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Merchandising

Different Departments in a Garment Factory and Their Activities

Apparel industry is a combined blending of clothing and fashion trend. Garments manufacturing is a disciplined chain process. Several departments are working in the garment industry to achieve a particular goal. Wearers what we watch in the market are the combined action of different departments. Garments are made through a specific process in a garment factory. In garment factories, work is managed through different departments and it is done in teams. Work in a garment factory begins with sample development and continues until it reaches the buyer.

Let’s know the different department’s activities in Garment Industry:

 

• Marketing and Business Development Department

It is a managerial post in the garment manufacturing industry. They work with the buyer directly as a representative of a factory owner. The main job of the marketing department is to create new customers and provide clothing according to customer demand. They should become extroverts to enhance business and deliver the correct date to the customer. Besides this, they have to maintain good relationships and engagement with new and old customers to expand business volume. 

• Merchandising Department

It’s also a managerial post in the garment manufacturing industry. They are the key person in the garment industry. Merchandiser has to know A-Z of an order. There are two parts to garments merchandising. Sample merchandising involves working directly with the customer on sample development and product merchandising is to deal with production and planning. Merchandising department has to make a bridge between the factory and the buyer by caring out buyer instructions properly. The job of this department is to collect the correct information from the customer about his needs. And taking orders from the customer and supplying clothes as per their demand.

 

• Design Department

Design department directly involves with garment development. It is a combined part of CAD and pattern making division. Main motto of Pattern Making and CAD department is minimizing fabric consumption and proper use of clothing. They have a wide variety of clothing design collections. Design team has to work with the merchandiser as well as the sample section to fulfill customer demand. Their main motto is to execute customer interest by designing clothes according to the new era. 

• Industrial Engineering

Industrial Engineering directly works on the garments production floor. Their main task is to minimize production costs through analysis and implementation. They should review a garment item closely, counting every production process by analysis, and then declare SMV (Standard minute value). They have to increase production and keep a continuous follow-up on how much work can be done to deliver garments on time. Thus, all the time they have to do production process analysis for the betterment and good outcome. To give proper advice on how many machines, time, and workers will be required to accomplish the full task.

• Sampling Department

The task of this department is to develop samples as per customer requirements. They have to obey the merchandiser and buyer instructions properly to make the approved sample. One of the tasks of this department is to maintain the quality of samples. As the approved sample is developed by the sample section so they have to work with the production department closely during production period. 

 

• Procurement Department

Two procurement teams are working in the garments industry. Fabric team has to collect accurate information about where any suitable fabrics are available at a competitive price.

And accessories team has to find garments right quality accessories from a reliable source at a competitive price.

• MDC or Store Department

They have to keep garments accessories, fabrics, and finishing items safe. They should receive all items from the suppliers. Then count and quality checking has to be done by store quality and reports have to submit the store, procurement as well as merchandising team.

• Lab Testing Department

Store quality has to submit fabric and accessories samples to the lab testing department. Lab workers will have to check the quality of the materials and provide information to the buyer.

 

• Production Planning Department

This department makes the exact schedule of where any work has to be completed. Production planner gets an order quantity from the merchandising team and collects the right SMV from the IE team. Then start planning to deliver garments to the customer at the right time, at the right place, by completing the right tasks. They have to review everyday production output by monitoring and take quick action to resolve any issue by informing higher authority. 

• Cutting Department

Cutting department get an earlier cutting plan from the production planning department. Then they collect order quantity, approved sample, fabric consumption, and production marker to calculate how much fabric needs to be cut, and the exact amount of fabric needed for sewing per day by following the cutting ratio. After that pick fabric from the MCD and start fabric cutting.

• Sewing Department

It is a feeding section in the garments industry. Sewing department has to work according to planning and IE department direction. They have to collect the correct information from the merchandiser and make a production layout to insert into the production line. They should chase daily production targets to keep garments delivery dates. Thus, they should work closely with the quality and IE team to supervise whether the work is done correctly.

 

• Quality Control Department

Quality product is the priority for the buyer. Quality department ensures product quality by following buyer’s guidelines. They should collect the approved sample from the merchandiser before production and strictly follow all of the instructions to do smooth production.  

• Maintenance Department

Several types of equipment exist in the garments industry. It is mandatory to repair machinery if it becomes out of order. The job of this department is to keep proper supervision of the machines. Setting up new machines, repairing old machines, and looking after all machines-related issues to keep smooth production in the garment factory.

• Washing department

Sometimes buyers desire washing garments. Garment washing is one sort of technique to gives different look. The function of this department is to wash clothes according to buyer-provided washing recipes to present new dimensions. 

 

• Printing Department

Sometime buyer inserts printing logo in their garments. Screen printing is one of the most demand-able criteria for the buyer. An in-house screen printing setup may enhance factory order quantity. It is the job of this department to monitor whether the printing is done correctly.

• Embroidery Department

Embroidery is a simple art to make dresses more pretty. Thus buyer frequently wants to insert embroidery logo onto their garments. In-house embroidery setup always delighted buyers. This department supervises whether the embroidery is done properly.

• Finishing Department

The work of this department is to check whether the iron is done correctly, tagging, whether there is any thread coming out, and packing the goods correctly. And later load the goods to the cargo to do ex-factory smoothly. 

 

Some supporting departments exist in the garments industries which are not directly involved in production but they support and monitor the work-related task to smooth production.

 

• Accounting Department

They try to raise clear accountability in the factory. The work of the accounting department is to pay the salaries of the employees, do bank-related work, and keep the accounts of the company. 

• Human Resource and Administration

The function of this department is to recruit new staff, staff departure, implement the regulation, and look after the facilities, training, law, and enforcement of the staff.

• IT Team

IT team provides complete technical support to the garments factory. IT department is necessary for troubleshooting of the computers and new software installation. Factory have to use different types of electronics such as computers, printer, Barcode systems etc. The function of the Electronic Data Processing Department is to provide technical support.

• Shipping and documentation

The function of this department is to arrange the timely arrival of the shipment to the buyer and to maintain the record of this work. Besides this, they have to make material import documents to bring raw materials quickly to the factory. 

• Security, Fire, and safety department

Fire and safety department measures and find out risk factors in the garments industry. Eliminating risk factors is the main job of this department. Garments factory has their security people to secure property and safety. 

 

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