Sent out for maggam, came back late: tracking job work with outside units
How boutiques track garments sent to outside maggam, aari, zardosi and embroidery units — what went, when it is due back, and what it cost.
VirtueTailor3 min read
The short answer
Mark each garment as sent out to the outside unit, with the date it is due back. Keep everything that is out on one list, message the unit on WhatsApp from it, and record the job's cost as it is paid. The garment stays on your production board the whole time, so you never lose track of a piece that left the shop.
Out of the shop, out of sight
Three blouses went to the maggam unit last week. One came back. Nobody wrote down which, or when the other two were promised — and the bride's function is on Sunday.
Job work on the same board
- Send a garment out to a named unit
- A due-back date on each piece
- Everything that is out, on one list
- Message the unit on WhatsApp
- The job's cost recorded as an expense
Why outside work goes missing
Most boutiques send some work out — maggam, aari, zardosi, computer embroidery, dyeing, even stitching in a rush. The moment a piece leaves, it leaves the notebook too. There is no stage for "at Ramesh's unit", so nobody chases it until the customer does.
Make "sent out" a stage you can see
Keep a list of the units you work with — their name, phone and what they do. When a garment goes out, choose Send out on it: the work it is going for, the unit, a back-by date and notes for the unit such as the design and thread colour. On the production board the card shows it is out, and with whom.
- Before it goes: photograph the piece and the design it is meant to follow.
- When it goes: record the unit, the work and the date due back.
- While it is out: check one list of everything outside, sorted by due date.
- When it returns: mark it received, say whether the work is good or needs rework, record the job charge, and give it to the next master.
Chasing without a phone tree
From the list of outside work, message the unit on WhatsApp in one tap — the message already names the garment, its code and the day it was sent. The day before it is due, a gentle reminder; the day after, a firmer one. Late units show up as late, the same as late work in your own workroom.
Know what outside work costs you
Record the job charge when you pay it; it goes into expenses as job work for that order. Over a season you can see which unit is fastest, which is cheapest, and whether sending maggam out is still cheaper than hiring a karigar. See reports for a tailoring business.
Questions
How do I track embroidery work sent to an outside unit?
Mark the garment as sent to that unit with a due-back date, keep everything that is out on one list, and mark it back when it returns. VirtueTailor keeps it on your production board throughout.
Can I record the cost of outsourced maggam work?
Yes. The cost of each outside job is recorded as an expense, so it shows in your profit report.
Try it in your own shop
Free to start. Our team will help you bring your customers and measurements in.