How to Set Up a One-Person Production Line

A well-organised workspace is the backbone of a one-person production line. Separate your workflow into distinct areas:

• Prep Zone: Garments are checked, folded, and pre-pressed.
• Pressing Zone: Heat press station for transfers.
• Finishing Zone: Cooling, packaging, and labelling.

Pro tip: Keep frequently used tools within reach and group garments by size or colour for smoother processing.

Investing in the right equipment is key to solo efficiency:

• Threadable platens reduce time adjusting bulky garments.
• Digital presses allow you to save press recipes for repeat orders.
• Projection or placement tools ensure fast, accurate alignment.

Even small time savings per garment multiply over larger orders, dramatically improving throughput.

Rather than working one garment at a time, batch similar jobs together:

• Pre-press all garments first to remove moisture and wrinkles.
• Align transfers for all garments in a batch before pressing.
• Press the batch sequentially, then move to cooling and packaging.

Batching reduces repetitive movements and errors, making your workflow faster and more consistent.

Every step that involves walking back and forth adds wasted time. Design your one-person production line to minimise unnecessary movement:

• Keep blanks, tools, and transfers close to the press
• Position packaging and finishing supplies at arm’s length
• Consider small trolleys or carts for moving batches efficiently

The goal is a smooth, continuous workflow from prep to finished product.

Documenting your workflow ensures consistency and speed:

• Create a checklist for each step of your process
• Note optimal press settings, peel types, and transfer placements
• Reuse this setup for similar jobs to avoid re-inventing the wheel

A repeatable process saves time, reduces errors, and allows you to confidently take on larger orders.