What is the difference between a manufacturer’s defect and a design defect?

The difference between a manufacturer’s defect and a design defect lies in the cause of a product’s harmfulness. Generally speaking, a manufacturer’s defect is present when a product is made improperly or with an incorrect part, while a design defect is when the product is made properly but still has inherent flaws in its design which make it dangerous. In Washington, the law holds a manufacturer or seller of a product liable when their product is defective and causes harm. The determining factor in the legal action is whether or not the defect was a result of a design problem or a manufacturing issue. A manufacturer’s defect is something that happened in the production of the product. This could be caused by the use of incorrect parts, incorrect packaging, or a failure to meet safety regulations. It is also possible for human error to contribute to a manufacturer’s defect, such as if the product did not meet safety guidelines during the manufacturing process. On the other hand, a design defect is something that was intended in the product but its design is still dangerous. For example, a product might be designed to be fireproof but then catches fire during normal use. The product was correctly constructed, but its design makes it dangerous to use. When a product has a defect, it is important for consumers to know whether their product is defective due to either manufacturer’s defect or design defect in order to properly seek legal action in Washington.

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