Case study: Reserving production space

Manufacturer

"A designer came to me six weeks ago and booked space for 200 units for the end of this month, so I hired another machinist to help – then the docket arrived two weeks late, and for 100pcs less, so I ended up over-staffed and still having to pay wages."

Production space needs to be carefully planned and booked by designers as the late cancellation of a production slot can cause major problems for manufacturers. If the space hasn't been booked, it is impossible for manufacturers to plan their workflow and ensure that they have the correct number of staff available at the right time. In some instances, factories have had to lay off staff because production space has been cancelled very late on, making it impossible for the slot to be used by another designer.

Often these problems are caused by buyers who place their orders very late, which makes it impossible for designers to confirm their orders with factories. But sometimes it is due to designers not planning effectively.

If any changes are made to docket sizes, they need to be stated clearly and confirmed in writing (for instance, in an email). Similarly, if the docket is increased, any changes to size ratios need to be put into writing and designers need to ensure that additional fabric and components can be delivered in time for the factory to complete the order. Both the designer and the manufacturer need to agree new practicable delivery dates to take into account larger amount of garments to produce.

Manufacturers can be reluctant to take production bookings if they have been let down, but this makes it difficult for larger designers to plan effectively and be assured of maketime for larger dockets. So it is in the interests of both parties to stay professional about booking space and for all designers to keep their factories informed of any changes as it affects the industry as a whole.

Top Solutions

• Better communication between designer and manufacturer on order timelines.

• Buyers to understand importance of placing orders early enough to allow for production.

• Booking / production online reservation system.

Relevant sections from the Fashion Toolkit:

• Code of Practice

• Production Schedule

• Critical Path Management

• Production Management