Factory visits are not a holiday trip. They differ from Trade Fair visits where you have time until the exhibition opens the gates. The factory starts early and you should take full advantage of it.
If you have your own driver, you can leave the hotel at any time. Otherwise you will wait until the factory driver arrives with his car to pick you up, assuming that you made prior arrangements with the factory.
If you followed the advice given in this book by staying in a hotel near the factories you plan to visit, it should not take you more than about 20 minutes to reach the first factory. Try to arrive no later than 9:00 AM.
Why is It Important to Arrive Early?
Production at most factories begins at 8:00 AM. Workers take an hour lunch break starting at 11:30 AM or at the latest noon. For the most part, management follows the same lunch schedule.
During the lunch break, the lights will usually be switched off to conserve energy and save costs. Even if you wanted to continue working without any factory assistance, you would find it hard to work in the dark. If you do not arrive at the factory until 10 or 11 in the morning, you won’t get as much accomplished as you want.
Arriving early gives you enough time for a meeting, followed by a tour of the different factory areas, and concluding by joining factory management for lunch. Your afternoon can be spent at a second factory or in a second meeting.