Different Departments in a Garment Factory and Their Functions

Different departments of a garment factory · Marketing and business development department · Design department · Merchandising department · Pattern ... HomeApparelProduction DifferentDepartmentsinaGarmentFactoryandTheirFunctions byPrasantaSarkar -October22,2020 Youmayalreadyknowwhatagarmentfactoryisintheapparelandfashionindustry.Agarmentfactoryisaplacewherecompletegarmentsaremadefromthefabricsfollowingachainofprocesses.Aprocessflowchartwillgiveabetterideaofhowthingsaredoneinagarmentfactory.Asmentionedinthetitle,thisarticlewillshowyouthedifferentdepartmentsofagarmentfactory.Departmentsareset-upbasedonthegroupofactivitiestobeperformedbyateamofpeople. Further,wewillseethevariousfunctionsofthedifferentdepartmentsofagarmentunit.Garmentmanufacturingisacomplexprocessthatstartswithsampledevelopmentandendaftershippingthefinishedgarmentstothebuyers. Differentdepartmentsofagarmentfactory Hereisthelistofgarmentfactorydepartments.Thesedepartmentsincludethepre-productiondepartments,production,andpost-productiondepartments.Thesupportingdepartmentsarealsolistedhere. Marketingandbusinessdevelopmentdepartment  Designdepartment  Merchandisingdepartment  PatternMaking,CADdepartment  Samplingdepartment  FabricStoreandfabricsourcing  TrimsandAccessoryStore  FabricTestingLab  ProductionPlanningandControl  Cuttingdepartment  Sewingdepartment  QualityControldepartment  MachineMaintenancedepartment  GarmentWashingdepartment Finishingdepartment  Printingdepartment  Embroiderydepartment  Supportingdepartmentsinagarmentfactory Intheabovepre-productionandproductiondepartmentsarelisted.Torunthefactorysmoothly,withproductiondepartments,oneneedstosetupsomeauxiliarydepartments.Someofthesupportingdepartmentsofagarmentmanufacturingsetupareasfollowings IndustrialEngineeringDepartment  EDP/ITdepartment  AccountingDepartment  HumanResourceandAdministration  Shippinganddocumentation  Alsoread: GarmentManufacturingProcessfromFabrictoFinishedProduct Variousfunctionsandactivitiesofdifferentdepartmentsinagarmentfactory Activitiesofdifferentdepartmentsexplainedherearefollowedbygarmentexporthousesaswellasdomesticgarmentmanufacturers.Youcandefinethejobprofileofyouremployeesbasedontheseandifrequiredyoumodifythesame. Ifyoudon’twanttoreadthewholepostandwantachartforunderstandingtheprimaryjobresponsibilitiesofthedifferentdepartments,seetheinfographic. 1.Marketingdepartment Themarketingdepartmentinagarmentcompanyisresponsibleformarketingproductsmadebythefactory,findingnewcustomers,andbringingmoreandmoreordersforthecompany.Amarketingdepartmentisheadedbythemarketingmanagerandsupportedmarketingteam. Theymeetwithprospectsandexistingbuyers.Theyshowtheirlatestproductdevelopment(designs)tothebuyer.Theyaregivenresponsibilityforbusinessdevelopmentforthecompany.  Thisdepartmentshowcasesfactory’sabilityfordevelopingnewdesigns,factorycompliance,andqualitypolicyandqualityperformance.  Themostcommonmarketplaceformanufacturersisinternationalapparelshowsandexhibitions,wherebuyersandsellersmeettofindeachother.Intheexhibition,buyerspicktheirinterestingdesignandplaceordersiftheirtargetpriceismet.  Inthisinternetage,garmentfactoriesbuildwebsitesformarketingpurposeandincreasetheirvisibilitytopotentialcustomers.Smallfactoriesposttheirproductinonlineyellowpagesanddocontentmarketingtoreachabiggermarket.SocialMedialikeFacebook,LinkedInandTwitterareusedasmarketingtools.  Morethanjustdevelopingnewclients,retainingexistingcustomerisalsoimportant.Toretainyourexistingcustomers,youneedtosatisfyyourcustomersbyshippingqualityproductsandtimelydeliveryandprovidingqualityservices.Themainmantratoretaincustomersandmakingthemmarketerforyouistodelivermorethanyouarepaidfor.Delivermorethancommitmentandcustomerexpectations.  2.Designdepartmentactivities Appareldesigndepartmentisresponsibleforproductdevelopment.Theyfocusondevelopinggarmentdesignsinsimilarproductcategoriesthecompanydoesitsbusiness.Designersdevelopnewdesigncollectioneveryseason.Designersmakedesignsasperthelatesttrendsandbuyerstest.Forbigmanufacturers,thedesigningdepartmentplaysanimportantroleinretainingcustomersbyshowingnewdesignstotheirbuyersineveryseason.  Designersdevelopalibraryforfabrics,trimsandaccessories,andforgarments.  Apparelretailersandbrandsthosehaveownmanufacturingset-up,normallysetupthedesigndepartmentfordevelopingnewdesigns.  3.MerchandisingDepartment Merchandisingdepartmentworksasamediatorinbetweenfactoryandbuyers.Thisdepartmentisconsideredastheheartandsoulofthecompany.Theycoordinatewithbuyersfororders,sendgarmentsamplesforbuyerapprovalandreceivecommentsonsamplesandotherapprovals.Merchandiserpreparesthebillofmaterials,preparesgarmentcostingsheetandfollowsupofproductionactivities. Merchandisingdepartmentisformedwithateamofseniormerchantsandjuniormerchants.Wherefactoriesworkwithmanybuyers,eachmerchantisallocatedspecificaccountswithacoupleofbuyers. Inbiggerfactoriesmerchandisingteamisgivenspecificresponsibilitiesassamplingmerchantandproductionmerchant.Basedontheirprofile,samplingmerchantslookintosamplingactivitiesandcommunicatewithbuyersonlyforsampledevelopmentandqueriesonsampling.Productionmerchantisinvolvedinmerchandisingactivitiesrelatedtobulkproduction,planning,sourcingandproductionfollowup. Merchandisingdepartmentactivities  Communicatewithbuyers  Reviewthegarmentsample  Developgarmentsample  Productcosting  Developgoodrelationshipwithcustomers  Schedulingofpre-productionandproductionactivities  PreparingBillofMaterial(BOM)andfabricindent Sourcerawmaterials  Providequalityapproval  PrepareProductionFile  ConductPre-ProductionMeeting  Executeorders  Providingaftersalesservices  4.PatternMakingDepartment PatternmakingdepartmentmakesgarmentpatternsanddigitizepatternstoCAD.CADstandsforComputerAidedDesign.PatternmakingdepartmentisheadedbyPatternmaster.Patternmakingdepartmentisalsoknownasthetechnicaldepartment. FollowingarethemajorActivitiesofPatternMakingDepartment PatternMaking  PatternGrading  SampleDevelopment  GarmentFITcheckingandcorrectionofpatterns  Incorporatebuyer’scommentsonsamples  Makingproductionviablesample  FabricConsumptionCalculation  Markerplanning  5.SamplingDepartment Samplingdepartmentmakesallkindofsamplesthatneedtobesubmittedtothebuyer.Samplingdepartmentchecksfitofthesample.Samplingdepartmentcommunicatesproblemsrelatedtoorderstotheproductiondepartment. Asmentionedintheabovethatinsmallsizefactories,patternmaking,andsamplingiskeptinonedepartment.Theyhavecommonactivities.Samplingdepartment’sactivitiesare Readinggarmentspecandunderstandingworkmanshipofthegarment.  Assistingmerchantsinpreparingbillofmaterialforthesample  Calculatingfabricconsumption  Makinggarmentsamplesbyfollowingcompleteprocessesofcutting,sewing,finishingandchecking.  Measurementallsamplesandcheckthequalityofthegarmentsamples.Preparequalityinspectionreportformeasurementandvisuals.  Fabricshrinkagetestisdoneingarmentform.  Coordinatewithproductionteamaboutcommunicateaboutcriticalpointsforstitchingandhandlingofastyle  6.FabricStoreandfabricsourcingdepartment  ThefabricstoreishandledbyFabricin-chargeandthein-chargeisassistedbyateamofhelpersforloadingandunloadingfabricsandissuingfabrictocuttingdepartment.Fabricdepartmentreceivesandstoresallkindoffabrics.Fabricrollsarekeptintherackoronwoodenpallets. FollowingarethemajorActivitiesofthefabricstore SourcingofFabrics  ReceiveRawMaterials  CheckingofGreigeandFinishedfabric  Prepareshadebandfordyedandprintedfabrics  BasicTestingofPhysicalpropertiesoffabrics  Maintaininventoryrecordforfabrics  FabricIssue  Fabricprinting  FabricReconciliation  CommunicationwithFabricsupplier  Alsoread:Fabricssourcingprocedure 7.TrimsandAccessoryStore Likefabricstore,thisstorereceivesallkindoftrimsandaccessoriesandstoreinracks.Smallsizefactories,fabricandtrimstoreareheadedbythesameperson.Andthefunctionsofthisdepartmentincludesfollowings. Sourcingtrimslikesewingthreadandpackingaccessories  CheckingofTrimsandaccessoriesintermofqualityandquantity  Storingtrimsandinventorymaintenance  Trimandaccessoryissue  Dyingoftrimsliketwilltape  Arrangingtrimsinracksorbintogettrimseasilywhentherequestreceivedfromsomeone.  8.ProductionPlanningandControldepartment Productionplanningdepartmentisresponsibleforplanningandschedulingorders.ThisdepartmentisknownasPPCdepartment.Theyexecuteproductionanddofollowwithallproductionprocesses.Productionplanningandschedulingofactivitiesareessentialtoprocurerawmaterialontime,completeproductionactivitiesontimeandablehandovershipmentontime. Smallsizefactoriesdonotkeepaseparatedepartmentforproductionplanning.Merchandisersdoplanningofpre-productionactivitiesandproductionheadpreparesaproductionplan. FactoriesthosehaveseparatePPCdepartment,followingactivitiesarecarriedoutbythem. JoborTaskScheduling  MaterialRequirementPlanning(Inventory)  LoadingProduction  Processselection&planning  Facilitylocation  Estimatingquantityandcostsofproduction  Capacityplanning  Lineplanning  Productionfollowupandexecution  LearnmoreaboutPPCintheapparelindustrybyreadingmy bookonthissubject. 9.Cuttingdepartmentactivities  Thisdepartmentisresponsibleforcuttingoffabricsandfeedingsewingdepartmentwithcuttings.Cuttingdepartment’scapacityisplannedasperdailyfeedingrequirementtothesewinglines.Cuttingdepartmentsetupwithcuttingdepartmenthead,cutters,spreaders,qualitycheckers,andhelpersforsorting,plynumberingandbundling. Listofactivitiesofthecuttingdepartmentisasfollows Fabricreceivingfromthefabricstore  Fabricrelaxation  Cutplanning  Fabricspreading/layeringonthecuttingtable  MarkerPlanning  Markermaking  Cuttingoffabrics  Sorting,Bundlingandnumberingofgarmentplies(parts)  Inspectionofcutcomponents  Sortingofprintedandembroiderypanels  Re-cuttingofpanels  FusingGarmentComponents  10.SewingDepartment Mainjobsofthesewingdepartmentarestitchingofgarment.Inthesewingfloor,varioustypesofproductionsystemsandlinelayoutareused.Factorieseitherworkinanassemblylineorgroupsystem. Majortasksofthisdepartmentareasfollowsbutnotlimitedtotheseonly. Linesetting  Garmentstitching  Markingparts  Ironinggarmentcomponents  Checkingofstitchedgarments  StitchingAlteration  Documentation  11.MachineMaintenanceDepartment Thisdepartmentrepairmachinesandlookaftermaintenanceofsewingmachines.Majoractivitiesofthemachinemaintenancedepartmentare Machinesetup  Repairingsewingmachines  Maintaininginventoryofmachineparts  Doingpreventivemaintenanceformachinesandequipment  12.IndustrialEngineeringDepartment IndustrialEngineeringdepartmentassistsproductiondepartmentinsettingline,improvingproductionandmeasuringproductionperformance.MajoractivitiesofIndustrialEngineeringdepartmentareproductanalysis,makingoperationbulletin,calculatinggarmentSAM,makinglinelayoutandworkstationlayout.Theycaptureproductiondataandpreparedailyproductionreport.   Inatypicalgarmentunit,industrialengineeringdepartmenthandlesfollowingactivities EstimatingtheSAMofthegarmentforanewstyleforcosting  Calculatingthreadconsumptionforgarments  ProvidingoperationalbreakdownwithSAMandtargetforeachoperationforanorder(style)  Selectionofmachinesandwork-aidsandnumberofmachinesforeachoperationofaparticularorder  Methodimprovementsthroughmethodstudy  Timestudyoftheoperators  CapacityStudyofoperators  LineBalancing  Calculatingdirectlaborcost  Developdetailedproductionmethods,fromdetailedmanualmovementstomajordecisionsontechnology.  Documentationofallmethodsusingmanuals,computer-basedsystemasappropriate.  Operatorperformanceimprovement  Operatortrainingprogram  ProductionControlsystem  Ifyouplanningtosetupagarmentfactory,youmustconsideremployingindustrialengineers.Don’tfearaboutextramanpowercostbutyouwillgetareturnofit.YouhavetoutilizeIE’sskillinproductandproductionplanning. 13.Washingdepartment Sometimesgarmentsneedtobewashingafterstitchingtoremovedust,tracingmarkandtogiveawashedlooktothegarment.Thisdepartmentwashesthegarments,cutpanels(ifrequired),washgarmentsamplesasrequired.  14.Finishingdepartment Stitchedgarmentsarefinishedpriortopackingintopolybag.Majoractivitiesofafinishingdepartmentincludethreadtrimming,checkingofgarmentsandironing.Packingdepartmentinafactoryworkssidebysideofthefinishingdepartment.Folding,taggingandpackingofgarmentsaredoneinthefinishingdepartment.Basedonproductcategoriesfinishingroomactivitiesmayvary. Activitiesofthefinishingdepartmentarelistedbelow Threadtrimming  Attachbuttonandbuttonholingincasethesejobsaredoneinthestitchingsection  Checkingofgarments  Stainremoving  GarmentPressing/Ironing  FoldingandTagging  Packing  Communicatewithinternaldepartment  15.QualityControl/QualityAssurancedepartment Responsibilitiesofthequalitycontroldepartmentmayvaryorganizationtoorganizationbutmainactivitiesalmostremainthesame.ActivitiesoftheQualitycontroldepartmentareasfollows. SettingupQualityStandards  EstablishingQualitySOP  QualityAssurance  QualityControlactivitiesatthePre-productionstage:  Auditinginwardfabricandtrimsandensuringonlyqualitygoodsareaccepted.  Involvementinproductdevelopmentandsamplingstageandtakecareofqualityaspectsofsamples.  Ensurethatnofaultyfabricissentforcutting.Ifaminorfaultispresentinthefabric,defectsshouldbemarkedonthefabricandthesamethingmustbecommunicatedtothecuttingdepartment.  Preparingtheauditreportofthefabricandtrimsquality.  Conductingpre-productionmeetingbeforeproductionstart.  Supportingdepartmentsandtheiractivities Departmentsifagarmentfactorythosearenodirectlyinvolvedingarmentproductionbutsupportgarmentproductionteamtoperformtheirworksmoothly.NecessarysupportingdepartmentsareAccounting,EDP,Shippinganddocumentation,HumanresourceandAdministration. 16.Accountsdepartmentactivities Accountingdepartmentpreparepayrollforemployees,givepaymentstoworkersandwritechecksforstaffs.Theymanageaccountsofthecompany.  Maintainrecordsofsupplierpaymentandfollowupwithbuyersforpendingpayment.Thisdepartmentisinvolvedinallkindpaymentandcashmanagement.  17.HumanResourceandAdministration Thisdepartmentisconcernaboutthesocialissueoftheemployee.Theylookafterrecruitingandemployeewelfare.  Thisdepartmentmaintainsemployeeattendanceandabsentrecords.  Handlelabourissues  Factorycomplianceandsocialcompliance  Newemployeeorientation 18.ElectronicDataProcessing(EDP) Garmentfactoriesusemanyelectronicsitemssuchascomputers,printer,Barcodesystemsetc.Computersareusedfordailyactivitieslikemailing,makingreportsandaccountingsoftware,EPRsetc.AnEDPdepartmentisnecessaryfortroubleshootingofthecomputersandsoftware. Themajoractivitiesofthisdepartmentare Purchasingelectronicitems  Breakdownmaintenanceofcomputersandotherhardware  Supportinginternetandmailingactivities  Protectingthecompany’sserverfromoutsidebugsandviruses  Databasemaintenance  Reportgenerating  19.Shippinganddocumentation Shippinganddocumentationdepartmentprepareshipmentrelateddocuments.Theycommunicatewithbuyersforshipmentdispatchandsendtheshipmenttobuyers. Note:Thelistofgarmentfactorydepartmentsshowninthisarticlearecommonlyfoundintheaveragefactories.Itnotnecessarythatallgarmentmanufacturingcompanieswillhaveallthesedepartments.Insmall-scalefactoriesactivitiesofmultipledepartmentsaregiventoadepartmenttoreduceoverhead. Ihopeyoufindthislongposthelpfulandvaluable.Showyourloveandsharethisarticlewithyourfriends. ThispagewasoriginallypublishedonNovember15,2018ThispageisupdatedonOctober22,2020 Tags ApparelProduction BusinessGuides GarmentIndustry Facebook Twitter AboutPrasantaSarkar PrasantaSarkaristhefounderandeditorofOnlineClothingStudyBlog.HeisaTextileEngineerandaPostgraduateinFashionTechnologyfromNIFT,NewDelhi.Hehasauthored6booksinthefieldofgarmentmanufacturing. Youmightlike Showmore Advertisement OCSBooks SubscribeOCSNewsletter Enteryouremailaddress:Note:Yoursubscriptionwillbeactivatedonceyourespondtotheverificationmessagereceivedinyouremailinbox. FreeeBooks ApparelManufacturingTerminologies:Aglossaryofthecommontermsusedinapparelproduction CuttingProcessinGarmentManufacturing GarmentManufacturingProcessfromFabrictoFinishedProduct ContactForm