Quality Assurance Exam 1 Textile Quality Assurance process of Designing Producing Evaluating Assessing products Quality control post production approach testing after product is made NOT QUALITY ASSURANCE Holistic perspective Product Perspective Producer Perspective Customer Perspective Quality is not the same for all things but is inherent in everything Customer could be next level of manufacture for final consumer Consistent conformance to specs and standards Quality is represented by precise measurable components features of a finished product Quality achieved when products consistently have acceptable measures If products meet level of quality assumed to produce greatest income profit Quality reflects changing market and satisfies changing needs of customers Companies must respond to expectations needs through contact Includes components that contribute to quality Must address contemporary business issues Measuring a product s quality Improving quality of a product or process TESTING Textile Testing analysis evaluation of a material or product to assess characteristics quality or performance tested in original condition or subjected to procedures laundry abrasion Purpose for testing research development assess performance quality control comparative testing analyze failure meet gov t regulations Who does the testing the company that supplies the product to retailer does the testing or the company that produces the product tests In house In house JC Penney has quality assurance teams to inspect exclusive brand products before they are shipped to their stores warehouses Internal performance standards to provide acceptable merchandise to customers Company that supplies product retailers select company to test Done at several stages before the product leaves the manufacturer and until it is put onto the shelves Most retailers find this more cost effective Independent contract separate business organization that specifically tests products for other companies AATCC chemical properties ASTM physical mechanical properties ANSI American National Standards Institute represents U S in ISO Coordinates voluntary standard development and serves as liaison b w US and other countries Laboratory testing evaluating performance in a specialized facility Advantages Quick results Controlled environment Specialized equipment Trained specialists Disadvantages May not be true to actual conditions Wear testing conducted over a long period of time stimulates actual use Advantages More realistic Stimulates actual use Disadvantages Long term commitment Expensive Conditions not controlled fabric as a whole from FIBER TO FINISH COLOR must be suitable to satisfy end use requirements Standard Testing Conditions 70 2 degrees F 65 2 relative humidity Simplicity Reproducibility Validity Standards provide basis for resource and production decisions established by authority custom or general consent Standard Test Methods widely accepted performed under controlled conditions Specifications precise statement of requirements for a product that states the procedures for determining whether each of the requirements is satisfied INCLUDES test method name number characteristics what you re testing for measuring requirements expected test results performance level Specs with little or no tolerance require a high level of performance higher cost to produce Specs for value added special finishes taped shoulder seams increase the cost Each end use has a different performance specification sheet Sampling testing every product is impossible sampling technique will have several tests performed on it Basic U S product safety requirements The US Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC oversees the safety of consumer products in the US does not include food drugs cosmetics vehicles or workplace products Most children s products intended for children under 13 years and some non children s products are subject to mandatory safety standards e g lead ban clothing flammability etc Importance of Labels testing procedures ensure the information provided on labels and hangtags is accurate manufacturer retailer are responsible for ensuring that all information required by federal laws and regulations is accurate on the label INCLUDES fiber content in order by weight care information name registered of manufacturer country of origin Wool products must state common name of animal and if recycles materials were used Fur product must have true English name of the animal where it came from Oeko Tex most widely used eco label for textiles globally uniform testing certification system for textile raw materials intermediate products and end products at all stages of production Guarantees a pledge or assurance that a product is accurately represented it can be implied or written Trade Associations Producers and manufacturers of textiles that promote the fibers fabrics made from them through advertising education materials websites PR campaigns National Cotton Council Cotton Incorporated American Wool Council Sustainability the ability to continue a defined behavior indefinitely preserving resources so we can continue to produce Sustainable products increase corporate profits while enhancing society Cheaper to make fewer regulatory constraints less liability introduced to market quicker preferred by the public Bluesign one of the global eco textile standards for many leading brands Has banned many harmful substances considers environmental health and safety issues along the entire textile manufacturing chain Fabric Characteristics Thickness the distance through the fabric from one surface to another EFFECTS thermal comfort flexibility drape bulk Fabric weight ounces square yard EFFECTS Cover Durability Comfort Cost Warp vertical direction Weft Filling horizontal direction Fabric count total number of warp filling yarns in a square inch Grain intersection of warp and filling yarns 90 degree angle Bias 45 degree direction across a woven fabric Durability related to serviceability wear Wear is fabric deterioration breaking cutting or removal of fibers Friction Testing performance is assessed as a measure of loss of some part of the material or a change in appearance Pilling when fiber ends fiber debris is broken away from the surface and becomes entangled with fibers that are still attached to material Pilling testing evaluates the fabrics resistance to abrasion Manufactured fibers tend to be more likely to pill accepted level is 3 5 Abrasion