QC Parameters
A QC Parameter is a named thing your inspectors check. "Chest measurement." "Color match to approved sample." "Zipper functionality." Each one is a master record carrying the details of how it's checked and what's acceptable.
Parameters are the vocabulary of inspection. Every Parameter Readings row on a QC Inspection references a Parameter. Build the library carefully — sloppy parameters mean sloppy inspections.
Getting there
Awesome bar: Cmd/Ctrl + K → type
qc parameter→ pick QC Parameter ListClick path: Desk → GarmentFlow → Quality Control → QC Parameter card
What's on a Parameter
The fields that actually shape behavior:
- Parameter Name — what inspectors will see and pick. Be specific. "Chest" is bad; "Chest width at armhole" is good.
- Inspection Type — one of three: Measurement (record an actual number), Visual (visual check, pass/fail), Functional Test (perform an action). Drives how the App and Desk render the parameter on the inspection form.
- Inspection Tool — the tool used to inspect (tape measure, AATCC grayscale, spectrometer). Free text. Useful for training and for auditors who ask how a measurement is taken.
- Specification — the target value, written in human language. "520mm at base size M, ±10mm" or "Match to approved sample, no shade off."
- Tolerance — the structured tolerance for measurement parameters. Used by GarmentFlow to decide pass/fail automatically when an actual value is entered.
- Item Group — which Item Group this parameter applies to. A "Chest" parameter applies to tops; an "Inseam" parameter applies to pants. GarmentFlow filters parameter pickers by Item Group when building IQ Templates.
- Operations — which operations this parameter is checked at. A "Seam strength" parameter is checked at Stitching; a "Wash colourfastness" parameter is checked at Wash.
- Critical Parameter — the flag that biases an inspection toward Rejected when it fails. Reserve for the parameters where one fail means the garment can't ship.
- Weightage — for the Overall Score calculation. A 30%-weightage Chest parameter contributes more than a 5%-weightage Hem opening parameter.
- Minimum IQ Level — the IQ Template rank at which this parameter starts being mandatory. A parameter with Minimum IQ Level = Q3 is only checked when the inspection is at Q3 or better.
- Is Active — disable parameters that are out of use; don't delete them.
How parameters become inspections
You don't pick parameters directly when starting an inspection. The flow:
- A Tech Pack has an IQ Template attached (set on the Tech Pack's Design tab).
- The IQ Template lists the parameters that apply at that template's rank.
- When an inspection is opened against a Production Batch, GarmentFlow pulls the IQ Template from the linked Tech Pack and populates the Parameter Readings table with those parameters.
So the discipline of building a clean parameter library pays off every time a new Tech Pack is created — the right parameters are already there, ready to be grouped into a template.
A working example
Building parameters for a basic tee:
- Chest width at armhole — Measurement, tolerance ±10mm, Critical, 25% weightage, Item Group = Tops, checked at Stitching.
- Body length — Measurement, tolerance ±10mm, 15% weightage, Item Group = Tops, checked at Stitching.
- Sleeve length — Measurement, tolerance ±5mm, 15% weightage, Item Group = Tops, checked at Stitching.
- Seam construction — Visual, 20% weightage, Critical, Item Group = Tops, checked at Stitching.
- Color match to approved sample — Visual, 15% weightage, Critical, Item Group = Tops, checked at Final.
- Label placement — Visual, 5% weightage, Item Group = Tops, checked at Finishing.
- Hangtag attached correctly — Functional Test, 5% weightage, Item Group = Tops, checked at Packing.
Seven parameters, three types, two Critical flags. That's a complete enough library for a basic tee inspection. Add more as patterns emerge.
What to do next
Once parameters exist, bundle them into IQ Templates so they can be applied to Tech Packs.