Manufacturing defects occur during the manufacture of a product. As a result, the product comes off the assembly line in faulty condition. A flawed transistor is installed into a stereo system, causing the unit to smoke and eventually burn up. The manufacturing defect poses a fire hazard. If it causes a fire in your home, the maker is responsible.
Design defects are inherent flaws in a product.
Even if a product is assembled perfectly, it still comes out of the factory in dangerous condition. Design defects also apply to the way products are packaged. For example, cleaning solutions and pharmaceutical drugs must be sold in childproof containers. If a child falls ill or dies after swallowing a bottle of pills that was sold without a childproof cap, the manufacturer can be held liable. Lack of adequate instructions and warnings can result in the improper use or assembly of a product.