Most jewellers depend on karigars for manufacturing and repairs. Metal moves out for job work and comes back as finished jewellery, along with wastage and sometimes leftover metal. Without clear records, small differences add up into significant losses and disputes.
The Karigar Cycle
- Order: what needs to be made, design, weight range and due date.
- Issue: metal given to the karigar, with weight and purity.
- Work: the karigar manufactures or repairs the piece.
- Receipt: finished pieces returned, with weights.
- Wastage: agreed allowance for loss during making.
- Settlement: labour charges and metal balance reconciled.
What to Record at Issue
- Karigar name and job reference.
- Metal type, purity and weight issued.
- Stones or findings issued.
- Design and expected weight.
- Agreed wastage percentage and labour rate.
- Due date.
What to Record at Receipt
- Pieces received and their gross and net weights.
- Stones returned or used.
- Leftover metal returned.
- Wastage claimed versus agreed.
- Quality check results.
Calculating the Metal Balance
For each karigar, the balance should show metal issued minus metal received in finished goods and returns, minus agreed wastage. Any difference needs to be explained and settled.
Common Problems
- Issue recorded in a notebook, receipt in another.
- Purity differences not accounted for.
- Wastage claimed above the agreed rate.
- Pending jobs forgotten until a customer complains.
- Balances carried for months without reconciliation.
"Every gram that leaves your counter should have a record of how it comes back."
Good Practices
- Weigh and record at every handover, with signatures or app confirmation.
- Fix wastage rates by product type in advance.
- Reconcile karigar balances weekly or monthly.
- Track overdue jobs daily.
- Compare karigars on wastage and turnaround time.
Customer Orders and Repairs
Link karigar jobs to customer orders so staff can update customers on progress and delivery dates.
How Software Helps
Jewellery software records issue and receipt against each karigar and job, calculates balances and wastage automatically, and shows pending work at a glance.
Common Questions
How should wastage percentages be set? Agree wastage rates with each karigar by product type and design complexity before work begins, and record them in your system. Review actual wastage against agreed rates regularly.
How often should karigar balances be reconciled? Weekly reconciliation works well for active karigars, with a full settlement at least monthly. Frequent reconciliation keeps differences small and easier to resolve.
Can karigars confirm receipts digitally? Yes. A simple mobile confirmation or signed receipt at each handover creates a clear record and reduces disputes about weights or quantities.
What about repairs for customers? Track repairs as jobs linked to the customer, with the item's weight at receipt and return, work requested, karigar assigned and promised date. Customers appreciate accurate updates, and you avoid confusion over weight differences.
ITELLIC Jewellery Management System
ITELLIC's jewellery software includes karigar and job work management: issue and receive metal, track wastage, monitor pending work and keep karigar balances under control. Book a free demo to see it in action.
Jewellery Management System
Built for the way jewellers actually work.
