Softline and hardline products come in a diverse range that has a variety of manufacturing and handling methods. To have a quality control over these products is necessary to save the brand image and retain customers. Customers today can easily return a product or switch brand if they don’t find the products according to their choice. To maintain the quality of products as per international standards, Softline and hardline products inspection services are offered that can meet the diversified demands of customers in each country.
Types of Softline Products
The Softline products include
- Apparel, Fabrics and Garments
- Home Textiles
- Fashion Accessories
- Footwear
- Children Toys
- Luggage Bags and Casual Bags
Types of Hardline Products
The Hardline products include
- Electrical Appliance
- Electronics and IT Equipment
- Home and Industrial Furniture
- Industrial and Construction Material
- Home-ware Utilities
- Hardware Products
- Packaging and Stationery Products
- Sports Good
- Children Toys
Supplier Audit
The world today has made the supplier meet tough competitions in global and local markets where the customer demands have quick shifts which are hard to meet. Now the customer is more focused towards quality with innovation more than the quantity especially in the case of textile, apparel, garments, footwear and fashion products. Delivering the customer with safe, standard and the quality products that fall under government ordered regulatory compliances in each country. Audits take place for the suppliers of hardline and softline products regularly on the demand of buyers to ensure they have good production process and capacity to meet the order details in time within budget. The suppliers are audited to check whether they are meeting following criteria,
- Supplier Evaluation for capacity and expertise
- EICC Social Audits check
- ISO 9001 – Quality Management System Audits check
- SA8000 – Social Accountability Audit for Corporate Social Responsibility progress
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Audits for sustainability analysis
- C-TPAT – Security Audits for product and environment safety
- Manufacturing Process Audits to inspect supplier abilities
Product Inspection Reasons
The softline and hardline products are analyzed in order to check
- Production quantity as per order quantity
- Workforce effectiveness, proper training and the environment
- Functional evaluation in the form of Hi-Pot Electrical Testing and Assembly of components etc.
- Packaging Integrity Evaluation under ISTA 1A Drop-Test to ensure product safety during shipment and transportation
- Labeling verifications to make sure product cartons and containers have all information of loading, unloading, unpacking and keeping the products
Commonly Found Errors in Softlines
Critical quality defects observed in the softline products include
- Appearance errors in form of unfinished edges, marks, open stitches, dye spots, color and differences
- Material issues such as tears, less/more weight of the fabric
- Size and packing issues
- Incomplete information, product content, and labeling
- Broken seals, zippers, buttons
- Odor and content of chemicals used in production is not user-friendly
- Safety issue in product handling, packaging, and storage due to left pins, needles
Commonly Found Errors in Hardlines
Some serious quality flaws found in hardline products include
- Appearance issues in the form of scratches, stains dents
- Warranty and guarantee cards are unfilled or missing
- Missing spare parts and standard tools
- Information about voltage, fixing, and cleansing is missing
- Functions are not specified properly in user manuals
- Safely issues due to leakage in batteries, open wires, sharp edges etc.
Benefits of Product Inspection:
Softline and Hardline product inspection is done in order to
- Examine products are produced according to global and local production standards
- Reduce chances of recalls, complaints, and returns from retailers and customers due to defective pieces
- Cut costs by integrating supply chain and production line
- Maintain end-to-end quality in rapidly changing fashion and luxury products as well
- Enhance sale of products due to quality and innovation in products
- Inspect, test, train and certify suppliers for safe and quality production
- Secure brand image and ear brand loyalty
- Build positive brand image for potential customers
- Provides compliance with global quality, safety, environment and health standards
- Enter international markets with minimum effort
- Ensure consistent quality production
- Meet customer demands
Contact us now in order to arrange one of our quality inspection services for your hardline or softline products