Cutting and draping

by John W. Stephenson

7. All disputes relative to the amount of goods used should be referred to the manager, and on no account should a salesman be permitted to alter the workroom report on any order.

8. On receipt of the finished work the salesman should fill out on workroom voucher his sales number, the amount charged the customer for the completed work as covered by the workroom report, the date and the number of his sales check.

The head of the workroom shall, after having receipted for an order, be held responsible for its execution within the time stated, and should return with the completed order all surplus goods, requiring a receipt for same and depositing the receipt in the office. By having all receipts from department and workroom numbered with the serial numbers of the work-sheet to which the order belongs, it will be possible at any time to verify the quantities reported as having been consumed in the workroom, and a check can be kept on every order.

There is, however, no plan which human ingenuity can devise which will not depend on the honesty and carefulness of those who operate it for its effectiveness, and there is every necessity for carefulness and certainty in connection with workroom management.

Fig 163.

The work performed by outside men should be just as carefully recorded—a proper sheet should be made out for each order showing the nature of the work and the amount paid for it. The workman should record his time and the materials used, and the sheet should be returned to the office for filing.

With a system such as we suggest the manager has but to compare these reports with his salary and expense list to ascertain the amount earned by the workroom staff.

The equipment of the workroom should at all times be fully adequate to the demands upon it, and the very smallest of workrooms should have at least: A good sewing machine, capable of performing fine or coarse work; a cutting table approximately 5—0 by 12—0; a work table 5—0 by 9—0; a pressing table 3—0 by 6—0; a draping board, a test pole, a steamer and a cupboard for finished work.

As to the sewing machine, almost any reliable make of machine will do the necessary sewing for ordinary drapery work. There are, however, special machines for special kinds of work, such as window shades, awnings, bobbinet curtains, etc., which greatly facilitate their manufacture. Poor machines of any kind (human or mechanical) are false economy.