Case investigation ReportItem code: TBS207Product Description: Umbrella (Umbrella New Horizon)Conducted by Jerry WongIssued date: 16 Dec 2019Background:Two complaints received, they areA. The end user was hurt by the broken partsB. The handle was found brokenTo investigate the case, we have tried to replicate the failure to find out the root cause of the case.For complaint A, the end user was hurt by the broken parts:Based on the sample received, we found 1. The umbrella end and the shaft were found slanting 2. The rivet did not release from the stretcher 3. The stretcher was bend and broke For details, please refer to the images below: After internal investigation, the failure could be replicated by hitting the position near the umbrella end and open the umbrella by force.Procedures: 1. The umbrella end and handle were hold2. Force was applied at the middle of the umbrella, similar as the diagram below,3. The umbrella was opened by force After the test, we found1. The umbrella end and the shaft were slanting 2. The rivet did not release from the stretcher 3. The stretcher was bend and broke The following images shown the findings after test and they are similar to the findings from the returned sample received. Conclusion of complaint A:Under normal use, the umbrella will not break like this. Regards to the current control system, factory will be 100% check before packing process. During mass production and before shipping out the goods, Concept 4 will conduct inline visit and final inspection. in addition, before shipped out the goods, SGS had conduct pre-shipment inspection and cannot find that the umbrella was broken. After reviewing the inline visit report and final inspection, no such defect was found during inline visit and final inspection by Concept 4 and SGS. We think the problem was found after used.According to the case received, the end user was cut by the broken part. From the test result above, the broken part seems come from the umbrella after broke. We can conclude that the injury case will be classified as an isolated case and the defect likely not from the mass production run.For Complaint B: The handle was found broken:Based on the sample received, we found 1. The handled was found broken.For details, please refer to the image below. After internal investigation, we have applied two drop tests to the handle (at the position of the handle)Drop test 1:Procedures: 1. Place the umbrella at 0.8m height2. Ensure the umbrella handle would be hit3. Repeat the test for 3 times and review the handle part4. The handle was hit to the ground directly until breakFor details, please refer to the video embedded. Drop test 2:Procedures: 1. Place the umbrella at 1m height2. Ensure the umbrella handle would be hit3. Repeat the test for 10 times and review the handle partAfter 10 drops, the handle did not find breaking, but it was found a bit deformed.Handle the umbrella in factory: As umbrellas were packed in the carton box, (24pcs in an inner box). As the umbrella will be protected by the carton box and pass the transits test, the risk that the umbrella was broken in the carton box will be low.Conclusion of complaint B:In the daily use, the umbrella may drop but the handle part is rarely to be hit under normal use. Even the umbrella was dropped, the opportunities that the handle part will be hit is not high. From drop test 1 result, we found the handle was broken after strongly hit the ground, but the handle did not break after 10 drops (hitting the handle for 10 times in 1m height), based on the drop test 2 result. To prevent the handle from breaking, the handle may be changed to thicker handle (to 10-12mm), but this will generate a cost impact. However, under normal use, we will not expect the end user will strongly hit the ground as the video shown, therefore we classify the case as an isolated case and the defect was not likely be made in factory. The broken handle probably broke when in use or taken out from the carton boxes. To sum up:Based on the test results, we think the both cases would be classified as isolated case and we will work close with the factory to ensure the mass production will be well controlled.