Making a defect judgment
Lesson 3 of 4
Objective
Weigh a defect against the right factors and the applicable defect list — and know when to stop and escalate.
Technical explanation
Consider safety, function, appearance, location and extent, then apply the Brand criteria. Classifications such as critical, major and minor must come from the applicable defect list — not from personal opinion or habit.
If there is any safety concern (a possible sharp point, a small part that could detach, a broken needle fragment), segregate the garment and escalate. Do not test it with your hands.
Compare two cases: a single cosmetic loose thread on an inside seam, and an attachment that appears insecure. They look small in the same way but carry very different risk. The second needs the specified, authorized check — not a hand pull.
Worked case
Factory scenario: a loose snap
On a children's garment, a snap looks slightly tilted. The inspector does not pull it. The garment is bagged, labelled with its ID and escalated for the authorized attachment test.
Common mistakes
- Classifying severity from memory instead of the defect list.
- Pulling a suspect attachment by hand to 'see if it holds'.
- Running a finger along a suspected sharp edge.
Your action
Locate the defect list that applies to your current product, and note who you escalate safety concerns to.