How are defective garments handled after inspection or delivery?
Handling depends on when the defect is found. In-line defects are repaired at the station and the cause is logged. Units that fail final inspection are sorted 100% and repaired or replaced before packing. After delivery, a claim is checked against the batch code on the carton and the inspection report, and the outcome is replacement or credit depending on whether the fault is ours.
Who handles what, and who pays
The principle is simple: a defect we caused is our cost at any stage; a defect caused after delivery is not. The grey area is wear and wash damage, which is why care labels and wash-test results are kept with the order file.
| Stage | Action | Cost carried by |
|---|---|---|
| In-line, during sewing | Repair at the station, log the cause | VANRD |
| Final inspection fail | 100% sort, repair or replace before packing | VANRD |
| After delivery, production fault | Replacement in the next run or credit | VANRD |
| After delivery, not a production fault | Repair quote or technical advice | Buyer |
What cannot be repaired
Some faults are terminal: a hole in the body panel, a shade that is out of tolerance across the lot, a label with the wrong fibre content, or a decoration that has cured in the wrong position. These are replaced or credited, not repaired, because a repair would still leave a trace the customer can find.
Repairs are also capped. If more than a small share of a lot needs repair, the honest answer is to remake the affected size rather than ship a garment that has been through the needle twice.
Claims and traceability
Every carton carries a batch code that links to the cutting lot, the sewing line and the fabric roll. A claim with a photo and a batch code can be traced in a day; a claim with a photo alone usually ends in a negotiation.
The claim window is set in the contract, typically 30 days from delivery, and decorated styles usually ship with 1-3% spare units so a small number of defects does not become a reorder.
Field example
A 2,400-piece tee order showed 1.8% wavy neck ribs at final inspection, just under the AQL but visible in a retail fold. We sorted 100%, set aside 43 pieces, replaced them from the 2% spare units packed with the order, and changed the rib attaching tension on the next run. No credit was needed and the delivery date held.
Numbers that matter
- 100% sort is triggered when majors exceed the agreed AQL, not when a single defect appears
- 1-3% spare units are standard for decorated styles
- Claim window typically 30 days from delivery, stated in the contract
- Batch code on every carton links to cutting lot, sewing line and fabric roll
- Service Process
- Fabrics & Techniques
- Sweater & Knitwear Manufacturer
- OEM/ODM Apparel Manufacturing by Brand Type
- Custom Headwear Manufacturer
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- Custom Clothing Quality Control
- Tracksuit Manufacturer
- T-Shirt & Jersey Manufacturer
- Pants & Bottoms Manufacturer
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