What to ask in factory visit: Complete Manufacturing Plant Visit Checklist

Updated November 16, 2025

As an American shopify ecommerce business, here are the exact questions I ask when I visit factories.

Manufacturing Plant Visit Checklist

Here’s what to assess and ask while visiting a factory.

1. Capacity

• How many production lines do you have?
• Is business good or bad these days? Then count how many machines/tables are being used to get your % of current used capacity. It’s good if a factory is doing well. But if they are at or close to capacity, then it will take longer for this supplier to fulfill your order.

2. Production Line Working Conditions

• Lighting: Is the lighting bright enough so that workers can see their objects clearly?
• Ventilation: Are there any harsh chemical smells? Are there fans and are they on?
• Age of Workers: Are the workers experienced? Are they younger? Are they underage?

3. Sample Making

• Ask to visit the sample making area, where there is a more manual production line for making sample goods.
• Are there a lot of people working here? That would mean business is good (though during the Canton Fair it will be busier).
• Is there a machine to print the line drawings for samples?

4. QC

• Is there a QC checkpoint at multiple places? Such as throughout the production line and before packing?
• Are there QC machines? Such as for testing materials like fabrics, and for testing the color of fabrics? Or for testing zipper strength and strap strength? Larger scale and more professional factories often have a dedicated space for testing.

5. Your Product

• Can you make this product? See if they can connect you go a sample maker or a master within the factory.
• What’s the MOQ?
• How much would the sample cost?
• What’s the ballpark unit price? At how many units?
• How long would it take to make the MOQ right now? How long would it take to make the products? (For example, it might take 1 week to actually make your products, but there might be a 3 week wait before production can start due to other orders, resulting in a wait time of 4 weeks for busier factories.)