Fabric Inspection: the 4-Point System

Roll-level defect scoring, fabric defect maps and culling before cutting

The 4-point system is the fabric inspection method in which every defect on a roll is scored from 1 to 4 by its length, and the roll is accepted or rejected by its total points per 100 square metres. The argemas Fabric Inspection Module applies the method digitally: defects are scored with the 4-point system, every roll gets a metre-by-metre defect map, and defective fabric is separated before it reaches cutting.

What is the 4-point system?

In the 4-point system every roll passing through the inspection machine is examined; each defect found is given 1, 2, 3 or 4 points by its length. The roll's total points are related to its length, and the roll is accepted, conditionally accepted or rejected against the threshold the plant has set. The method's value is that different inspectors score the same roll the same way.

How the argemas Fabric Inspection Module works

The module is a preventive quality-control system developed to stop defective fabric from entering downstream processes and causing bottlenecks and waste. The plant's acceptance and rejection criteria and fabric defect codes are defined in the system; rolls are recorded and barcoded. Length data from the inspection machine is transferred automatically, while the inspector records defects instantly on a touchscreen and scores them with the 4-point system.

Roll-level barcodes and traceability: which roll went to which order and cutting batch.
Automatic length from the inspection machine: metres are never typed in.
Touchscreen defect entry: defect position, type and score in one tap.
Metre-by-metre defect map: shows which defect sits at which metre.
Accept/reject decision: automatic against the plant's threshold.
Culling before cutting: a defective roll is separated before it reaches the line.

What the fabric defect map is for

The defect map shows the defect at every metre of the roll. When the cutting room spreads and cuts the marker it knows where the defects are, so those areas are skipped or second-quality pieces are planned in advance. Maps accumulated per supplier report transparently which fabric supplier produces which defect type, and how often.

Quality during production: SPC and end-of-line inspection

Fabric inspection is the gate at the start of production; argemas carries quality into production as well. With the SPC module, quality staff walk the stations with handheld terminals, inspect a set number of intermediate products at random and, on finding a defect, scan the operation and bundle barcode to locate its source instantly. The end-of-line quality module inspects every product 100%, shows which operator the defect came from and routes the product to repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the 4-point system and the argemas fabric inspection module.

The roll is run through the inspection machine; each defect is given 1–4 points by its length, and the roll's total points are related to its length to reach an accept, conditional-accept or reject decision. In the argemas Fabric Inspection Module the defect codes and thresholds are defined per plant, the inspector enters the defect on a touchscreen, and scoring and the decision are made automatically. Every roll gets a metre-by-metre defect map.

Yes. Length data from the inspection machine is transferred to the system automatically; the inspector only enters the defect and its type. Because rolls are recorded and barcoded, the link between roll, order and cutting batch is kept and traceability is maintained.

The defect map shows which defect sits at which metre of the roll. When the cutting room prepares the marker it knows the defective areas, so they are skipped or planned as second-quality pieces. Maps accumulated per supplier report which fabric supplier produces which defect, and how often.

With the argemas SPC module, quality staff walk the stations with handheld terminals, inspect random samples and locate a defect's source instantly through the bundle or product barcode. The end-of-line quality module inspects every product 100%, shows the operator who caused the defect and routes the product to repair. Quality reports by order, product, line and operator are real time.