Preparing a garment factory visit in Tunisia: what to look at on site

Before you travel

Set the purpose of the visit

A first visit is often used to assess a supplier. A later visit in the relationship may be used to approve a prototype, attend the start of a production run or follow a final inspection. Tell the factory the purpose: it can then have the right people and documents ready.

Send information in advance

Share before the visit whatever will allow a concrete discussion:

• the tech pack for one or two representative items;
• the expected volumes per style and the number of colours;
• the production model you want: CMT (you supply fabrics and trims) or full package (the factory buys the materials);
• your requirements regarding audits and standards.

Prepare the list of documents to review

Ask to be able to review on site:

• the latest social audit report (for example SMETA) and the corrective action plan;
• documents relating to the quality or environmental management system, if any;
• an example of a quality control sheet and an end of production report.

Check travel formalities

For French nationals, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs states that no visa is required for a stay of less than three months in Tunisia, and that a valid passport is mandatory. It recommends travelling with a passport rather than an identity card. Travellers from the UK and other European countries should check the conditions with their own foreign ministry.

On site: what to look at

The path of a garment

Ask to follow a garment's route in order: receipt of materials, cutting, sewing, inspection, packing, shipment. This route shows whether flows are clear, whether areas are separated and whether work in progress is properly identified.

Receipt and storage of materials

Look at how fabrics and trims are stored, identified and protected. Under CMT, these are your materials: you should be able to find them easily, kept apart from those of other clients.

The cutting room

Observe how fabric lays are prepared, how markers are made and how cut pieces are marked. Well organised cutting limits size and shade errors between the pieces of the same garment.

The sewing lines

This is the core of the visit. A few points to observe:

• the type of item produced on each line at the time of the visit;
• the sequence of workstations and the balance of the line;
• whether the special machines your item needs are there (hems, tape attaching, chainstitch seams, hook and loop, heat transfer), and how embroidery is handled, in house or through partners;
• the condition and maintenance of the machines.

If the factory has a prototype line, ask to see it. It shows how a new style is developed without disrupting production.

Quality control

Ask where and how inspection takes place: during sewing, at the end of the line, before packing. Look at the forms used, the lighting in the inspection area and the way non conforming pieces are set aside and then reworked.

Working conditions

A visit does not replace a social audit, but it gives some indications. SMETA audits, for example, cover labour standards and health and safety on site. On site, you can observe:

• emergency exits and whether they are kept clear;
• firefighting equipment;
• lighting, ventilation and cleanliness of the workshops;
• the general atmosphere and how workstations are organised.

Packing and shipment

Look at how pieces are folded, labelled and packed into cartons. Check that the factory can follow your packing and carton marking instructions.

Questions to ask during the visit

• Who will be my day to day contact, and in which language?
• How will I know where my order stands?
• How is the quotation built from my tech pack?
• How are corrections and non conforming pieces handled?
• What delivery terms are offered?

After the visit

Write a visit report promptly, while your observations are still precise: strengths, points to clarify, documents received, open questions. Send the list of points to clarify to the factory, then compare its answers with what you saw. If the visit is conclusive, the next step is usually the quotation, then the prototype.

At Vestra

At Vestra, the factory is on Route de Tunis, in Sidi Bou Ali, near Sousse, 25 minutes from Enfidha airport. Visits are by appointment. On the 2,400 m² site, you see the 5 production lines, the prototype line and the special machines, as well as the sequence of cutting, sewing, quality control and packing. Embroidery is carried out by partners. Communication takes place in French, English, Dutch or German, with a sales contact based in Nice. After the visit, each order can be followed on the online client portal.

To prepare your visit, send your tech pack to sales@vestratextile.com.

FAQ

Do I need to give the factory a lot of notice?

At the very least, book an appointment and state the purpose of the visit, so that the right people and documents are available.

Does a visit replace a social audit?

No. A social audit follows a defined method and is carried out by an audit company. The visit complements the audit with your own view of the organisation and the work.

What should I bring?

A tech pack, a sample or photo of the item if possible, your list of questions and your quality control requirements.

Vestra Manufacturing, workwear manufacturer in Tunisia →

Sources

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