The 7 Questions to Ask Before Signing with a Factory
Most factory relationships that fail do so because the brand did not ask the right questions before committing. A factory that looks good on paper — competitive pricing, fast samples, strong compliance certificates — can still be the wrong partner for your brand.
These seven questions will reveal a factory's true capabilities, reliability, and cultural fit before you have skin in the game.
1. "What percentage of your production is for brands at my volume level?"
This question reveals whether you will be a priority customer or an afterthought.
A factory that primarily serves large retailers may technically accept your 500-unit order, but your production will be scheduled during their downtime — meaning longer lead times, less attention from senior workers, and lower priority when capacity is tight.
Look for factories where brands at your volume represent at least 20–30% of their business. These factories have built their operations around serving smaller, growing brands.
2. "Can you share references from three current clients?"
A factory that cannot provide client references — or provides references that are difficult to contact — is a red flag.
When you speak with references, ask specifically:
- How does the factory handle quality issues mid-production?
- Have they ever missed a delivery deadline, and how did they communicate it?
- Would you use them again for your next collection?
The third question is the most revealing. A client who says "yes, but..." is telling you something important.
3. "What is your current capacity utilization, and when is your next available production slot?"
This question serves two purposes. First, it tells you whether the factory can actually accommodate your timeline. Second, it reveals how honest they are.
A factory that claims to have immediate availability for a new client should prompt follow-up questions. Factories with strong reputations are typically booked 3–6 months in advance. Immediate availability may mean they have lost clients recently — which is worth understanding.
4. "Walk me through your quality control process."
Listen for specifics. A strong answer will include:
- In-line inspection (checking quality during production, not just at the end)
- AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) standards they adhere to
- How defects are documented and communicated to the client
- What happens if the defect rate exceeds the agreed threshold
A vague answer — "we have a quality team" — is not sufficient. Ask for their standard AQL level and what remediation looks like in practice.
5. "What certifications do you hold, and when were they last audited?"
Certifications matter for two reasons: compliance with your target market's regulations, and as a proxy for operational discipline.
| Certification | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| BSCI / SMETA | Social compliance, labour standards |
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | Chemical safety in textiles |
| GOTS | Organic textile processing |
| ISO 9001 | Quality management systems |
| WRAP | Workplace conditions |
Ask for the actual audit report, not just the certificate. Audit reports reveal specific findings and corrective actions — a factory that has addressed past findings is often more trustworthy than one with a clean certificate and no history.
6. "What is your policy if you cannot meet the agreed delivery date?"
How a factory answers this question tells you more about their culture than almost anything else.
A factory with strong operational culture will have a clear protocol: proactive communication as soon as a delay is identified, a revised timeline with specific milestones, and a defined escalation path.
A factory that deflects — "we always deliver on time" — is not being honest. Production delays happen. What matters is how they are managed.
7. "How do you handle IP protection and exclusivity?"
If your product has proprietary design elements — a unique construction, a signature fabric treatment, a distinctive silhouette — you need to understand how the factory handles intellectual property.
Specifically, ask:
- Do you produce similar products for our competitors?
- Will you sign an NDA or IP protection clause?
- How do you handle our tech packs and patterns after the relationship ends?
A factory that is unwilling to discuss IP protection is not the right partner for a brand with proprietary designs.
The Conversation Behind the Questions
These questions are not a checklist to run through mechanically. They are conversation starters. The goal is to understand how the factory thinks, communicates, and handles problems — not just to collect answers.
Pay attention to how quickly they respond, how clearly they communicate, and whether they ask good questions back. A factory that asks thoughtful questions about your brand, your customer, and your quality standards is a factory that is thinking about the relationship, not just the transaction.
Let loomlink Do the Vetting
At loomlink, we conduct this due diligence on every factory in our network — so you do not have to. Our clients get access to pre-vetted partners with verified compliance records, client references, and production capacity data.
Book a free consultation to discuss your sourcing requirements.