How do I judge the skill and age of sewers at an apparel contractor I want to buy?

Spend time on the floor. Watch sewers on different operations, and look at the finished work: straight seams, even stitching, clean finishing. Ask which sewers can handle complex garments and which do simple operations. Ask the supervisor to explain who trains new hires and how long it takes them to reach a good standard.

Look at the make-up of the team without making assumptions about individuals. Ask how long each person has worked there, whether any are expected to retire, and what the shop has done to train younger workers. A team with a deep bench is safer than one with a few irreplaceable experts. Ask about how hard it has been to hire in recent years.

Think about pay and morale. Ask how sewers are paid, whether by the hour or by the piece, and how that affects quality. Check how many left recently and why. Ask your lawyer about how employment is handled in a sale. Plan how to meet the team early and tell them what to expect; uncertainty can push good people out. Remember that skill shows in the whole line, not just one person. Look at rework rates and how often garments are sent back, which tell you how reliable the team is as a group.

Key takeaways

• Watch the work and judge finished quality, not only speed.
• Map who can do the hardest operations and who is near retirement.
• Meet the team early and ask how new sewers are trained.