Check a jewellery factory's capacity step by step, because output is set by the slowest stage, not by the number of presses or casting machines. In most Rajkot workshops that bottleneck is stone setting, plating or final finishing and packing.
A maker who quotes a large monthly figure may be adding up work done by outside units. That is normal in Rajkot, but you need to know which steps are in-house and which are not.
Map the steps
Ask the maker to list each step for your design: casting or stamping, cleaning, soldering, stone setting, polishing, plating, lacquer or anti-tarnish coating, assembly, quality check and packing. For each step, ask whether it is done in the workshop or sent out, and to whom.
Plating is often sent to a separate plating unit. That is not a problem in itself, but it adds transit time and means plating quality depends on another business.
Count what you can see
- Workers at each bench, especially stone setters and finishers.
- Casting, stamping and polishing machines that are actually running.
- Plating tanks or the name of the plating unit used.
- Work in progress on the floor and whose orders it belongs to.
- Packing space and how many people pack on a normal day.
Ask about the calendar
Capacity is about time as much as space. Workshops in Rajkot get busy before Indian festivals and the wedding season, when domestic orders compete with exports, and many slow down or close around Diwali. Ask what else is booked in your production window and how many pieces per day they can give your order.
A useful test is to ask for a small trial order and compare the promised date with the actual one.
Warning signs
- The quoted capacity does not match the number of workers you see.
- The maker cannot name the plating unit or casting unit they use.
- Every date is "no problem", even in the festival season.
- No records of past orders, dispatch dates or rejects.
What this means for a buyer
Capacity is easiest to judge in person, in the weeks before your order. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing: we visit the workshops and their outside units, check plating and finish, and supervise packing. Start with a free sourcing review.