Document Type: QC & After-Sales Evaluation Standard
Applicable Product: Speed Skating Suits / High-Performance Skating Apparel
Purpose: To provide a consistent standard for evaluating fabric damage, appearance issues, and customer warranty claims.
1. Evaluation Principles
All complaints should be evaluated based on the following factors:
Location + Severity + Usage Duration + Usage Conditions + External Factors + Care Method + Repeatability
The presence of fabric damage alone does not automatically indicate a manufacturing defect.
Speed skating suits are high-performance garments exposed to:
- High-speed movement
- Repeated stretching
- High friction
- Falls and contact with ice
- Protective equipment
- Skate blades and other equipment
- Frequent washing and drying
Therefore, normal wear and accidental damage should be distinguished from genuine product defects.
2. Defect Classification
A. Normal Wear
Damage or appearance changes reasonably expected from normal use.
Examples:
- Minor pilling
- Minor fuzzing
- Localized surface abrasion
- Slight fabric thinning in high-friction areas
- Minor wear around knees, hips, crotch, elbows, or underarms
Recommended Action:
Normally not considered a manufacturing defect. Provide care and usage guidance.
B. User / External Damage
Damage caused by an identifiable external event or improper use.
Examples:
- Damage caused by falling onto ice
- Cuts caused by skate blades
- Snagging caused by Velcro or zippers
- Contact with sharp or rough equipment
- Damage caused by improper washing or drying
- Excessive pulling during dressing
- Damage caused by protective equipment
Recommended Action:
Normally not covered as a manufacturing defect. Explain the likely cause and provide repair/care recommendations where applicable.
C. Potential Manufacturing Defect
Damage that occurs prematurely or without an obvious external cause and may indicate a material or production problem.
Examples:
- Severe pilling after very limited use
- Unexpected fabric tearing during normal movement
- Holes appearing in low-friction areas without external impact
- Seam opening during normal use
- Repeated failure at the same location
- Multiple garments from the same batch showing the same defect
- Abnormal fabric weakness
- Stitching or needle damage
- Fabric defects originating from production
Recommended Action:
Escalate to QC / Technical Team for investigation.
3. Specific Defect Evaluation
3.1 Pilling
Definition
Formation of small fiber balls on the fabric surface caused by fiber migration, friction, and entanglement.
Typical Causes
- Repeated friction during skating
- Contact with protective equipment
- Contact with rough surfaces
- Friction from other garments
- Improper washing
- Low fabric anti-pilling performance
Evaluation
| Condition | Classification |
|---|---|
| Minor pilling in high-friction areas | Normal Wear |
| Localized pilling after extended use | Normal Wear |
| Severe pilling after very limited use | Potential Defect – QC Review |
| Widespread pilling across the garment | QC Investigation |
| Same pilling issue across multiple garments/batches | Potential Material Defect |
QC Focus
Check:
- Fabric composition
- Fabric construction
- Anti-pilling performance
- Usage duration
- Location of pilling
- Washing method
- Whether protective equipment was used
3.2 Fuzzing
Definition
Loose fibers protruding from the fabric surface due to friction or mechanical action.
Typical Causes
- Repeated surface friction
- Ice/equipment contact
- Protective equipment
- Aggressive washing
- High-temperature drying
Evaluation
| Condition | Classification |
|---|---|
| Minor surface fuzzing | Normal Wear |
| Fuzzing in high-friction areas | Normal Wear |
| Severe fuzzing after limited use | QC Review |
| Fuzzing accompanied by fabric weakening | Potential Defect – QC Review |
QC Focus
Determine whether fuzzing is caused by normal friction or indicates abnormal fabric performance.
3.3 Abrasion / Wear
Definition
Surface deterioration caused by repeated mechanical friction.
Typical Causes
- Contact with ice
- Falls
- Protective equipment
- Training equipment
- Repeated body movement
- Seating surfaces
- Frequent washing
Evaluation
| Condition | Classification |
|---|---|
| Minor surface wear | Normal Wear |
| Wear in knees/hips/crotch/elbows | Usually Normal Wear |
| Wear caused by falling | User / External Damage |
| Wear caused by equipment | User / External Damage |
| Severe wear after limited normal use | QC Review |
| Abnormal wear combined with seam failure | Potential Defect – QC Review |
QC Focus
Pay particular attention to:
- Abrasion location
- Fabric thickness
- Fabric strength
- Usage frequency
- Whether a fall occurred
- Contact with protective equipment
3.4 Snagging
Definition
Yarns or fibers are pulled or caught, creating loops, protruding yarns, or localized distortion.
Typical Causes
- Velcro
- Zippers
- Skate blades
- Protective equipment
- Sharp objects
- Rough surfaces
- Improper handling or storage
Evaluation
| Condition | Classification |
|---|---|
| Isolated pulled yarn with obvious external cause | User / External Damage |
| Snagging around Velcro/zipper contact area | User / External Damage |
| Multiple unexplained snags after limited use | QC Review |
| Structural fabric failure without external cause | Potential Defect |
Customer Instruction
Customers should not pull or cut the loose yarn. Request photos for assessment before attempting repair.
3.5 Hole / Tear
Definition
A visible opening, cut, split, or rupture in the fabric.
Evaluation
| Condition | Classification |
|---|---|
| Cut from skate blade | User / External Damage |
| Damage after falling on ice | User / External Damage |
| Damage from sharp equipment | User / External Damage |
| Tear caused by excessive pulling | User Damage |
| Hole in high-friction area after extended use | Usually Wear |
| Hole/tear after very limited normal use | Potential Defect – QC Review |
| Tear in low-friction area without external cause | Potential Defect |
| Repeated tear at the same location | Potential Manufacturing Defect |
| Seam opening under normal use | Potential Sewing Defect |
4. Seam / Stitching Failure
Special attention should be given to seam-related complaints.
Potential Sewing Defects
- Seam opening during normal use
- Broken stitches
- Skipped stitches
- Insufficient stitch density
- Incorrect sewing tension
- Needle damage
- Seam allowance problems
- Poor reinforcement at high-stress areas
QC Evaluation
If the fabric itself is intact but the seam opens or stitches fail, the case should be evaluated separately from normal fabric abrasion.
Recommended Classification:
Potential Manufacturing / Sewing Defect if failure occurs under normal use without obvious external damage.
5. Warranty Decision Flow
Step 1 – Identify the Defect
Determine whether the complaint is:
Pilling / Fuzzing / Abrasion / Snagging / Hole / Tear / Seam Failure
↓
Step 2 – Check Location
Is the damage located in a known high-friction or high-stress area?
- Yes: Continue usage-related assessment.
- No: Increase attention to potential manufacturing defects.
↓
Step 3 – Check Usage
Ask:
- How many times has the suit been worn?
- How long has the customer owned it?
- Was it used for training or competition?
- Did the skater fall?
- Was protective equipment used?
↓
Step 4 – Check External Factors
Look for:
- Ice contact
- Skate blade contact
- Velcro
- Zippers
- Protective equipment
- Sharp objects
- Rough surfaces
↓
Step 5 – Check Care Method
Confirm:
- Washing temperature
- Machine washing
- Tumble drying
- Use of bleach
- Use of fabric softener
- Washing with rough garments or Velcro items
↓
Step 6 – Determine Responsibility
Normal Wear → Customer Care Guidance
External/User Damage → Warranty Normally Not Applicable
Potential Product Defect → QC Investigation
Confirmed Manufacturing Defect → Warranty Resolution
6. Required Evidence for Warranty Claims
Customer Service should collect:
Product Information
- Order number
- Product/style number
- Size
- Color
- Production batch, if available
- Purchase date
Usage Information
- Approximate number of wears
- Training vs. competition use
- Approximate duration of use
- Whether falls occurred
- Whether protective equipment was worn
Care Information
- Washing method
- Washing temperature
- Drying method
- Detergent used
Photos
- Full garment
- Front and back views
- Close-up of damaged area
- Inside view
- Seam/stitching area
- Surrounding area
- Any equipment that may have contacted the damaged area, if relevant
7. Recommended Warranty Decision Matrix
| Complaint | Typical Cause | Initial Classification | QC Escalation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Pilling | Friction | Normal Wear | No |
| Severe Pilling, early use | Fabric performance | Potential Defect | Yes |
| Minor Fuzzing | Friction | Normal Wear | No |
| Severe Fuzzing, early use | Fabric performance | Potential Defect | Yes |
| Localized Abrasion | Friction / Fall | Normal Wear / User Damage | Usually No |
| Severe Abrasion, early use | Fabric performance | Potential Defect | Yes |
| Snagging from Velcro | External Cause | User Damage | No |
| Unexplained Snagging | Unknown | QC Review | Yes |
| Hole from Skate Blade | External Cause | User Damage | No |
| Hole after normal limited use | Unknown | Potential Defect | Yes |
| Seam Opening | Sewing / Stress | Potential Defect | Yes |
| Repeated Same-Location Failure | Production / Material | Potential Defect | Yes |
8. Final QC Decision
After reviewing the evidence, QC should assign one of the following final results:
PASS – Normal Wear
No manufacturing defect identified.
USER DAMAGE
Damage caused by external factors, accident, improper use, or improper care.
POTENTIAL DEFECT
Evidence is insufficient or further testing is required.
CONFIRMED MANUFACTURING DEFECT
Material, construction, sewing, or workmanship does not meet the required standard.
WARRANTY APPROVED
Replacement, repair, refund, or other approved compensation may be offered according to company warranty policy.
9. Recommended Internal Record
For every confirmed or suspected defect, record:
Product → Batch → Defect Type → Location → Usage → Root Cause → Responsibility → QC Result → Corrective Action
For repeated cases, conduct a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and, where necessary, implement Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA).
Potential corrective actions may include:
- Fabric specification adjustment
- Anti-pilling improvement
- Abrasion resistance improvement
- Tear-strength improvement
- Seam reinforcement
- Stitching parameter adjustment
- Supplier corrective action
- Washing/care instruction improvement
- Packaging or handling improvement
10. Key Rule for Customer Service
Do not automatically classify every fabric change as a product defect.
The most important distinction is:
Normal wear or external damage = generally not a manufacturing defect.
Premature, abnormal, unexplained, or repeated failure = investigate as a potential manufacturing defect.
All final warranty decisions should be based on evidence and, where necessary, QC inspection/testing.
Reviewed by: Technical Product Team
September 1, 2026