KENYA · GUIDE 0281 · EDITION 4.2

Sandal making in Kenya: Operations and Quality Checks

Deliver the agreed result consistently

Choose a sandal design around the customer's foot shape and intended walking use, agreeing footbed outline, strap positions, fastening, and accurately described materials.

The operating sequence for this offer is:

Agree size and strap layout. Record dimensions, existing wear and material description before quoting. Confirm which parts are being made, repaired or supplied.
cut paired components. Check component compatibility on a sample before irreversible cutting or assembly. Record supplier instructions for adhesives and finishes used.
assemble with suitable materials. Inspect attachment points and edges as the work proceeds. Keep product handling within the material and tool instructions you can support.
inspect and test sample durability. Check the agreed function and finish before delivery. Explain remaining wear, care needs and any use limits specific to the item.

Put acceptance into the job record

Matched pair, secure straps and comfortable fit without unverified orthopaedic claims.

Have the customer try both prototype sandals while standing and walking, checking strap pressure, heel placement, matched appearance, and how the fastening operates independently.

Inspect at the point where a correction is still possible, then again at handover. Record rejected or incomplete output separately from accepted output. A completed task is not automatically an accepted task, and an invoice does not establish that the customer received the right result.

Measure real capacity

Time preparation, the main operation, transport, cleaning, approvals and correction as applicable. The slowest stage determines how much you can promise. Where two orders need the same person, space or equipment at the same time, resolve the conflict before confirming both deadlines. An additional enquiry should not erase a commitment already made.

Operating checkpoint	Evidence for this business
Before starting	Choose a sandal design around the customer's foot shape and intended walking use, agreeing footbed outline, strap positions, fastening, and accurately described materials.
During delivery	cut paired components. Check component compatibility on a sample before irreversible cutting or assembly. Record supplier instructions for adhesives and finishes used.
At acceptance	Have the customer try both prototype sandals while standing and walking, checking strap pressure, heel placement, matched appearance, and how the fastening operates independently.
At the pilot review	Record foot measurements, pattern version, strap positions, materials used, walking feedback, and adjustments required before the customer approves the completed matched pair for collection.

Keep a correction and escalation rule

When inputs, access, specifications or customer instructions change, pause the affected work and confirm the effect on time and cost. Do not quietly lower the acceptance standard to avoid a delayed delivery. Keep rework caused by your error distinct from a customer-requested change of scope and agree the remedy clearly.

A sandal can look balanced on display but disappoint when straps pull the foot sideways or the left and right footbeds do not support comparable placement.

Retain the minimum records needed to investigate a complaint without disclosing unrelated personal information. Use measured delivery and actual acceptance as the basis for expanding capacity, rather than the maximum theoretical output of a tool or production line.

Operating control points for this exact offer

Sequence	Work method	Release checkpoint
1	With client consent trace each foot standing on paper and mark heel/longest-toe/ball width references. Record left/right differences and intended wear context; competent maker chooses appropriate footbed allowance.	Do not add a universal millimetre allowance or claim a medical correction.
2	Use one left/right sole pair and four strap templates. Draft 28 × 3 cm strap blanks are a trial starting point only; pin/mock up against actual foot and attachment system before leather cutting.	0.2 m² leather purchase is allowance, not a guarantee the straps fit all wearers.
3	Identify sole polymer and leather finish. Select manufacturer-compatible adhesive/mechanical construction; read technical sheet/SDS and follow assessed ventilation/handling.	Referenced shoe adhesive excludesPE/PP/PTFE; unknown sole material stops bonding. 20 gbudgetis not a mixing recipe or required dose.
4	Maker prepares/attaches straps using approved joint design, avoids foot-contact sharp hardware and finishes suitable leather edges after offcut trial. Observe actual product cure/handling directions.	No trial wear before specified process completion; decorative edge finish is not structural bonding.
5	Check left/right identity, strap contact, closure and visible joint defects with client. Explain intended-use/care and adjustment scope.	A matched appearance alone does not prove attachment strength or slip performance.

Do not substitute a tick for an observation: record the count, measurement, approved sample or evidence reference used at each checkpoint. Mark unresolved work as held and identify who can approve the recheck.

Diagnose a failure before repeating it

Observed symptom to investigate	Check the cause	Proposed response
Strap presses one foot	Compare left/right template and client contact feedback.	Revise that strap before permanent release; do not assume both feet are identical.
Bond edge lifts	Check substrate identity, preparation and product cure record.	Hold pair for maker/supplier investigation; do not add unknown adhesive layers.
Hardware touches skin sharply	Inspect attachment and edge finish.	Reconstruct/replace component and re-fit before delivery.

These are diagnostic prompts, not proof of the cause in a real incident. Separate suspect output, record any correction and repeat the relevant acceptance check. Link rejected units, rework time, replacement materials, customer credits and collection delays to the actual job result.