Abstract: To produce a hole in a part (1) made of a thermoplastic composite, the part is locally heated to a plastic forming temperature Tf and the fibres (10) of the composite are progressively moved apart at the same time as the matrix (11) in the plastic state is pushed back radially relative to the axis of the hole, firstly to form a starter hole and then to enlarge the starter hole up to the desired hole dimensions. When the hole has been produced, an operation for sizing the thickness of the part in the hole region is carried out without removal of material because of the excess material pushed back from the hole. A tool having a needle (31), the cross section of which progressively changes between a tapered end (311) suitable for producing the starter hole and a heel (312), is used to produce the hole by the method.