Analysis of Production System Process

Industrial practices are designed to ensure that quality products are manufactured efficiently at a profit. They involve designers working together with clients and manufacturers, all of whom need to keep the needs of the consumer in mind.

Roles in industrial practice

The client

The client identifies the need for a product through market research and uses this to provide a design brief for the designer. They set production deadlines and the price of the product. The client is usually a manufacturer or retailer.

The designer

The designer works to the design brief and researches market trends, fabrics and processes, taking into account any relevant societal, cultural, moral, environmental or safety issues. They produce a design specification, product costings, and help plan manufacturing.

The manufacturer

The manufacturer uses models or prototypes made by the designer, and works out the most efficient way of manufacturing the product. They produce a production plan and a work schedule. During manufacture they aim to keep material and labour costs down, while producing a high-quality, safe product on schedule in a safe environment.

The user or consumer

The user or consumer demands a product that meets their requirements: a high-quality, value-for-money and safe product.

Systems in textile production

All production systems consist of inputs, processes and outputs. A feedback loop enables the inputs and processes to be modified, for example as a result of quality control checks or feedback from customers. Production systems can be modelled with a system diagram.

inputs - cad drawings, lay plan, fabrics, fastenings, manufacturing specification. Processing - designing, modelling, pattern making, quality control, manufactu...

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...oduction planning

Production plan

The production plan should set out information about all the stages of production, so that every product is made to the same quality. A production plan includes the following stages:

Preparation stage: the amount of materials to buy-in. Preparation of garment patterns, templates and lay plans.

Processing stage: fabric spreading, cutting, labelling and bundling of fabric pieces.

Assembly stage: instructions for fusing, joining and pressing the separate parts.

Finishing stage: instructions for decorative/functional finishing and final pressing.

Packaging stage: how to label, hang, fold and cover the product ready for transport.

Computer software is used to produce the production plan.

Work schedule

A work schedule sets out instructions about:

order of assembly

stitch type

processes to be used

time taken

seam allowance