Garment production planning is the backbone of every project. Well executed production planning decides whether the project will be successful or not. The apparel industry requires successful production planning to meet the demands of a growing, multi-billion dollar industry. Here you will learn what production planning in the garment industry is, its importance, and some key steps of production planning.
What is production planning in the garment industry?
Production planning in the garment industry is responsible for preparing and executing the production plan for every order from beginning to end. The planning stage includes fixing the planned cut date, allocating the style to the sewing line, quality control, packing, and other processes that help to complete the order on time.
Why is it important?
Here are a few reasons why production planning is an inevitable part of the apparel industry.
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It helps to know the potential of each garment production department which leads to devising the work properly according to the respective department
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It also helps to point out what is important for production, how much we are meeting the necessities for optimum production, and what we need to boost
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It also helps in lowering the production cost which ultimately leads to an increased profit margin for the manufacturer
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With proper production planning management, you can overcome sudden issues and avoid the things that lag you behind in meeting the deadline
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Proper production planning management helps to meet the deadlines
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It connects all of the segmented departments to work as a team
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Production planning also lets the client know at what stage is production right now
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Sometimes, fabric trims are locally or internationally imported. In this situation, the production planning department plays a vital role to devise a strategy to deliver the garments on time
Key factors to consider in production planning
There are key factors that are the backbone of the production planning. Here are a few that should be considered.
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Production scheduling
Scheduling is part of the foundation of proper production planning in the garment industry. After getting an order, the first part of the planning stage is the scheduling. Scheduling needs to account for how much time is required for spreading, cutting, and all other production processes.
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Resource planning
Material resource planning is also a crucial part of proper production planning. Multiple types of materials are required to fulfill an apparel order. Therefore, it’s necessary to check what materials are available in-house and how much more material is required. This stage of planning also includes from where the desired material will be bought, i.e., locally or internationally.
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Proper procedure selection
Proper procedure selection helps to cut out extra budget involved in production. It varies from style to style and according to order. Some orders only require finishing, and some demand a fresh start. So, as a production manager, you should select processes that are both necessary but cost-effective.
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Assign the order according to capacity
If your manufacturing center has multiple order completion facilities, then double check the capacity of each facility. Each facility has a different production capacity. Select the one which is most suitable to meet the deadline and never assign low-production orders to a high-capacity production unit. Otherwise, your production cost will be higher.
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Cost estimation
As each manufacturer is looking for a higher profit, it’s necessary to do a proper cost estimation of the entire production. Over time, costs can be cut to maximize profits by analyzing where the majority of expenditures are going and where there is wastage.
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Capacity planning
Capacity planning is another key factor of production planning in the garment industry. The planning team should be well aware of the capacity of its garment industry. Before bidding or getting any new orders, you should look at the existing orders. If you find any slot, then place the order. Otherwise, leave it. Because having an order that you can’t fulfill will badly damage your reputation in the market.
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Line planning
Line planning is the allocation of the order according to capacity and deadline to meet the final delivery. Line Planning involves sequencing, scheduling and allocation of orders to the sewing line according to product category and shipment date.
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Follow-up and execution
A successful garment production plan depends on each department executing according to your plan. Therefore, the most important part of the planning is the following up with each department. To check the progress, schedule a regular meeting with the head of each department. Moreover, to maintain your quality don’t forget fabric inspection.
Final words
Production planning is the cornerstone to successful garment deliveries and drives the entire garment industry, from factory floor to retail floor. With a proper production planning team, you can compete in the market and maintain your credibility by delivering orders on time. Don’t underestimate task scheduling, material resource planning locally or internationally, and selection of optimum process for each order.
The last and most important one is to keep an eye on each department's progress. As execution is everything in planning. Contact us to learn more.
