Every manufacturing company has its own way of developing products. They use different types of machineries and equipment as well as raw materials. The finished products have different levels of quality. However, due to certain reasons or problems in the production process, some of the products produced have defects.
Product defects are characteristics of a specific product that affect its usability. Since defective products did not pass the quality standards, they might pose risks and dangers to whoever uses them.
Product defects do not only pertain to the physical appearance of the product. A product can look perfect on the outside buy can still be considered as defective if it is incorrectly manufactured.
Manufacturing defects can affect one product or the whole batch being developed. Products that do not meet certain legal requirements can also be considered defective.
The company that is responsible for creating a defective product is also responsible for the damages it can cause. It can be held liable for if the product has misleading label, design flaw, or manufacturing defect. Depending on the type of product, product defects can lead to broken bones, traumatic pain, brain damage, electric shock, and wrongful death.
Companies that have released a product in the market can earn a bad reputation that can cost them their loyal customers or clients. Consumers are less likely to forgive companies that have bad reputation. Other companies do not want to collaborate or negotiate with companies with bad business ethics.
Another disadvantage of releasing a defective product in the market is that companies that create this type of item may face lawsuits. Most consumers who have been affected by product defects are more likely to file a lawsuit against the concerned company. Companies are asked to recall their products in the market and make informed the public about the problem.
There are several effective ways that companies can use to reduce, if not prevent, their defect rates. One is by determining the things that need to be changed in order to decrease the number of product defects. Companies need to examine every aspect of the production process.
It would be better if they seek the opinions of their employees who are assigned in the production. These employees can provide valuable insights that can help companies have an idea what went wrong during the process. Some employees can even provide some ideas that can improve the process.
Another way is to develop a team that can work together to effectively deal with the problems that might arise in the production. If possible, the members of the team should have differed areas of expertise to enable them to tackle different types of problems. These members are the ones responsible for creating strategies and implementing changes to reduce defect rates.
Keeping the employees involved in the production process can also help in reducing defect rates. Employees who have increased knowledge about the process have greater chance of creating high quality products.
Product defects can also be reduced by conducting product testing as much as possible. High quality products in the markets, from cars to gadgets, have undergone various tests before they are released to assure that they meet the needs and expectations of consumers. Product testing will enable companies to identify problems that might affect the quality and overall performance of the product.
Reducing defect rates can be achieved by inspecting the equipment used in the production. Equipment failure is one of the main reasons why products become defective.
Companies must audit the equipment to make sure that they work properly. It is also important that the in-house inspector of the company and the supplier of the equipment and raw materials have standardized criteria for checking the ordered equipment and goods.
Setting a realistic goal that primarily aims to reduce defect rates can also help companies improve their productivity, save production costs, and earn more profits. However, companies should make sure that they involve their employees in making this goal.
Implementing a plan that will address the problems is also helpful in reducing defect rates. This plan should include the resources needed to make the necessary adjustments.
To assure the effectiveness of the plan, companies must constantly monitor the outcomes and make some changes when needed. Constant monitoring of the outcome will also help companies determine if the plan is working the way it should be.
Product defects have negative effects both on the product’s manufacturers and users. They can be harmful to the health of consumers and bad for the image of the company. Companies should be responsible enough to make the necessary actions and precautions to assure that the production process works well.
Constantly testing the prototype will also help reduce defect rates. It is also important to make sure that the raw materials used have passed the quality standards set by the company or a certified organization.