MANUFACTURING DEFCTS IN A PRODUCT LIAILITY CASE

A manufacturing defect occurs when a product departs from its intended design due to an error in production, making a specific item or batch unsafe, unlike a design defect which affects all units. To succeed in a claim, the plaintiff must show that the product was flawed because of issues such as poor materials, faulty assembly, or quality control failures, that the defect made it unreasonably dangerous, and that it directly caused injury during normal use. Liability may be based on strict liability, negligence, or breach of warranty, and can extend to manufacturers, distributors, and sellers.

Elements of a Manufacturing Defect Claim:

• Defective Product: A defective product is one that departs from its intended blueprint, such as having an incorrect component, faulty assembly, or substandard material.
• Unreasonably Dangerous: The defect or deviation from the intended design makes the product unsafe for consumers.
• Causation: The defect directly caused the injury or harm, serving as both the actual and proximate cause.
• Before Leaving Control: The defect was present when the product left the manufacturer’s control.
• Foreseeable Use: The user was using the product as intended or in a reasonably foreseeable way.

Examples:

• A batch of prescription drugs contaminated during packaging.
• A car seat with a poorly attached latch from a factory error.
• An electrical appliance with a weakened component due to low-grade materials.

Legal Theories:

• Strict Liability: The manufacturer failed to exercise reasonable care in production.
• Breach of Warranty: The product failed to meet implied guarantees of merchantability or fitness for use.

Maryland Product Liability Lawyers

Manufacturing Defects Supporting Products Liability Legal Claims

Unlike design defects, manufacturing defects usually exist in one or a few items, rather than every product in a line. They are aspects of the product that the manufacturer did not design or intend. Instead, they occur when a product deviates from its intended design, regardless of how much care the manufacturer took to design the product, select materials, and oversee its production.

A manufacturing defect occurs during the construction phase of products. For example, an airbag that lacks the proper mechanism to deploy probably has a manufacturing defect. Similarly, a bottle of cough syrup that is contaminated probably has a manufacturing defect. Any manufacturing defect that causes an injury can give rise to a products liability lawsuit.

When a badly manufactured product leaves the manufacturer and causes injury when used for its intended purpose, the manufacturer is liable for any injuries that result under the principle of strict liability. Liability arises even if the manufacturer was very reasonable and careful when putting together the product. A plaintiff trying to prove strict liability need only show that the product was defective and that the defect caused his or her injuries.

Manufacturing defect an unintentional deviation from the product’s design during the manufacturing process

Manufacturing and quality assurance controls limit the number of defective products that are shipped to consumers. Occasionally, a badly manufactured product bypasses the systems that are in place to make sure that it is not defective. The two most common defects involve low-quality materials and poor workmanship while assembling components to make the finished product. Often, the manufacturing defect could be eliminated if a more careful worker or better-quality materials were used to create the product. If an injury-producing problem would still be there, whether or not the product was put together well, the issue is probably a design defect rather than a manufacturing defect.

Maryland Product Liability Lawyers