Yes. You should be able to visit any factory that makes your goods, and a good agent will arrange the visit and travel with you if you want. Seeing the line, meeting the owner and walking the warehouse tells you things no report can.
We arrange visits on request, and our audit report is a good place to start planning one.
Why visits matter
A visit confirms that the factory exists, that it is a manufacturer rather than a trader, and that it is the one making your goods. Our guide on telling a trader from a manufacturer explains what to look for.
It also builds a relationship. Owners and managers who have met you are more likely to call you when something goes wrong. They are also more likely to take your spec seriously.
How to get the most from a visit
- Read the audit report before you go, and list the points you want to see for yourself.
- Ask to see your product, or one like it, being made, not just a showroom or sample room.
- Walk the raw material store, the quality control area, the packing area and the finished goods warehouse.
- Meet the person responsible for quality, not only the owner or sales manager.
- Ask how the factory handled its last quality complaint, and what it changed afterwards.
- Take your own photos, where the factory allows, and write notes the same day.
Planning the trip
Factories in India can be far apart, and road journeys often take longer than the map suggests. Visit fewer factories and spend longer in each, rather than racing through a long list. Ask your agent to group visits by area and to confirm each appointment the day before.
Check visa rules and any business-visit requirements for your nationality well before you travel, using the official Indian government visa site or your nearest Indian mission.
Announced or unannounced
Most buyer visits are announced, because you need the owner and the right people there. That is fine, but remember the factory will have prepared. An agent can also make unannounced audit visits between your trips, which show the factory on an ordinary day.
Combining the two works well. You build the relationship on announced visits, and your agent checks the reality between them. Our article on what a factory audit should contain covers what an audit looks at.
Why the agent should come with you
Your agent knows the factory's history, the open issues and the questions that still need answers. They can translate, and they can tell you afterwards what was normal and what was staged. They can also help you keep any promises made on the day in writing.
Be cautious of an agent who resists your visits, insists on meeting at a hotel or office, or wants to choose which factory you see. That can mean the agent is hiding the real factory or its name. Our guide on knowing the real factory name explains why that matters.
Next step
If you are planning a trip to India to meet suppliers, book a free sourcing review and we will help you plan the visits.