quality requirements. Understanding AQL is essential for any buyer sourcing from India.
AQL uses statistical sampling to inspect a representative portion of a production lot rather than checking every unit. The most commonly used standard is ISO 2859-1 (previously MIL-STD-1916).
For footwear and leather goods, typical AQL levels are: Critical defects: 0 (zero tolerance), Major defects: 2.5, Minor defects: 4.0.
Critical defects are safety-related issues that could harm the consumer. These always have zero tolerance. Major defects affect product functionality or appearance significantly. Minor defects are cosmetic issues that most consumers would not notice.
The sample size depends on the lot size. For example, a lot of 3,200 pairs with AQL 2.5 requires inspecting 200 randomly selected pairs. If more than 10 pairs have major defects, the lot fails.
Source India conducts AQL inspections at both in-line and pre-shipment stages, providing clear pass/fail reports with photographic evidence for buyer decision-making.