Do you practice final inspection?
We can promote routes, discounts, specials on storage and even more convenient
hours. Everything helps.
But if you want to attract good customers and keep them, make a constant effort
and the means of improving a fail safe system — practice and perfect final inspection.
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The sign could state: “Meet our valued trusted final inspector.” And there she is, carefully looking over each garment, before it goes to the
assembly area to be placed by the assembler on the conveyor or to the assigned
designated route.
Carefully placed for easy reach are the proper caped hangers, tissue, and
packaging material, coat retainers, hanky tops and any notes to enhance the
completed order. She has carefully followed the information the counter has put
on the ticket.
This calls for a system and it involves the full cooperation of the entire plant
in its day-to-day operation. Start with the finishing or pressing department.
Be aware that no one handles a garment more than a presser, and all garments
must have hangers in the right direction in order to advance on the finished
line.
Should the presser see some flaw or a reason to reject that piece — a stain or a broken button, he or she simply puts it backwards on the finished
line and it will be picked up and passed for correction to the right party. No
words need be spoken, or explanation no interruption of the work flow. The
assembly individual simply makes the decision and starts the rejected piece
back for correction or explanation, with no time wasted.
Everyone soon knows the drill and what they are expected to do. It all starts
with the C.S.R. (counter sales representative), who handles each garment with a
smile! Some pleasantries help, such as commenting on the weather etc.
Now comes the important job as you quickly inspect the garments. Noting,
silently, a stain on right sleeve to the right of the garment on the ticket.
The CSR puts “RS” for the final inspector to check as she is inspecting the garment. The more
minimal code, the better. Anything that the customer would be concerned with
for removal or correction should be noted. This gives you the opportunity to
mention that you repair minor loose seams or buttons at no charge, stating that
it’s usually more work to find them than to correct them.
Anything that the CSR can do to send the garment on its way to give the customer
the full confidence that she is in the right place and the work is guaranteed.
Many plants try to keep records and call the productive personnel to a brief
staff meeting once every two weeks, conducted by management, with pressers,
spotter, the assembly person and the final inspector, who simply reads off how
many garments were returned for stain removal or some special treatment, etc.
This can be a jovial in-house meeting where all can voice opinions to make the
plant function smoother and any problem areas can be discussed, such as padding
that needs changing or some mechanical problems that should corrected. It
should be a brief, pleasant gathering, with refreshments provided, perhaps a
pizza party.
The idea is not to create animosity, but to give the inspector and management a
chance to let each team member know the importance of their role and
cooperation. All should know they are all on the same team and are seeking ways
to see the business grow with job benefits and security and better days ahead.
