Classify Garment Defects

To improve the ready-made garment quality, somehow you need to reduce the defect generation in the garments at the source. To know the defect source and taking action in reducing defect generation, you need to know the defects, cause of the defect and its effect.
garment defect classification

The analysis of defects and types of defects present in the garments, frequency of defect generation and source of defects can be done better through the garment defect classification.

Classify garment defects 

There are different practices for classifying the visual defects followed in the garment industry. Let's classify garment defects and faults. Primarily garment defects are classified based on

  • Defect source or process where defects are added to a garment
  • Defect severity level 

1. Classification of defects based on the defect source

In a finished garment or in a semi-garment, different types of defects are found. Some defects

  • Raw materials (Fabrics and trims) - All kind of fabric defects fall under this category. Examples hole in the fabric, shade variation, slubs, missing ends/pics. See the list of fabric defects in this page.
  • Cutting defects - Defects generated in fabric cutting process.
  • Stitching defects - Defects generated in garment stitching, like a broken seam, seam puckering, skip stitches,  pattern mismatch etc. Read the list of detailed garment defects in this post.
  • Pressing defects - Defects like shining, water mark and incorrect pressing.
  • Printing - Printing defects may be in the fabric or garment stage. 
  • Embroidery defects
  • Washing defects
  • Dyeing defects 

2. Classification of defects based defect severity

When it comes to quality inspection and quality data analysis, quality inspector (auditor) should judge the defect severity and position of the defects in a garment.

Critical defect: A critical defect is one that judgment and experience indicate will result in hazardous or unsafe conditions for individuals using or maintaining the item.

Major defect: This is a defect sufficient to render the merchandise second quality or unacceptable because it is conspicuous and/or may affect the saleability or performance and/or is a significant deviation from the established specification.

Minor defect: This is a defect that is not likely to affect the saleability or performance and/or is beyond the defined quality standard is known as the minor defect.

These defects classes are used in ready-made garment shipment inspection and internal auditing and for the different AQL level.

The purpose of classifying garment defects

  • Finding root cause
  • Easy for data analysis and taking action on reducing the defects rate in garments
  • Focus on the critical areas that cause quality issues in garments.

Prasanta Sarkar

Prasanta Sarkar is a textile engineer and a postgraduate in fashion technology from NIFT, New Delhi, India. He has authored 6 books in the field of garment manufacturing technology, garment business setup, and industrial engineering. He loves writing how-to guide articles in the fashion industry niche. He has been working in the apparel manufacturing industry since 2006. He has visited garment factories in many countries and implemented process improvement projects in numerous garment units in different continents including Asia, Europe, and South Africa. He is the founder and editor of the Online Clothing Study Blog.

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