Our Visit to a Philosophical Handicraft Factory

The production area of PT. AGM factory

Hi, Greensters!

I'm MIKA. Together with Patricia, we are going to tell you about a handicraft industry that we visited on August 3rd, 2013. This factory is called 'PT. AGM', it is in Denpasar - Bali (Indonesia). The materials they use for production are simple things that is worthless to some people like shells, leaves, woods and other simple materials. The handicrafts they produce are home decor products, like mirrors, wooden sculptures, wooden jewelry boxes and many more. Every product has its own story and philosophy. So, that is why we call PT. AGM as a philosophical factory. 


When we arrived there, Mr. Alainsoen (Director) and Mr. Sonny (Chief of the Trend and Product Development) greeted us. Mr. Sonny explained every single steps that they have to do to make one product. Starting from a sketch on a big piece of paper to draw the design, color to design to find the best matching color for the product, until the final production in the factory area to make the drawing become a real product. Mr. Sonny said that 'Maybe you don't quite understand what you learn today, but I am sure you will implement or use what you learn today in the next 20 years of your life'. We agree because we believe that we should learn something everyday.

The Abaca leaves for the lion hair

Then Mr. Sonny took us to the production area in the factory. There we looked how the people make a statue with an old tree.So they make a lion statue and the hair of the lion with leaf of tree called Abaca. It is the source of natural fiber for industry. They also make a mirror with the shape of a flower. They cut the mirror with diamond! Why? Because diamond can cut glass. Their choice of color is amazing. Mr. Sonny said "The important thing in coloring is our sensibility". They mix colors to make it look intense or soft. We got to try how to make the colored mirrors. It was fun! It felt as if we were powdering someones face but instead of face, we used mirror.

There is an art to make a well-organized random motif!

A long time has passed since we arrived and we got a surprise that shocked everyone. When we went to the lunch room, which is actually a show room, there was a "Welcome The Green Team Indonesia" sign sticking on the wall. It was one of the most amazing thing that we have ever seen. It was like a bigger version of our logo and a big welcome sign. They even gave us lunch of Balinese cuisine which was totally delicious! We thought that it was over but turns out, there was another surprise! We got goodie bags! For the kids, we got the bigger and well-crafted version of our Green Team Indonesia's logo and the adults got a kind of vintage jewelry box with is incredible! All is hand-made products!

Maintaining our mood is needed in painting the glasses

There are many things that we learned that day from Mr. Sonny and Mr. Alainsoen, like:

• We should see what around us with a sensitivity. That will create an inspiration. Because inspiration is all around us, waiting to be grabbed. 
• Zero Defect Management: Try to plan ahead in details and acting accordingly to avoid early mistakes. We should  apply this Zero Defect Management in our way of life. 

Mika represented us to receive the goodie bags of our logo

It was one of green team's most best trip ever! Thank you Pt. AGM for making that day one of the most awesome day ever! We'll be back there soon to make our own product as a present to our mothers because PT. AGM suggested that we should thank to our mothers as the source of life is in the hand of mothers.

Chloe represented us to give the Plate of Thanks to Mr. Alainsoen

Thank you for reading :) Have a nice day!

Best Regards,

Mika and Patricia
The Green Team Indonesia