Factory Visit Etiquette & Protocol

The true mark of professionalism is the ability to respect everyone else for their styles and always find something positive in every dining experience and highlight it in your thoughts and words. — Johnny Iuzzini

Upon a recent trip to China my company, Prouduct, took 6 people on their first trip to China and to their 1st factory visits. This was a fantastic discovery trip and we were able to source a lot of products for them saving valuable time and resources. Before each visit I stressed certain principles of culture and ethics that were very important to building a trustworthy relationship with the factory.

Here are some simple guidelines if you ever find yourself in a factory.

1) Never Take Pictures or Videos without permission — Factories protect their customers and their technology. Photo’s of products being released too early, improperly, or before being completed can cost companies millions. Most manufacturers don’t want to risk their relationships with other customers so you can take a few pictures. If you want to take pictures just ask. They will tell you if OK.

2) Never impede the employees from doing their work — Factory workers are traditionally paid 1 of 2 ways. Daily, with a quota of pieces, or 2 per piece. If you slow them down or prevent them from working as fast and efficiently as possible it creates tension and puts the manager in a tough spot. The worker will let them know once you leave…no one wants added drama from new customers

Plastic pellets at a water bottle factory in Zhejiang, China

3) Ask lots of questions about everything — The owners want you to be interested in the factory. You should ask as much as you can about the processes, the machines, employees, potential issues, etc. Don’t be annoying or burdensome, but be actively engaged in conversation and learn as much as you can about how your goods will be made. This is a picture of me inspecting Raw Materials a plastic used to make water bottles.

4) Touch and feel as much as you can, look for the good and the bad — Pick up pieces on the production line, make sure you ask first. Inspect and look to see if everything is up to par with what you expect your product to look like. On a recent visit I found that the processing tables were dirty, by running my finger along the end of the tables. This left small dust stains on the fabric. I pointed this out and had all tables cleaned immediately (my product was currently being made).

Lunch with the 3 founders of Prouduct and the owner of a factory we work with

5) Build a relationship with the engineers and production managers — Most businesses work with Sales people or Owners, both of which are important. Take this time to build a relationship with the person that will oversee the production of your goods. This individual will control staffing, QC, processing, packaging, etc. Make sure they are on your side and know their job.

Factory Workers at a gaming Table Manufacturer in Guangdong, China

There is a lot more that goes into making sure a factory visit goes well. There are indicators seasoned sourcing professionals look for that can be good or bad. Please consult an expert if ever you are uncertain about the facility.

For more information about prouduct or for help on a product please visit their Website or contact Thiefaine directly. All pictures in this article were taken with permission of factory owners and all logos have been covered to protect all respective brands. All factories were compliant with Prouduct Manufacturing Standards.