Development of a Software about Calculating the Production Parameters in Knitted Garment Plants

Authors: Ender Bulgun, Arzu Vuruskan

Abstract:

Apparel product development is an important stage in the life cycle of a product. Shortening this stage will help to reduce the costs of a garment. The aim of this study is to examine the production parameters in knitwear apparel companies by defining the unit costs, and developing a software to calculate the unit costs of garments and make the cost estimates. In this study, with the help of a questionnaire, different companies- systems of unit cost estimating and cost calculating were tried to be analyzed. Within the scope of the questionnaire, the importance of cost estimating process for apparel companies and the expectations from a new cost estimating program were investigated. According to the results of the questionnaire, it was seen that the majority of companies which participated to the questionnaire use manual cost calculating methods or simple Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to make cost estimates. Furthermore, it was discovered that many companies meet with difficulties in archiving the cost data for future use and as a solution to that problem, it is thought that prior to making a cost estimate, sub units of garment costs which are fabric, accessory and the labor costs should be analyzed and added to the database of the programme beforehand. Another specification of the cost estimating unit prepared in this study is that the programme was designed to consist of two main units, one of which makes the product specification and the other makes the cost calculation. The programme is prepared as a web-based application in order that the supplier, the manufacturer and the customer can have the opportunity to communicate through the same platform.

Keywords: Apparel, cost estimating, design archive.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1075252

References:

[1] Tekstil ve hazırgiyim endüstrisi için sürdürülebilir gelişme: MFA-dan ATC-ye 2005. (Research Report), Competitive Advantage of Turkey, Istanbul, 2003.
[2] P. Brown and J. Rice, Ready-to-wear apparel analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001.
[3] J. A. Rosenau and D. Wilson, Apparel merchandising. New York: Fairchild, 2001.
[4] C.T. Horngren, S.M. Datar and G. Foster, Cost accounting: a managerial emphasis (11th. Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003.
[5] Tekstil ve konfeksiyon sektör├╝ maliyet bile┼ƒenleri.(Research Report), Istanbul Textile & Apparel Exporters' Associations, Istanbul, 2004.
[6] J.M. Johnson and E.C. Moore, Apparel product development (2nd ed.) Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001.
[7] Gerber Garment Technology Catalogues, 2005, (Online) Available: http://www.gerbertechnology.com/gtwww/03Prods/pdm/pdm.htm
[8] Lectra Catalogues, 2005, (Online) Available: http://www.lectra.com/en/retailing/products/mikalis_retailing.html
[9] Assyt Bullmer Catalogues, 2005, (Online) Available: http://www.assyst-intl.com/pdm/english/pdm.html
[10] Investronica Catalogues, (Online) Available: http://www.macphersons.co.uk/newcadcam.htm
[11] Byte Software Catalogues,(Online) Available: http://byte-software.com/
[12] Enfotek Catalogues, (Online) Available: http://www.enfotek.com.tr/
[13] Sentez Yaz─▒l─▒m Catalogues, (Online) Available: http://www.sentezyazilim.com.tr/Default.aspx?tabId=5&linkId=373&PI D=4
[14] Yage Yaz─▒l─▒m Catalogues, (Online) Available: http://www.yage.com.tr/wintex.htm
[15] E. Bulgun, A. Kut, G. Başer and M. Kasap, "Web based automation software for calculating production costs in apparel industry". Advances In Information Systems Proceedings, pp.223-231, 2002.
[16] A.Vuruskan, "Örme Konfeksiyon İşletmelerinde Üretim Parametrelerinin Hesaplanması Üzerine Bir Bilgisayar Programının Geliştirilmesi", M.Sc. thesis, Dept. Textile Eng., Dokuz Eylül Univ., İzmir, Turkey, 2005.