APPAREL QUALITY

In the apparel industry, product quality is based on performance, reliability, durability, visual and perceived quality of the garment. In product development and during the manufacturing process, there will always be a certain portion of defective goods.

Quality Control:
Quality control is a process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production. This approach places an emphasis on three aspects. Quality control emphasizes testing of products to uncover defects, and reporting to management who make the decision to allow or deny the release, whereas quality assurance attempts to improve and stabilize production, and associated processes, to avoid, or at least minimize, issues that led to the defects in the first place.

1. Elements such as controls, job management, defined and well managed processes, performance and integrity criteria, and identification of records
2. Competence, such as knowledge, skills, experience, and qualifications
3. Soft elements, such as personnel integrity, confidence, organizational culture, motivation, team spirit, and quality relationships.

The quality of the outputs is at risk if any of these three aspects is deficient in any way.

Apparel Quality Management:
There are a number of factors on which quality fitness of Apparel industry is based such as – performance, reliability, durability, visual and perceived quality of the garment. Quality needs to be defined in terms of a particular frame¬work of cost. The national regulatory quality certification and international quality programmes like ISO 9000 series lay down the broad quality parameters based on which companies maintain the export quality in the garment and apparel industry. Here some of main fabric properties that are taken into consideration for garment manufacturing for export basis:

• Overall look of the garment.
• Right formation of the garment.
• Feel and fall of the garment.
• Physical properties.
• Colour fastness of the garment.
• Finishing properties of apparels
• Presentation of the final produced garment.

Apparel Quality Management for Apparel Exporters:
For a garment exporter or apparel exporter there are many strategies and rules that are required to be followed to achieve good business. The fabric quality, product quality, delivery, price, packaging and presentation are some of the many aspects that need to be taken care of in garment export business. Some rules that are advisable for garment exporters are listed below:

1. Quality has to be taken care by the exporter, excuses are not entertained in international market for negligence for low quality garments, new or existing exporters for both it is mandatory to use design, technology and quality as major upgradation tools.
2. Apart from superior quality of the garment, its pricing, packaging, delivery, etc has to be also taken care of.
3. The garment shown in the catalogue should match with the final garment delivered.
4. It is important to perform according to the promises given to the buyer, or else it creates very bad impression and results in loss of business and reputation.
5. In international market, quality reassurance is required at every point.
6. Proper documentation and high standard labels on the garment are also important aspects as these things also create good impression.
7. Timely delivery of garments is as important as its quality.
8. If your competitor has the better quality of garment in same pricing, it is better to also enhance your garment quality.
9. Before entering into international market, garment exporters have to carefully frame out the quality standards, or else if anything goes wrong it could harm the organization. And after that strictly follow it.
10. The garment quality should match the samples shown during taking the orders.
11. The garment exporters should know to negotiate a premium price after quality assurance is done.
12. Quality is a multi-dimensional aspect. There are many aspects of quality based on which the garment exporters are supposed to work.
13. Quality of the production.
14. Quality of the design of the garment.
15. Purchasing functions’ quality should also be maintained.
16. Quality of final inspection should be superior.
17. Quality of the sales has to be also maintained.
18. Quality of marketing of the final product is also important as the quality of the garment itself.