The quality controls in most factories are usually quite good these days. However, there are still many ways that factories can get it wrong.
No matter how many checks the factory does occasionally mistakes can happen.
You should always check your products with a keen eye to make sure they are of the highest quality.
We have prepared a detailed list of things to look out for. This will equip you to spot any faults.
The last thing you want to happen is to be left with a batch of badly made Lanyards. This will affect your whole business operations and reputation in the long run.
There are many things that you have to look out for. These helpful tips will get you better prepared to notice imperfections.
Common Quality Issues
In the following paragraphs, we will highlight some of the most common quality issues and why they occur.
It is very little you can do once the mistake has been made except send the order back to the manufacturer. But knowing the problem and why it happened will help you with the complaint.
Furthermore being armed with this knowledge will convince the offending factory that you know what you are talking about. This will make them more inclined not to repeat the same mistake twice.
We like to think that Lanyard factories, in general, operate in an honest manner without cutting corners. Nonetheless, there will always be some that choose to rip off customers by using low-quality materials and practices.
Here are the most common quality issues to watch out for.
The Strap
This is the body of the lanyard; it’s the base of what you print to.
If the materials are not correct for your chosen design or printing method then the quality will be subpar.
Also if the strap is incorrectly webbed then it will come to lose which will compromise the longevity of the product.
Sometimes factories that employ bad methods will also try to save on materials by webbing a lanyard too thinly. This will cause the lanyard to sit poorly on the wearer. It could also cause the problems for the print especially if the design is double-sided.
Make sure you question the factory on their methods for making the strap. Also, check reviews from other customers to see if they have had strap quality issues in the past.
A bad strap will affect the look and feel even before you have thought about printing on it.
Prints Peeling
Sometimes you will get a printed lanyard that initially looks fine but soon the paint starts to flake.
Obviously, if this happens then it reflects badly on your business. This is especially bad if you are giving the lanyards away as souvenirs at events.
The most common causes of this are a factory using incorrect materials, not curing the print properly or using a poor quality dielectric paste.
A transparent layer of dielectric paste is painted onto the lanyard prior to printing. This helps the design’s visibility on the lanyard. If a poor quality paste is used when the print will come off.
If the material the lanyard is made from is not suitable for the printing method then the paint won’t stick properly.
However, by far the most common problem is factories not curing their prints properly.
By that, we mean running the printed lanyards through a heat press at a high enough temperature and for a suitable length of time.
Dye Sublimation Problems
Usually, this form of printing will produce an excellent photo-like quality. Still, there are a few issues you need to watch out for when it comes to Dye Sublimation printing.
Some of the issues are down to design errors on the engineers’ part. Others are down to machine errors.
The main issues to watch out for are the poor positioning of the design, ghosting, and staining on the material.
You will easily see if the positioning of your logo is incorrect. The centering will be off or the characters and images will be poorly spaced.
Ghosting is clear as it causes the print to double up on the fabric creating a shadow effect. This will make your letters and logo illegible.
Staining on the material generally occurs with lighter lanyard materials. You will see this clearly as the light material will be different shades.
Poor Colour
You’ve spent your time designing the perfect lanyard. You’ve picked your colors exactly so they really show your branding in the best light. Then when you receive the order the colors are different shades.
Sometimes bad factories may not have the exact color to print with and will use a color they think is near. Don’t stand for it, as the wrong color will give your company a bad impression.
Sometimes in Dye Sublimation, they have selected the wrong shade from the Pantone chart. Again just hold the lanyard to the chart and see if it matches.
Colour is an incredibly important part of a design that will change the whole image of your lanyard.
Make sure you proof the final design properly before it goes to print.
Stitching
Problems with stitching happen when the factory attaches the fasteners. Poor stitching methods will result in a weak lanyard.
A lazy job will create a loose stitch that will not stand the test of time.
Another stitching problem comes when factories stitch over designs. There should be enough unprinted fabric so that no part of your design is compromised in the stitching.
Make sure you talk to the factory about their stitching process to ensure you get the best-constructed lanyards possible.
This is one of the final stages so it would be a shame if the factory managed to do everything else right except the stitching.
Packing
The final stage is the packing stage. If the boxes are packed too tightly and without the proper precautions then your lanyards will arrive crumpled and creased.
Talk to your lanyard supplier to discuss their packing methods and how they prevent creased lanyards arriving at your door.
The points outlined in this article will make sure you only accept the highest quality goods. If you spot any of these faults then don’t hesitate to send the lanyard order back.
