Quality control (QC) in garment manufacturing is an important method that ensures that goods fulfill specified criteria of durability, dependability, and attractiveness, thereby avoiding costly product recalls and lawsuits. This article examines the critical function of QC in the garment industry, highlights frequent types of QC failures, and explores the importance of strong QC systems.
Common Quality Control Failures in Garment Production
The Shrinkage Problem: One primary reason garments fail QC checks is excessive shrinkage during the pre-shrinking stage. Pre-shrinking is a controlled process aimed at preventing future shrinkage, ensuring accurate sizing. However, over-shrinking can result in garments that are misshaped and too small. Quality control checks are essential for identifying such issues before the products reach the consumer.
Aesthetic Defects: Garments must also meet aesthetic standards to pass QC checks. Defects like open seams, color inconsistencies, and misaligned buttons can detract from the appearance and feel of a garment, making it unsellable. QC inspections are crucial for identifying these defects, ensuring only visually appealing garments are sold.
Safety Hazards: Safety is a paramount concern in QC. Broken sewing needles or other metal debris can pose serious safety risks. For instance, in 2015, a major clothing retailer had to recall over 17,000 baby suits due to a sewing needle found in a garment. Effective QC processes help in detecting such hazards, preventing potential injuries and legal issues.
The Importance of Quality Control in Garment Production
There are two aspects to a sound quality control system: product quality and process quality. The two cannot exist without the other. Product quality encompasses the aesthetics and safety of the garment, whereas process quality involves internal production procedures, adherence to regulations and standards, and quality of machinery. Both aspects are vital to overall quality control, and factories would be foolish to ignore one in favor of the other. Read on to find out why.
Consistency: QC ensures that all products meet the same high standards, fostering trust between manufacturers and brands. Factories that learn from QC failures and adapt their processes accordingly are more likely to produce consistently high-quality garments.
Reputation: A reputation for quality attracts more business and talent to a factory. Establishing and maintaining a positive reputation relies on stringent QC practices to ensure products meet or exceed expectations.
Customer Satisfaction: While manufacturers may not deal directly with the end consumer, the quality of their products significantly affects consumer satisfaction with a brand. High-quality products lead to repeat purchases and positive recommendations.
Consequences of Poor Quality Control in Garment Production
Quality control does more than bring in the perks already mentioned here—it also saves manufacturers from setbacks that could prove to be their downfall.
Loss of Business: In a globalized market, brands have numerous manufacturing options. Factories with subpar QC systems risk losing clients to competitors with more reliable quality standards.
Reputational Damage: A factory's reputation can be quickly tarnished by QC failures, leading to decreased sales and possibly boycotts.
Product Recalls: The costs associated with product recalls can be substantial, not only in terms of financial losses but also in damage to a company's reputation.
Conclusion
The imperative to implement effective quality control measures is paramount in maintaining high product quality, ensuring safety, and securing a positive reputation within the industry. The integration of OSHIMA's QC-ONE system represents a significant advancement in quality control for the garment manufacturing sector.
Innovative technologies like OSHIMA's QC-ONE system improve factories' quality control operations. This avoids quality control failures and ensures manufacturing standards meet or exceed client and consumer expectations. Quality control goes beyond regulatory compliance; it's the foundation of success in the highly competitive garment manufacturing industry. Contact us today to know more information about our quality control solutions.
