You are thousands of miles away from the factory floor. You worry about missed deadlines and quality dropping when you are not there to watch. You need a way to see everything.

Ask what specific tools they use, like an ERP system or WeChat Work. Inquire about daily photo updates, access to quality control reports¹, and notifications for key milestones. This gives you a clear and honest view of your production progress.

In my 20+ years of making jeans, I've learned that trust is built on transparency. I have seen too many projects fail because of poor communication. The designer is left in the dark, guessing about progress and worrying about problems.

That is not a partnership. As a factory owner, I believe visibility is not a bonus feature; it is a right. You are trusting me with your brand's reputation, so I must trust you with a clear view of our process. Good factories have nothing to hide. Let's break down the questions that separate a true partner from a black box.

Do they livestream cutting, sewing, or washing stations?

You want to see your jeans being made with your own eyes. But you worry about security or that the factory will only show you a perfectly staged area.

While constant 24/7 livestreaming is impractical for security reasons, a great factory will offer scheduled "live look-in" video calls. They can walk you through any production station on-demand to show you a real, unfiltered view.

Many designers ask me for a 24/7 webcam feed. I understand the desire for complete visibility. However, this is rarely the best solution for a high-end, multi-client factory floor.

My primary duty is to protect every client's intellectual property. A wide-angle, always-on camera could easily expose your unique pocket stitching to another client, or their new wash technique to you.

It also requires massive internet bandwidth and is not a focused way to check your order. Instead, a much better solution is the scheduled, on-demand video call. If you have a question about the wash process, my manager will take you right to the washing area via a WeChat or Zoom video call.

We can show you your jeans, answer questions in real time, and focus entirely on your product. This method respects security while offering targeted, meaningful transparency.

Feature	24/7 Livestream	Scheduled Video Call
Design Security	Low (exposes entire floor)	High (focused on your line only)
Problem Solving	Hard (passive viewing)	Easy (direct, two-way communication)
Practicality	Low (high bandwidth, security risk)	High (flexible and secure)
Focus	General factory view	Specific to your order's details

Can I access daily progress reports online?

Endless email chains and vague updates like "sewing is in progress" are frustrating. You waste valuable time chasing information. You need one central place to see the real status of your order.

Yes, a modern factory must provide access to a production tracking portal². This can be their ERP system³ or a project tool like Trello. It should show key milestones, quantities completed, and daily photos, all in one place.

A daily email is not real-time visibility. A true manufacturing partner will give you a window into their internal system. At my DiZNEW factory, we provide clients with login access to our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

This is the same system my production managers use to track everything. It is the single source of truth. Instead of asking for an update, you can simply log in and see exactly where your order stands.

A good system should track all the critical stages of production. You should be able to see not just that a stage has started, but the quantities completed.

For example, the portal should show "Cutting: 5,000/5,000 units complete" and "Sewing: 2,150/5,000 units complete." Paired with daily photos of the actual work, this gives you total confidence and eliminates guesswork.

Key Milestones to Track:

• Fabric Received & Inspected
• Marker Approved
• Cutting Started / Completed
• Sewing Started / Completed
• Washing & Dyeing Started / Completed
• Finishing Started / Completed
• Final QC In Progress / Completed
• Packaging Started / Completed & Ready to Ship

What KPIs are tracked in real time?

You hear that "everything is on track," but you have no hard data to back it up. You need to see real numbers to know if production is truly healthy and efficient.

Core KPIs include Production Output vs. Target, First-Pass Yield (quality rate), and Defect Rates⁴. Access to these numbers shows a factory is confident in its quality and is not hiding problems from you.

Numbers don't lie. Vague assurances are a red flag. A top-tier factory manages its operations with data, and they should be willing to share that data with you.

These Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)⁵ give you a true health check on your production run. At my factory, these numbers are reviewed in a production meeting every single morning.

Sharing them with a client is a sign of respect and trust. If a problem arises, the numbers will show it immediately.

For example, a dip in the First-Pass Yield at the sewing stage tells us we need to investigate a specific sewing line or operator right away. Before I even report the issue to you, my team is already working on a solution because the data pointed us to the problem.

KPI	What It Means	Why It Matters to You
Output vs. Target	Are we making enough pairs per day?	Predicts if your delivery will be on time.
First-Pass Yield (FPY)	What % of jeans pass inspection the first time?	A high FPY (e.g., >98%) indicates high and consistent quality.
Defect Rate & Type	What problems are occurring and how often?	Shows the factory is tracking and solving root causes of quality issues.

How do they secure my proprietary designs on camera?

You want visibility, but you are terrified of your unique pocket detail or wash recipe being copied. Showing your production on camera feels like a massive security risk.

A professional factory uses legal agreements (NDAs) and highly controlled video calls to protect you. The camera will only ever show your specific production line. Your designs will never be shown to anyone else.

This is one of the most important questions a designer can ask. Protecting your intellectual property is my absolute priority.

The foundation of this protection is a strong Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)⁶. This legal document binds me to protect your designs. But the real protection comes from daily operational discipline.

When we do a live video call, it is a private, one-on-one session. My manager will walk to your specific production line. The camera will be pointed only at your jeans being cut, sewn, or washed.

We will never pan across the factory floor or show the work we are doing for other brands. Think about it from my perspective: if I were careless with your designs, my other clients would know I would be careless with theirs, too.

My reputation for discretion and trust is my most valuable asset. That is why we manage these look-ins with such strict protocols, ensuring your designs remain confidential while still giving you the visibility you need.

Conclusion

Demand real-time visibility through smart tools and clear KPIs. This approach builds a transparent, trusting partnership and guarantees your designs are produced perfectly and securely from start to finish.

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