Textile, Clothing & Fashion Expert Insight

Operation Bulletin for Garments Sewing Process│Textile Floor│

  1. Operation Bulletin for Long Sleeve Men's Shirt
  2. Operation Bulletin for Flannel Shirt
  3. Operation Bulletin for Men's Jacket (Denim)
  4. Operation Bulletin for Padded Jacket (Flannel)
  5. Operation Bulletin for Padded Jacket (Soft-Shell)
  6. Operation Bulletin for Hoodie Jacket (Puffer)
  7. Operation Bulletin for Vest

How to make Operation Bulletin for Long Sleeve Shirt with 2 Flap-Pockets │Textile Floor│


An Operation Bulletin that is OB used in garment manufacturing is a document where processing details descriptions are given to express each step of the production process, assign time values (Standard Minute Values - SMV), and allocate resources such as manpower and machinery.
Here we show a clear road map with details breakdown the full process with workstation & related SMV or SAM. You can also find the capacity graph that is pitch diagram to balance the production line effectively. We offering a details breakdown for a "Long Sleeve Shirt"

Work Study and Industrial Engineering Terms and Definitions │Textile Floor│

 In a garment production unit, making efficiency, product quality, controlling cost, and elimination of waste etc. are very necessary things to remain its position in this competitive world. Therefore Work study and industrial engineering can play a significant role to standardize overall production, reducing waste, improving productivity. Understanding the key terms and ideas related to these disciplines assists manufacturers streamline the operations. After all these article can enhance your ideas with different terms and definitions in these prospect.

Operations Standardization in Garment Manufacturing │Textile Floor│

In the high competitive world operation standardization is an important things to to ensure consistency, improving productivity, waste elimination, and finally to produce high quality product. By breaking down into small small clear operations, definite repeat steps, manufacturer can boosts their productivity, making the overall production system more easier to meet the demand of market and to maintain a competitive edge.

How to Differentiate the Efficiency and Performance in Garments Industry │Textile Floor│


Performance is evaluated at a variety of levels in garment manufacturing, including plant, production line, and individual sewing operators. Typically, performance is measured in terms of labor productivity and efficiency percentage. Efficiency and performance are frequently used interchangeably.

Defining Efficiency and Performance In terms of general definitions: Performance is the degree to which a system or machine achieves its objective. The amount of resources utilized to achieve a goal is measured by efficiency.

What is industrial engineering in the Garment Industry? │Textile Floor│

In garment manufacturing, Industrial Engineering (IE) is a functional job that focuses on making production processes more efficient, cutting costs, and managing workflows smoothly. It is a subfield of engineering that uses scientific principles to increase apparel factories' productivity while preserving quality and sustainability. 

How to Calculate Cutting SMV in Garments Industry? │Textile Floor│

How to Calculate Cutting SMV?
In a garment sewing factory before sewing the most important process is cutting which is back responsible to give a nice shape as per required measurement, so maintaining quality in cutting is vital and to maintain the quality it requires more processing time, therefore for proper time utilising in cutting section the main factor of calculation that is SMV need to be derived. Now we will discuss how to calculate the Cutting SMV.

How to calculate Garment SAM or SMV │Textile Floor│

The Standard Allowed Minute (SAM) is the time required to complete a particular operation or task under standardized working conditions. It helps evaluate the time needed to perform each task, providing an overall estimate of the time required for the entire garment production process. SAM is a widely-used measurement for cost estimation, setting production targets, & enhancing factory efficiency.

30 Proven Ways to Boost Productivity in Garment Manufacturing and Maximize Profit │Textile Floor│

In this new era of competitive world of garment manufacturing, enhancing productivity is not just a matter of fun or not things of luxury; it’s a necessity for completion, for sustaining in market and obviously for driving profitability. By increasing the efficiency of both labor and machinery, factories can significantly reduce production costs and boost profit margins.

TMU (Time Measurement Unit) and Its Application in Garment Manufacturing │Textile Floor│

What is TMU?

TMU, or Time Measurement Unit, is a standard unit of time used to measure and analyze work in industrial engineering. It is primarily used in methods-time measurement (MTM) systems for assessing and standardizing manual operations.

In the Methods-Time Measurement (MTM) system, it is a small unit of time. Based on their complexity and amount of effort required, this system gives basic movements like reaching, grasping, or moving an object a predetermined amount of time.

How to Reduce Standard Time (SAM) for Garment Production Styles │Textile Floor│

 Conduct Motion Study

      Identify and eliminate unnecessary motions during sewing operations. Optimise operator movements to reduce operation cycle time. Do Method Study or analyse the operation to record the motion, motion sequence and required time needed for those each motions, re-sequence, eliminate and rearrange the motion therefore do and adjust anything from the findings in your analysing to reduce the process time actually.   

Why Determining SAM from Garment Images is difficult │Textile Floor│

It is really a great challenge to find Standard Allowed Minutes (SAM) from any garment images because the image cannot provides all proper information needed

SAM is a crucial metric in the garment manufacturing industry, used to determine the standard time required to produce a garment. Though it has some difficulties but it is sometimes needed to find out SAM to do some pre-production activities like costing, order dealing etc.

Style Changeover Time (COT) in Garment Manufacturing │Textile Floor│

Style change over time (COT) or commonly named Style changing time in the production line is an important term for production floor in the garments industry. It is the time of setting all the required machine & equipment with technical support of new style. Basically the term is the period between the last outputs of the previous style to first output of the new style. So therefore this is the time gap when the new setup for new style is done. This period needs to minimize as possible as less because this time is one kind of wastes. Here IE team worked closely with other supporting team. Actually the task begins earlier from the schedule taken from production planning & control team.

In this article, we will explain why minimizing COT is important, reasons behind high change over time & how to make Zero the change over time.

What is Style Changeover Time (COT) actually?

COT is the period or time gap from the last pcs output of an old style to the first pcs output of the newly setup style of a garments production line. It involves with various activities like_ changing machine setup or installment, adjusting tools, preparing man-machine-materials, and ensuring quality standards aa per required criteria. This time is critical because every minute of downtime means lost productivity because the minutes can impact as delays in meeting delivery deadlines.

In ideal conditions, Style Changeover Time should be measured in single digits (minutes), but in many garment manufacturing setups, it stretches to hours, affecting the overall efficiency of the production process.

 

Why Reducing Style Changeover Time is very important in garments industry

Minimizing COT leads huge benefits to garments manufacturers:

Production Capacity Enhancement: Reducing COT means less downtime, allowing machines to produce more units in the same amount of time.

Improve Line Efficiency: Faster changeovers enhance overall line efficiency, helping manufacturers meet tight deadlines and increase throughput.

Save on Costs: Minimizing COT reduces manpower costs, inventory costs, and other expenses related to downtime and inefficiency.

Enhance Customer Satisfaction: On-time deliveries are crucial for customer satisfaction. A quicker changeover time ensures that orders are completed and shipped on time, leading to repeat business.

Boost Business Competitiveness: Faster production cycles give manufacturers a competitive edge, enabling them to meet market demands more effectively.

Reasons Behind High Style Changeover Time

Before implementing strategies to reduce COT, it’s essential to understand the factors that contribute to its increase. Here are the most common reasons for high Style Changeover Time in garment manufacturing:

1. Lack of Multi-skilled Operators

2. Unavailability of Cut Panels or cut part input

3. Unnecessary Movement and Poor Workstation Layout

4. Unavailability of Specialized Machines or Attachments

5. Quality Control Issues

6. Work-in-Progress (WIP) from Previous Style

7. Lack of Proper Pre-planning

8. Unplanned Changes in the Production Schedule

9. Operator Training During Changeover

10. Inadequate Communication between Teams

11. Incorrect or Missing Information in Style Changeover Plans

12.  Prolonged machine setup time, including adjustments and calibration

13. Lack of Required Tools and Materials at the workstations

14.  Poorly Balanced Production Lines

15. Lack of Spare Parts or Machine Maintenance

16. Not Using Lean Manufacturing Principles like SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Dies)

17. Lack of Standardized Procedures for Style Changeovers

18. Behavior or attitude of middle management

19. Sudden and unexpected plan change

20. Product & Raw Material Diversity

21. Pre-production activities not fulfill within time

22. Initial product quality setting and technical support longer.

Key Activities for Achieving Zero Change-Over Time (ZCO) in Production: Action Plan, Methodology, and Best Practices:

 Achieving Zero Change-Over Time (ZCO) is critical for enhancing operational efficiency and meeting production goals. Below are key activities and best practices to minimize downtime, optimize processes, and ensure smooth production workflows.

1. Timely Operator and Helper Attendance

Ensure all operators and helpers are present on the production floor by early at start up time, with production starting promptly to meet first-hour targets.

Action: Implement an attendance sheet and monitor punctuality.

Responsible Departments: Industrial Engineering (IE), Production, Administration.

2. Optimal Manpower Allocation

Recruit experienced operators who align with the production line's efficiency requirements. Ensure that operators and helpers are assigned appropriate roles to avoid skill wastage.

Action: No helpers should work as operators and vice versa to maintain quality and efficiency.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production.

3. Preparation for Upcoming Production Styles

Ensure all materials, including approved samples, trims cards, and production files, are prepared in advance for new production styles.

Action: Finalize style preparations before the scheduled input date to avoid delays.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production, Quality.

4. Create Operation Bulletins (OB)

Once style data is confirmed, the IE and planning teams should develop detailed Operation Bulletins to guide production.

Action: Ensure OBs are ready to streamline the production process.

Responsible Departments: IE, Planning.

5. Cross-Departmental Layout Planning

Conduct team discussions involving production, technical, and quality teams to address potential challenges related to new styles and ensure smooth line integration.

Action: Collaborate early to anticipate and solve issues.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production, Technical, Quality.

6. Critical Operation Management

Identify critical operations early in the process and assign qualified operators. Provide necessary training, including cross-training, if required.

Action: Schedule overtime for cross-training to build a versatile workforce.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production, Quality.

7. Machine Preparation

Ensure that all machines required for production are set up and tested at least one day before production starts.

Action: Verify machine functionality before deployment to avoid disruptions during production.

Responsible Department: IE.

8. Equipment Readiness

Ensure that all essential equipment such as folders, guides, presser feet, and patterns are available and fully functional.

Action: Coordinate with the maintenance team to prepare the equipment.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production.

9. Pre-Production Meeting (PP meeting)

Conduct a Pre-Production Meeting to review and finalize all critical production aspects, ensuring alignment across departments.

Action: Address potential issues proactively to streamline production and reduce delays.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production, Technical, Quality, Store.

10. Ensuring Accessories and Trims Availability

Following the Pre-Production Meeting, confirm that all accessories and trims are available in-house before production begins.

Action: Resolve any inventory or supply issues promptly.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production, Technical, Quality, Store.

11. Pre-Production Cut Kit Preparation

Ensure that all cut panels are inspected and ready for feeding into the production line.

Action: Confirm that the cut kit is accurately sized and quality-checked before production starts.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production, Quality.

12. Optimized Line Layout

After reviewing past production data, design the best possible line layout for the upcoming production run.

Action: Apply a layout that minimizes movement, reduces cycle time, and improves overall efficiency.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production.

13. Manpower Allocation Based on Operation Bulletin (OB)

Ensure that the required number of operators and helpers are allocated based on the OB specifications.

Action: Address any manpower gaps or skill mismatches before production starts.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production.

14. Minimizing Line Layout Time

During layout setup, monitor machine configurations, process timing, and quality checks to minimize the time spent on setup.

Action: Continuously track time spent in setup phases to identify areas for improvement.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production.

15. Ensuring Method Consistency

Implement standardized methods for critical processes to ensure consistency and minimize errors.

Action: Follow method studies to identify process improvements and optimize efficiency.

Responsible Departments: IE, Technical.

16. Workstation & Line Balancing

Conduct thorough work studies and monitor hourly production data to ensure line balance and prevent workflow disruptions.

Action: Identify and resolve bottlenecks on the floor to ensure smooth operation.

Responsible Department: IE.

17. Setting Operator Targets

Pre-define and communicate individual operator targets to ensure alignment with overall production goals.

Action: Adjust targets as necessary during line setup to accommodate operational changes.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production.

18. Addressing Bottlenecks

Identify bottlenecks in the production process and implement corrective actions like motion studies, time studies, and machine adjustments (e.g., motor RPM and pulley settings).

Action: Remove obstacles to optimize line speed and efficiency.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production.

19. Learning Curve and Incentive Programs

Introduce a learning curve for newly set-up production lines, offering incentives for performance improvements.

Action: Track performance milestones and reward team efforts to encourage continuous improvement.

Responsible Departments: IE, Production.

20. Input Monitoring and Continuous Feeding

Ensure that materials from cutting and stores are consistently fed into the production line without interruptions.

Action: Monitor input flow to maintain production continuity.

Responsible Departments: Cutting, Planning.

21. Inline Quality Inspection

Implement regular quality checks at key stages of production, particularly at needle points, to maintain product quality.

Action: Address quality issues immediately to prevent defects from progressing down the line.

Responsible Department: Quality Assurance.

22. Promoting Team Awareness

Encourage the production team to take proactive steps in areas like absenteeism management, line targets, and quality improvements.

Action: Foster a collaborative environment through regular team meetings and motivational initiatives.

Responsible Departments: Production, Quality.

Therefore in summery, the benefits of Reducing Style Changeover Time (COT)

Increased Productivity: Faster changeovers result in more production output in the same amount of time.

Improved Line Efficiency: With reduced downtime, the production line operates at a higher efficiency, increasing overall output.

Cost Savings: Minimizing changeover time reduces labor costs and overhead, leading to more cost-effective production.

On-Time Delivery: Faster changeovers allow for quicker completion of orders, ensuring timely delivery to customers.

Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Meeting deadlines consistently improves customer trust and leads to repeat business.

Higher Competitiveness: By reducing COT, manufacturers can meet customer demands more effectively, improving their competitiveness in the market.

Conclusion

Reducing Style Changeover Time (COT) is a crucial factor for improving productivity, efficiency, and overall performance in garment manufacturing. By implementing strategies such as pre-planning, training multi-skilled operators, optimizing the use of tools and materials, and applying the SMED methodology, manufacturers can streamline their changeover processes and reap the benefits of increased output and reduced costs. Ultimately, reducing COT not only improves the bottom line but also enhances customer satisfaction and strengthens a company’s competitive edge in the marketplace.

 

 


How to Set Accurate Sewing Operation Rates in the Garment Industry │Textile Floor│

In garment production system, one of the most critical and difficult tasks is to determine the right rate for each sewing operation. This is often done on a "piece-rate" basis, where workers are paid as per the number of garments they can make, or the number of specific sewing operations they complete. However, setting a fair and accurate rate involves more than just a guess. In this writing, we’ll explore how to calculate the individual operation rates, with a focus on scientific methods, and discuss the factors that influence the pricing of different sewing tasks. 

How to Set Daily Production Targets Using SAM vs. Cycle Time in Apparel Manufacturing │Textile Floor│

To set production target at daily production floor in garments industry, Standard Allowed Minutes (SAM) and Cycle Time both are necessarily used by production management team. Though it is depends on several factors but SAM or Cycle time are mainly used to calculate the Targets. Calculating and establishing correct production target is an important factor to drive productions because