The factory flow
Most factories follow a similar path: goods come in, get checked, stored, turned into product, and go back out. The details at each step — how long things sit, how quality is checked, how the line is run — are what separate a reliable partner from the rest.
Below is that path from incoming goods to outgoing goods, plus the main steps in between. On Factory Truth, we ask factories the same questions about each step so you can compare what actually happens, not just what’s on paper.
- A
Receiving
Goods arrive at the dock. How they’re unloaded, how long they sit, and how temperature and humidity are controlled set the stage for everything that follows.
- B
Incoming quality (IQC)
Before anything goes into storage, materials are checked. Quality management systems, defect rates, and certifications (e.g. ISO 9001) show how seriously a factory takes incoming quality.
- C
Incoming warehouse
Approved materials are stored — often with strict control of high-value or sensitive parts. How items are tracked, picked, and put back (e.g. PLM, FIFO) matters for traceability and mix-ups.
- D
Kitting
Parts are gathered and prepared for the line: the right components, labels, and transport bins so each station has what it needs. Lean and labelling discipline show up here.
- E
Fabrication
Subassemblies and parts are made in-house — machining, forming, or other processes. Why certain things are made (and how) reflects engineering and capacity choices.
- F
Production
The main assembly: injection molding, stamping, PCB assembly, final assembly. SOPs, training, in-line and end-of-line testing, and how changes (ECRs) are handled define how consistent the output is.
- G
In-process inventory
Between stations, work-in-progress is buffered. How much sits where and how it’s controlled affects lead time, defects, and traceability.
- H
Packing
Finished units are packed — by hand or automation — with whatever humidity and environmental controls the product needs before storage or shipment.
- I
Finished goods inventory
Boxed products wait for shipment. Temperature and humidity control, location, and how long they sit influence quality and delivery reliability.
- J
Shipping
Out the door: how orders are picked, documented, and shipped, and what controls exist so the right product reaches the right place on time.
Along the way
Quality, rework, quarantine, sourcing, and how new products are launched don’t sit in one box — they cut across the flow. Factories that do these well tend to be easier to work with and more predictable.
- Quality assurance (QA) — How defects are found, handled, and prevented; OQC, test equipment, calibration.
- Rework — When something doesn’t pass, how it’s fixed, documented, and controlled.
- Quarantine — How non-conforming or suspect material is isolated and managed so it doesn’t mix with good product.
- Sourcing & sub-suppliers — Who supplies the factory, how they get on the approved list, and how quality is assured when buying from the market.
- Project management & NPI — How new products are introduced, with stage-gates, R&D, and quality planning (e.g. APQP).
- SOPs & training — How work is documented, trained, and kept up to date so the line runs the same way every day.
- Sustainability — Waste, energy, environmental and social certifications (e.g. ISO 14000, 45001), and how the factory improves over time.