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What are Amplifier's Quality Control procedures?
What are Amplifier's Quality Control procedures?
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Written by Amplifier
Updated over a week ago

Amplifier has Quality Control procedures in place and trains all staff accordingly. This document outlines related principles and practices.

Overview

  • Amplifier helps clients deliver satisfying merchandise experiences to their customers, fans, and supporters.

  • When Amplifier personnel discover a flaw in a blank or a defect in a product, that item will not ship to a customer.

  • Amplifier cannot and will not discover all flaws or defects with items that Amplifier produces or fulfills. To try to do so would represent significantly more expense to clients than the exercise would be worth.

  • Many defects are difficult to detect, such as a slight poke or tear in fabric.

  • Other defects may not appear until repeated use.

  • Only the warranties explicitly provided in the Master Services Agreement and Amplifier Terms apply.

Samples

  • Clients may request sample production (at the customary rates for such jobs) for Screen Printing, Dye Sublimation, Direct-to-Garment Printing, Poster Printing, and other production techniques that occur at Amplifier.

  • While sampling takes time to produce the item, ship to client, and receive feedback, sometimes clients value this opportunity to see and feel an item before offering it to customers.

  • All printing techniques (dye sublimation; Screen Printing with Plastisol or discharge or water-based inks or foil; Direct-to-Garment printing; etc.) are art forms that encounter the vagaries of color differences between computer screens and various physical forms interacting with different inks. As such, actual samples can help clients produce physical items that agree with their desires and goals as seen on screen during design.

Amplifier Production

  • Amplifier purchases blanks, inks, and other supplies through industry-standard suppliers. These suppliers typically have Material Safety Data Sheets on their offerings, and copies of these may be obtained upon request.

  • Normal workflow affords multiple opportunities for flaws to be discovered. It also affords opportunities for flaws to be introduced. While Amplifier makes good faith efforts to uncover issues before shipping a product to a customer, some defects will get through.

On-Demand Production

  • Prior to production, artwork is confirmed via the Preview Image based on the art provided by the client.

  • Each blank is individually picked and loaded into/onto production equipment (sometimes both printing and heat-press or heat-transfer equipment, depending on the product type).

  • A different person typically handles the make ready for each item (e.g. fold, bag, barcode; box; roll in tube; etc.)

  • If Amplifier notices an issue with an item produced on demand, or if Amplifier learns of such an issue from an end customer who has received the product, management is able to determine which staff batched and received each item, and this intelligence helps with ongoing monitoring, training, and development of staff.

Screen Printing

  • Shirts are manually loaded on a press and pulled off a press. If flaws are discovered in the garment or the printing, these units are discarded. Clients are only charged for items produced and delivered, not discovered defects.

Third-party Inventory

  • Amplifier does not inspect third-party inventory, other than to notice obvious damage to external cartons or pallets upon arrival at Amplifier.

  • Amplifier does not open sealed product and cannot ascertain defects.

  • Amplifier accepts only the liability as explicitly provided in the MSA and Terms.

  • If client would like to see and inspect a sample of third-party-produced inventory before Amplifier ships any of this inventory to client’s customers, either the supplier can provide such samples directly to client, or client may request a shipment of units to client for such investigation. Such shipments will take the time and cost the fees customary to fulfillment and transit.

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