Comments on: Quality Control and SOW pt.1

By: The best technical software for small companies

The best technical software for small companies — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:21:06 +0000

[...] contracts CPSIA tracking label requirements Who pays for a sewing contractor’s mistakes? SOW Quality Control and SOW pt.1 Quality Control and SOW pt.2 What is a cutting ticket addthis_pub = [...]

By: Lesley

Lesley — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:47:01 +0000

Thanks Kathleen,
Just finished writing up 14 pages of spec sheets – just for ONE contractor (trims). I have gotten to the point of spoon-feeding every detail since I cannot underestimate the amount of sloppiness and short-cuts every person in the process will take. Now I have every ridiculous imaginable detail in writing: seam allowances, hem allowances, seam types, thread colors for every seam, which way to roll the trim on the roll, …I could go on and on. I just don’t know how anyone can let go enough to trust their contractors, let alone overseas! Geez, I just had a fabric company send me the wrong fabric for the same order twice in a row. This happens to me all the time and a contractor would probably not even notice that the color was off or know why the order was wrong (right bolt, wrong fabric followed by wrong fabric on wrong bolt – this would be solved if the idiots used numbers instead of color names assigned by colorblind people.) Everybody makes at least one mistake along the way, myself included, and what you finish with is a heap of dung. aargh! Oh yes, and what to do when the production sample looks great but the actual production looks terrible! I am considering Zanax.

By: Quality Control and SOW pt.2

Quality Control and SOW pt.2 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:42:10 +0000

[...] Member Forum « Quality Control and SOW pt.1 [...]

By: Barb Taylorr

Barb Taylorr — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:11:55 +0000

Great post, thanks for the extra (& painful) effort! I understand your point much better now. I’m sure the extra detail is appreciated by many. I might add one tip that some newer DE’s may not be aware of. Many large US cities have bussiness that specialize in fixing mistakes made on bulk lots of apparel before it ships to the retailer (replacing labels, buttons, pressing and repackaging..etc). This can be a life-saver when the problem is fixible but there is no time to return the goods to the factory, especially if your contracter is overseas. I have also found local tailors to make repairs on pieces that fail inspection. It is very expensive, but if it keeps a valuable customer from canceling an order because the quantity or delivery date was not as promised, or if it keeps you in compliance with a big box customer’s requirements, it can be a viable option.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:47:12 +0000

This is a timely topic for me, because I was awake most of the night and had time to think about this very subject before I finally got out of bed and booted up the computer. Such is the life (or lack thereof) of an entrepreneur. I manufacture a line of custom covers for Curves fitness franchises (just one of many unusual lines) I don’t subcontract, my own employees do the cut and sew. I’ve really let quality control get away from me, and I’ve noticed some increased complaints or returns. To quantify the cost of one return is easy. I send another, so it may cost me $20. But I may never get another order from that club if they simply don’t complain, but don’t reorder. The cost could be extremely high. If they tell others (which they do) it could be worse. I have to compensate by ridiculously high customer service levels, even replacing things that are often not my fault at all. But, back to the problem. I need to make my employees more accountable at every level, for their own work, and for noticing any issues with the work of anyone else that has contributed to the problem.
Thanks for doing another boring, useful article.

By: ginevra

ginevra — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:08:16 +0000

You certainly didn’t bore me! (And I now see my previous, previous life as a lawyer may come in handy one day).