The people who make the garments.
WHAT ROLES TYPICALLY EXIST
Pattern cutter Cutter Machinists, by operation Finishers and hand-work Presser Quality checker
WHY SEPARATION OF OPERATIONS MATTERS
Specialisation is faster than each person making a whole garment.
WHAT THAT REQUIRES
Enough volume to keep each occupied.
WHAT SMALL OPERATIONS DO INSTEAD
Each person completes whole garments.
WHAT THAT COSTS
Speed, and consistency between makers.
WHAT PAYMENT STRUCTURES EXIST
Fixed wage Payment per garment or per operation Apprentice arrangements
WHAT PAYMENT PER PIECE PROVIDES
Output.
WHAT IT RISKS
Quality sacrificed for speed.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT
Check before the garment passes on, and make rework unpaid.
WHAT APPRENTICE ARRANGEMENTS INVOLVE
Training in exchange for labour, over a period.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
The terms, in writing: duration, what is taught, what is paid, what happens at the end.
WHY IN WRITING
Disputes about these arrangements are common and damaging.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Arrangements that are employment in substance.
WHY
Obligations apply regardless of what it is called.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT TOOLS AND MACHINES
Who provides them Who maintains them
WHY MAINTENANCE MATTERS
Badly maintained machines produce poor stitching and damage fabric.
WHAT TO TRAIN
Consistency to your standard Handling different fabrics Finishing quality
WHAT TO MEASURE
Output per person Rework by person Fabric waste
