The garment sampling process is an important part of the apparel manufacturing cycle. Delays in sampling and sample approvals impact on-time shipment delivery. Secondly, when the sampling process gets delayed, the productivity of the sampling department gets reduced. To address this, garment manufacturers must take certain actions to reduce he sample development time.
The question is – how to reduce the delay in garment sampling?
In this article, we will explore how an apparel merchandiser with the sampling team can address the delays. Though there are reasons for the delay in sampling, taking action on the top issues can reduce the sampling delay drastically. Here are the tips to be followed by apparel manufacturers, especially the team who are involved in the sampling department:
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10 Practical Ways to Reduce Garment Sampling Delays
1. Be proactive
Finish your backlogs, create capacity for fresh sampling, and research sourcing of sampling material. You can even make a directory for all available material in the sampling store for fabrics, trims, threads, laces, beads, etc that can be used for initial sampling. If you know your buyer better, you can be prepared for the new season prior to getting a sampling request. Our guide on choosing the right sustainable woven fabric manufacturer can help with this.
2. Make Time and Action Calendar
Plan your sampling styles in detail. Prepare a detailed Time and Action calendar for scheduling and follow it. Note when to start a task and when to finish it. Mention the name of the responsible person for the task. Follow the task according to the plan. Chase the person until the task gets finished. If something is getting delayed, create an alarm and seek help from others. Work with the goal to meet the timeline for each task. No delay and no procrastination in task completion, even if you have enough time to submit your sample.
3. Work with a checklist
List down the complete sequence of jobs needed for sampling. Start finishing tasks one by one. It will be more effective if you prepare two checklists, one for a daily to-do list and the second one for a style-wise checklist. Start work with the daily to-do List and update the style-wise checklist. Following this method, you can keep track of all your styles.
4. Critical path management
Identify jobs that are not dependent on each other and start parallel processing (sourcing, pre-assembling). This will reduce your sampling time, and you can work on multiple samples at a time.
5. Inventory check
Prior to handing over the work to sampling tailors, check that everything is ready as per the required quality and quantity. This will help you to reduce forward and backward communication with the sampling team and material store. Secondly, sampling tailors will complete your samples at one go. Types of woven fabric explained.
6. Quality First place
Approve quality and specifications by yourself before proceeding to the next step. It will eliminate rework level. If you use material of alternative quality due to time constraint, inform it to your buyer prior to using it in the sample.
7. Be prepared with alternatives
Whenever developing samples like lap dips, print strike off, embroidery work or bead work, make multiple options. By alternative, in case the buyer rejects your first sample you can quickly send an alternative one. In this way, you can reduce a lot of time required for re-development.
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8. Don’t believe in Guesswork
Don’t do any task if you are confused. Communicate with your seniors or contact immediately to buyer for clarification.
9. Update your knowledge
Technical knowledge about fabrics, current trends, and new developments in your product line will give you additional advantages in quick start sampling.
10. Don’t miss the deadline
Last but not least, don’t miss any deadline in follow-up and getting things done. Chase your suppliers, chase the sourcing and sampling department constantly.
If the above tips worked for you in reducing sampling time, please don’t be shy to share your experience with us.
Strong Supplier Partnerships Make Every Challenge Easier
We at Dinesh Exports have spent more than three decades working with various local and international brands, supplying woven fabric for them. Over these years, we have also grown from just a mill to vertically integrating ourselves to make sure that we are able to provide the best quality products at the right time. If you like to learn more about our production capabilities, please contact us.
Conclusion
Sampling time needs to be on point to keep your business on track. Your sampling approval time and sampling time are critical factors that contribute to your overall performance. With the right methods, like being proactive in communication, making a time and action calendar, always making a checklist, creating critical path management, checking inventory, quality checking, preparing for alternatives and black swan events, avoiding guesswork, and finally, not missing any deadlines, you will be able to avoid garment sampling delays.
