1.1 Color Process
The Walmart color testing process is managed by Consumer Testing Laboratories (CTL) in conjunction with Walmart Associates. The color manual is published in Retail Link at “Retail Link > Site Map > CTL Documentation USA > Color” or at the following web address: https://retaillink.wal-mart.com/rl_docs/adp/ENG/6F50B445F098422C938057168713F74C.pdf The manual will guide you through our color approval process from substrate submission to Lab Dip Electronic, Lab Dip, Shade Band Electronic, to Shade Band testing. Please refer to the Walmart Apparel Color testing manual for all color approval questions.
NOTE: The color approval process is not connected to the Pre-production and Production testing process. Color is only tested for color performance and not color matching during the Pre-production and Production Testing process. This enables a Supplier to utilize either testing facility for Pre-production Testing and/or Production Testing.
NOTE: In-store testing is does not police color matching. In-store testing only polices the color performance and not the color matching / lab dips. This enables a Supplier to utilize either testing facility for the Pre-production Testing and/or Production Testing.
NOTE: Color testing is done by CTL in either the Hong Kong Color Lab or the Bentonville Color Lab. Pre-production Testing and/or Production Testing can be done in any geographic location regardless of where the color is being approved.
1.2 Pre-Production and Production Testing
The purpose of Pre-Production testing is to assess performance against Walmart quality standards before production so that problems can be addressed and revised before proceeding to production. Pre-Production testing is required for all domestic and direct import product and should be completed 60 days prior to ship date. A passing report is your approval to cut garments and proceed to production.
Production testing is required for all items regardless of label or supplier. The test should be performed at 10% completion of the production and 30 days before ship date. The purpose of the test is to verify that the materials and workmanship used in production meet or exceeds the Walmart standards listed in this manual and that the product is identical to the Gold Seal sample. Detailed testing requirements are published in Section 3.
1.3 In-Store Quality Audit

This phase of testing confirms that the mass produced apparel items meet or exceed the Walmart standards listed in this manual and that the product is identical to production sample. Only top quality items that pass testing will remain in store. Product that fails testing will be subject to withdraw. Detailed testing requirements are published in Section 3.

2. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Walmart is committed to providing our customers with safe products that comply with all appropriate regulations and standards. Walmart suppliers must comply with all laws, including Federal, State, and Local laws as required under the Supplier Agreement. Walmart reserves the right to monitor compliance through inspection, testing, or audits.
The Walmart Product Safety and Compliance Team manages regulatory and safety requirements for apparel. There is zero tolerance for critical regulatory failures that are discovered in our stores and non-compliant product will be withdrawn from the stores. Walmart Product Safety and Compliance regulatory requirements can be accessed through Retail Link filed under “Retail Link > Site Map > Product Safety and Compliance Library” or at the following web address:
https://retaillink.wal-mart.com/rlFileUpload/main.aspx?topic=5&ukey=W4684
Suppliers should visit this site regularly to keep abreast of the latest changes and new Walmart requirements. This site is not all inclusive and relies on suppliers to be knowledgeable about the current industry and regulatory requirements that pertain to the garment they are supplying.
Walmart does not provide legal advice to its suppliers. Suppliers should seek their own legal counsel on how to comply with all laws applicable to their product.
For information on Product Safety & Compliance, please visit the following web sites:
› Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.html
› California Air Resource Board – Formaldehyde in Composite Wood Products
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm
› Lacey Act
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/index.shtml
› Questions
gmcomply@wal-mart.com

3. Testing Process for Apparel
The purpose of this section of the Apparel Testing Manual is to outline the responsibilities of Suppliers and the designated testing laboratory as it relates to the testing process itself. It also defines testing processes for National Brands and Private Brands Suppliers.
This section details the Tiering system that looks at past testing history of suppliers and tiers suppliers by that performance.
The remainder of this section outlines other commitments required of Suppliers and the testing laboratory.
3.1 National Brands Testing Process
This section identifies testing process for Walmart National Brands and their testing protocols.
Note: The following testing process also applies to Licensed Merchandise.
• No Color Testing unless a Walmart CSI Color used
• Pre-production is mandatory for direct import suppliers and domestic suppliers.
• Production Testing is required for all styles
• In-Store Quality Audits are performed quarterly by the designated testing laboratory
National Brands Suppliers’ performance will be reviewed by Walmart bi-annually and additional testing requirements may be applied to below average suppliers.
National Brands Pre-Production and Production test failures are sent by the test lab to the NY Technical Team for resolution.
In-Store Critical Regulatory failures are sent by the test lab to the Walmart Compliance Team and Critical Walmart failures are sent by the test lab to the NY Technical Team.
In-Store Critical Regulatory High Sampling Retest (HSR) Failures will be sent to Walmart Compliance. In-Store Critical Walmart High Sampling Retest Failures will be sent to the NY Technical Team who will notify Compliance Department for Product withdrawal from stores.
Note: A second Production level test is required for all Children’s items which remain in stores longer than 6 months.
3.2 Supplier Tier Testing Process
Supplier Tiering is not applicable to the testing program for Walmart Apparel. The previous “tiering process” cannot be supported due to the following reasons / requirements:
1. Pre-production and Production Testing is now a requirement for all product shipping to the stores for Walmart Apparel. Pre-production testing is an essential step in managing the quality expectation and deliverable of our supplier base.
2. With the introduction of multiple 3rd party testing facilities, CTL and Bureau Veritas, turn time of testing is the responsibility of the 3rd party testing facility.

Laboratory Report Distribution and Failure Resolution
Critical Regulatory Failures
1. Production Failures and Production Retest Failures will be sent to the Supplier. Production Retest Failures will be sent to Walmart Compliance with a copy to the NY Apparel Technical Team.
2. In-Store Failures will be sent to the Supplier and Walmart Compliance with a copy to the NY Apparel Technical Team.
3. Production Corrective Action Plans (CAP’s) will be requested and evaluated by the testing laboratory.
Critical Walmart Failures
1. Production Failures will be sent to the Supplier and the NY Apparel Technical Team.
2. In-Store failures will be sent to the Supplier and the NY Technical Team. The NY Apparel Technical Team will contact the Compliance Department for withdrawal of the product.
All Major (non-critical) failures will be sent to the Supplier and to the NY Apparel Technical Team for resolution.
3.3 In-Store Quality Audit Process
In order to ensure that merchandise meets Federal and State requirements, Industry Standards, and our Customer’s needs, Consumer Testing Laboratories, Inc. (CTL) will test merchandise pulled directly from Walmart stores sales floors. The In-Store Quality Audits are performed quarterly. This section identifies what will be pulled from stores and defines the testing protocol in place if this “initial In-Store Quality Audit” fails testing.
For the “initial In-Store Quality Audit” all sizes and colorways representative of each style will be pulled from the stores with a minimum of 4 garments per style. Additional testing of failed In-Store goods (High Sampling Retest) may be required when the “Initial In-Store Quality Audit” results in a Critical Regulatory or Critical Walmart Test Failure (see High Sampling Retest section below).
High Sampling Retest for Major or Minor failures will be at the direction of the NY Apparel Technical Team.
If the same style is packaged differently (i.e. different case packs), only 1 test of that style will be tested.
Different Countries of origin or newly introduced colors require additional separate testing.
The Initial In-Store Quality Audit
 During the initial In-Store Quality Audit, all items will be pulled for testing as soon as garments are available in stores. Full testing will be conducted, including Critical Regulatory and Critical Walmart compliance reviews and performance.
High Sampling Retest
 A High Sampling Retest will be conducted when an initial In-Store Quality Audit fails.

- Critical Regulatory In-Store failures will immediately
generate a High Sampling Retest.
- Critical Regulatory Failures have a “zero tolerance” level and any failure will result in a Product Recall from the stores.
- Critical Walmart and Major In-Store Failures will generate a High Sampling Retest only at the direction of the NY Apparel Technical Team for Private and National Brands.
 High Sampling Retests will be pulled from 5 regions of the country and subjected to retesting for the failure attribute only (not full testing) unless full testing is requested by Walmart.
 The High Sampling Retest piece count will be based on the chart on the next page.
 The total required piece count for the High Sampling Retest will be accomplished by pulling equal quantities of samples from 5 Walmart regions of the country.
 The decision to pass or fail the product will be determined by the number of defects per acceptance and rejection level shown in the chart below. For the purpose of High Sampling Retest, multiple defects within the same garment will represent one (1) rejection.
The total number of samples required for testing will be based on the sampling plan procedures outlined in ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 - Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes (known as Military Standard), Special Inspection Level S-4, Single Sampling Plan for Normal Inspection (Table II-A of the Standard).
Order Size
Sample size
Number of Major and Critical Walmart defects:
acceptance/rejection
Up to 10,000 pieces
32 pieces
2 / 3
10,001 to 35,000 pieces
50 pieces
3 / 4
35,001 to 500,000 pieces
80 pieces
5 / 6
500,001 and up
125 pieces
7 / 8
Important Note: Critical Regulatory failures have a “zero tolerance” level and any failure will result in a Product Withdraw from the stores.
3.4 Walmart Exception orders
Flow of fashion-right product remains a key Walmart strategy. These orders use very quick lead times and require different approaches streamlining the approval and testing process, while maintaining safety, quality and consistency of product. Exception orders are buys made outside of the normal milestone deadlines in order to react to market direction or fashion trends.
Note: Supplier must review all requirements to enable proper approval process as defined below before accepting an order.
Items must be clearly identified by the prefix code in the style # for the Supplier Quote (SQ) and Global Design Pack GDP (if applicable), purchase orders and on testing applications for all exception orders. All test results must be satisfactory to ship.