A skilled quality assurance manager in the fashion industry should have a strong foundation in being able to inspect and detect fabric defects, manage different colours and ensure that garments fit well when evaluating points of management.
Crucial aspects of quality assurance involve the technical know-how of utilising the right quality management tools, leveraging statistical quality control, evaluating the condition of the factory and more. Due to the huge volume of garments produced in a factory every day, statistical sampling is an important skill set needed to perform one’s tasks effectively. Yet, other techniques such as apparel colour management and understanding different points of measurement are needed to complement such a skill set if one desires to specialise in the fashion industry.
When performing the final inspection, it is imperative to have a strong foundation in understanding sewing, sizing and colour defects. Without these essential skills, the inspection report may not be accurate. A strong foundation in fabrics, stitches and seams are essential to identify suitable testing protocols based on the apparels produced as well as the needs and requirements of the factory.
Is the colour of the apparel accurate? Are the garments stitched properly? These are some questions to evaluate during any on-ground inspection.
From a management point of view, improving the capability of a fashion brand’s business processes effectively leads to improved profits and cost reduction. When considering the betterment of the fashion production process, the lean process and the six sigma methodology is able to improve the overall fashion production process.