5 Software to Establish Garment SAM (SMV)

Prasanta Sarkar
In the apparel industry, knowing the correct Standard Minute of a product is very important for many
reasons. There are mechanisms for determining product SAM other than software, like Work Sampling
and Time Study. But time and motion study based calculations took longer time to establish standard time
for a garment. Secondly, there is always a question of getting correct SAM established by Time Study and
operator performance rating.

To get rid of these issues leading garment manufacturers are adopting SAM calculation Software. With
quick Standard Minute establishing, most of these software products help in calculating direct labor cost
and CMT price; setting up standard sewing methods and improve production methods.

In this post I will share leading SAM calculation software products. All the following products are
developed from Methods Time Measurement (MTM) and known as PMTS database.

1. General Sewing Data (GSD)

GSD is the most popular and globally accepted product for work measurement and setting up standard
time for garment sewing operations (machine operations and manual operations).

GSD is developed by GSD Limited, UK. Read more about GSD product

2. SewEasy® Quick Garment Sewing Data

SewEasy is developed by Sri Lanka based company SewEasy.

SewEasy® Quick Garment Sewing Data system is used for estimating the Standard Minute Value (SMV,
SAM), a measure of labor content of garments, home furnishing, lingerie, leather goods and all sewn
products. Read more about SewEasy.

3. Pro- SMV
Pro-SMV is the tool to establish Standard Time and Best Methods of sewing operations. This product is
developed by Methods Workshop Apparel Consultancy. Read more about Pro-SMV.

4. MODSEW (Standard Data Apparel Engineering System)

MODSEW is a computerized adaptation of MODAPTS, or MODular Arrangement of Predetermined

Time Standards. MODAPTS is used for calculating reliable production standards, improving an
organization's productivity, analyzing departmental efficiency, and improving employee relations. Read
more about MODSEW and MODAPTS.

5. Standard Sewing Data (SSD)

SSD is developed by AJ Consultants. Standard Sewing Data (SSD) system suits to all sewing rooms from
light to heavy – from underwear to upholstery. With the universal Standard Work Data extension, the
system suits to all manual and tool-assisted operations in a garment factory. SSD standard data and
methods development program is for creating accurate time standards fast – and in advance – for labor
costing, production planning and work loading and incentive and piece rate systems and for continuous
methods development and efficient job training. SSD is fast and easy to learn and to use.