Different Departments of Apparel Industry and their Functions

There is a long manufacturing flow in the export garments manufacturing industry, so various types of
departments in the Apparel manufacturing industry have very specific functions in every department.

Contents

hide

Different Departments of Apparel Industry

Functions of the Different Departments in the Apparel Industry:

Human Resource (HR) & Compliance

Marketing & Merchandising

Store/Warehouse Department

CAD and Pattern Department

Design Department

Sample Department/ Product development department

Quality Control Department

Key factors of Garments Quality Control:

Industrial Engineering (IE) Department

Supply Chain Management

Planning Department

Production Department

Cutting Section

Sewing Section

Finishing Section

Maintenance Department

Washing Section

Embroidery Department

Printing Department

Commercial Department

Accounts and Finance Department

IT Department

Management Information System (MIS)

Share this:

Related

Different Departments of Apparel Industry

1. Human Resource (HR) & Compliance Department

2. Marketing & Merchandising Department

3. Store/Warehouse Department

4. CAD and Pattern Department

5. Design Department

6. Sample Department

7. Quality Control Department

8. Industrial Engineering (IE) Department

9. Supply chain Management

10. Planning Department

11. Production Department

12. Maintenance Department

13. Washing Section

14. Embroidery Department

15. Printing department

16. Commercial Department

17. Accounts and Finance Department

18. IT Department

19. MIS (Management Information System) Department.

Functions of the Different Departments in the Apparel Industry:

Hereunder department-wise job functions are described briefly.
Human Resource (HR) & Compliance

The Human Resources Department is a big part of improving efficiency in the industry. The human
resources department deals with several rules, employees’ legal rights, laws, and acts to consider, such
as the Fair Labor Standards Act, abuse and sexual harassment, anti-discrimination laws, employee’s
salary, manpower recruitment, and many more. The human resource method is to select the right man
in the right place. HRM defines the organization’s intentions and plans on how its business goals should
be achieved through people. It is based on three propositions: firstly, human capital is a major source of
competitive advantage; secondly, it is people who implement the strategic plan & third, a systematic
approach should be adapted to define where the organization wants to reach and how it should get
there.

Key functions of HR are: –

a) Recruitment and Hiring the right people for the right job at the right salary

b) Maintaining a safe workplace and environment for all employees

c) Ensure employee compensation and benefits

d) Handling all disciplinary actions

e) Training and Development

f) Maintaining company culture

Marketing & Merchandising

The main duty of the department is to collect buyers. And then try to negotiate with them about a new
order. As the buyers are highly concerned about the fabric they test the sample and deal with the
sample testing price and time of shipment. Actually, the responsibilities & duties of a marketing officer
begin with getting an order from a buyer & end after receiving the order sheet from the buyer. So, he
should be always smart, energetic & sincere.

Key Function of Merchandising: –

a) Development of new garment styles and samples and execution of the same

b) Garment costing based on the order

c) Arrangement of raw materials, accessories, and trims for the execution of an order

d) Production scheduling

e) Approval of patterns and various samples

f) Follow up on preproduction activities

g) Coordinating with inspection agencies

h) Production controlling

i) Identification of bottlenecks in the process and materials and resolving the same

j) Monitoring of in-house production activities as well as follow-up of subcontract work given outside

k) Reporting the progress of orders to the buyer as well as top management

l) Maintenance of proper records for individual garment styles

m) Ensuring constant production rate by taking preventive as well as corrective actions

Store/Warehouse Department

The defined place where keep all raw materials is called Store or Warehouse garments manufacturing
industry. Finished and packed garments are stored in designated racks in the warehouse and are
transported to the buyer. Many warehouses have started using robotics to maintain their warehouses.
This department usually maintains a book for issuing packing lists – they register details like date, time,
lot no., color, quantity, shipping location, etc. There are two types of stores in the garments
manufacturing industry, one is Trims and Accessories Store and one is Fabrics Store. The store is the
central warehouse for the storage of fabrics and trims required for production. Stores will take care of
fabric lots received from the vendor as per the standard procedures. When the fabric is received from
the supplier, it is usually received along with an invoice that contains the order reference number and
the buyer’s name. The fabric rolls/trims boxes are then cross-checked for quantity. The paperwork is
followed by stacking the raw material into designated racks in the store.

CAD and Pattern Department

CAD system is mainly for pattern making, grading, and marker making. Most companies use GERBER
software for this system; computers, plotters, and a digitizer for using this system. This department is
key to the success of a factory. It is equipped with the task of making optimum marker plans for the
spreading and cutting department with the help of the patterns received from the pattern-making
department. Nowadays, this department uses popular software solutions for effective marker planning.

Design Department

The main task of the design department is to develop products, developing design products category-
wise. It is the component that makes a brand and subsequently a garment unique. It positions a brand
into the desired market segment. This team is expected to spot trends and analyze the market in order
to plan upcoming collections at least two seasons in advance.

Sample Department/ Product development department

This department looks after total factory operation in terms of orders receives through the desired
quality of the sample. It has a number of sections namely sample planning, Sample Store, Sample
Cutting, Sample Sewing, Sample Finishing, and maintenance section. Each section has several
responsibilities. A sample is the prototype or model of the garment, upon which the buyer can decide on
how and whether to confirm the order or not. The sample department also known as the product
development department has a big contribution to the business expansion of the Company. Doing all
types of sampling tasks and getting approval from buying a house is the key function of the sample
department. The sample department is full of young energetic people. They have fresh blood to chase
continuous improvement, sampling, organizing, and maintaining the overall system. Normally each team
member’s responsibilities are defined buyer-wise with spontaneous areas of improvement. So they
eagerly fulfill their responsibilities and thrive towards success.

Quality Control Department

Quality is an asset that may be offered to the potential customer of a product. There are two aspects of
quality that contribute to the ultimate quality of a product. Quality of design is the first aspect which
depends on the type of materials used specs specified by the buyer method of production known of the
design and skill level of the person. Quality department ensure

Key factors of Garments Quality Control:

a) Proper reporting

b) Strict Materials inspection

c) Approved trim card

d) Keeping pattern log, library, and evaluation report

e) Calibrate machine, process, and manpower

f) Follow SOP and Keep version names

g) Visualize quality tools, samples, and metrics

h) Process audit or AQL inspection

i) Keeping packing approval

j) Zero defects station

k) Review quality results and take corrective action

l) Training and evaluating QC

m) Internal pre-final Audit before Final Inspection

Industrial Engineering (IE) Department

The responsibility of the Industrial Engineering department is to determine the most effective ways to
create a product or service in a production line. Their work includes analysis of the sewing method and
process, machine, and supervision of the production floor for efficiency improvement. They are also
working on preparing the layout, operation bulletin, SMV calculation, trim & accessories consumption,
line setting & blanching, capacity study, production study, hourly production report follow-up, etc. Main
activity of this department is to reduce effort and cost and improve the environment. Along with it the
following activities are done by the IE department, such as SAM, Efficiency, Capacity calculation, Account
the production, Reducing the effort of production, Method improvement, WIP control, Line Balancing,
Making operation bulletin, etc. The industrial engineering department is strong with the use of modern
technology. This department uses ERP software in a few factories to make any kind of visual reporting
and data accuracy. The central team is using logic software to prepare the required operation bulletin
and machine breakdown summary. This system helps to prepare standard minute values with accuracy

Key functions of the Industrial Engineering (IE) Department:

a) SMV calculation and costing

b) Making operation Bulletin

c) Time and Motion study

d) Capacity study and set the target

e) Increase productivity

f) Process improvement

Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a process of planning, implementing, and controlling the operations
of the supply chain for the scope of proper and maximum utilization of human resources that has
become easy and wide. Satisfying customer requirements as efficiently as possible. Supply chain
management measures all the movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and
finished goods. Though there is the management of the supply chain in every section, also there is a
separate department called ‘Central Planning & Co-Ordination’ or ‘Central supply Chain’ (It varies from
factory to factory) to maintain the overall process flow. The central supply team is managed by the
deputy general manager and his team. The responsibilities of this team are given below:

a) Manage the overall flow of materials from one unit to another.

b) Rule over unit planning team to ensure the best plan for on-time delivery.

c) Subcontracting of any orders whenever there is a capacity gap.

d) Capacity declaration through considering resources.

e) Integration between merchandising, planning, production & internal SCM team.

f) Knitting, Dyeing, Sewing, shipping & logistics overall supply chain smoothing through integration,
reporting & follow-up management by T&A.

g) Avoid the bullwhip effect by proper plan & action.

Planning Department

Production planning means planning of production to make sure on-time shipment. Planning demands a
careful and exhaustive study of co-ordinate and related activities which are necessarily performed by a
host of different departmental groups. The planning department starts the task after getting the order
and ensures every necessary thing is ready to produce garments and continues to follow up every
process till shipment. The objectives of planning are capacity utilization and on-time shipment as per
buyer demand.

CAD and Pattern Department

Production Department

One of the most important departments is production in the garments manufacturing industry. Their
role is to produce products as per buyer order maintaining the right delivery date. There is 3 section
under the production department in the garments industry, which are the cutting, sewing, and finishing
section.

Cutting Section

This involves the pre-production process of separating a spread into garment parts that are of precise
size and shape of the pattern pieces on a marker. The cutting process also involves transferring marks
and notches from the marker to the garment parts to assist operators in sewing. This section is
responsible for optimizing fabric usage in order to enhance consumption and profit while reducing
waste. It should be noted that excess cutting which results in smaller than required pieces cannot be
undone.

Sewing Section

The functioning of this sewing department is quite crucial in the garment industry. This is the place
where actual production takes place where several parts are brought together to form a garment with
the help of specialized and automated machines.

Finishing Section

It is vital in maintaining the presentation of a garment once it has been assembled in sewing. The
machinery range varies by the product type being manufactured in the plant. It usually contains
equipment for pressing specific high visibility parts of a garment, for stain removal- touch up, and also
carries out packaging for required presentation
Maintenance Department

The responsibilities of the maintenance department are to develop a preventive maintenance schedule,
check the machine according to this schedule, and confirm whether the machine is OK or not. If it’s not
OK, replace or repair it. After that, they collected the paper layout from the IE department, checked the
machine quantity and types, and arranged all the machines on the line according to the paper layout.
Also, work on any difficult problem solve quickly during machine operation time. It is essential for the
smooth operation of a plant, yet many factories do not have a dedicated team for maintenance. This
department deals with routine machine maintenance, utility equipment maintenance, and breakdown
correction. Preventive maintenance schedules can be implemented the prevention of breakdowns and
failures.

Washing Section

Washing is a process that is done in both denim and non-denim garments for increasing its value. It also
makes the garment comfortable for the users. Denim without washing is not always user-friendly.
Washing also increases the outlook of denim garments. So we can say that washing added extra value in
the denim world.

Embroidery Department

Embroidery is a decorative process of a garment, it holds charge of the value addition process, with the
help of semi/fully automated machinery. A dedicated department may or may not be available in a
factory, it can be outsourced depending on the order requirement.

Printing Department

Color on a garment can be obtained from different methods, one of these is on-garment printing. In
this, the printing procedure is carried out after the garment is sewn. For example, the digital/screen
printing of a t-shirt.

Commercial Department

The commercial department prepares and executes all the shipping documents (packing list, commercial
invoice, Proforma invoice- PI, etc.) of finished garments and import documents of Trims- Accessories,
and Fabrics. The commercial department also does custom bond-related tasks, Freight Forwarder
management, and all other banking-related tasks of export and import. This department holds the
responsibility to retain old and attract buyers for the industry as well as position our capabilities in the
market such that they gain visibility.

Accounts and Finance Department

The production of a garment involves the above-mentioned processes and requires raw material,
machinery, transportation, power, wages for workers, etc. for the same. The procurement of all these
requires financial investment which is overlooked by this department. They also work out the cost and
profit margin in an order.

IT Department
IT department is responsible for managing & Maintaining all types of digital devices like Network
systems, Servers, Laptop computers, Desktop computers, Printers, Scanner, Photocopier, CCTV systems,
Attendance machines, Online meetings Applications, IPBX System of the apparel industry. It is
responding in a timely manner to service issues and requests and provides technical support across the
company.

Management Information System (MIS)

MIS is a very important department to keep organized and proper reporting system in the Garments
industry. MIS is responsible for managing the proper information system of employers through
information technology.

There are also some other supporting sections or departments in the Apparel industry, which vary from
industry to industry. These are the purchase or procurement department, Compliance department,
security & safety department, MIS Department, Data entry (Payroll) department, training and
development, QMS department, Electronic Data Processing (EDP), Customer service department, etc.

Share this: