Manufacturing production software is becoming more sophisticated all the time. As new fibers and new designs continue to flow, apparel manufacturing software is being developed to streamline the processes. Software programs for apparel can easily be integrated into your current operations with the right kind of systems. You’ll find many of the manufacturing software for clothing companies is user-friendly and a welcomed addition to the manufacturing process.

With the expansion of global markets in the apparel industry, you’ll need to stay on top of all the innovation and emerging apparel inventory software and IT applications. To remain competitive you’ll have to find ways to include retail apparel software in your operations. As clothing manufacturing production software continue to improve, there are a number of ways you can keep up with apparel software news and trends.

1. Log onto clothing design software blogs

2. Subscribe to apparel manufacturing software publications

3. Sign on for email alerts from suppliers of apparel software

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Share information with other clothing software users

Blogs are increasingly becoming the media of choice for many small business owners looking for quick and efficient means to communicate with other like-minded professionals. Find an Internet blog that provides trust-worthy information on fashion software and attracts reliable posting participants.

I recommend: Communicate with other apparel professionals at the Graphic Design Forum. Unleaded Software hosts a blogging site for those interested in design software and fashion news affecting the apparel industry.

Read up on changes in clothing design software

Apparel software news and trends continue to dominate many of the apparel publications available online and in hard copy print versions. While you may get email alerts from your apparel software program provider, it's a good idea to stay on top of the industry as whole so that you can know about changes that may be ahead of your current provider's abilities.

I recommend: Cutplan offers links to many of the top published articles and headlines affecting the industry. Check out the apparel portal at Bharat Apparel regularly for industry news in the United States and around the world.

Receive textile software alerts

While most business owners are trying to clear out their in-boxes to save time, you should allow at least one information provider to get into your email with alerts about changes and upgrades that others in the industry are employing. You shouldn't miss out on vital software programs for apparel alerts just because you want to avoid spam.

I recommend: Fashion Toolbox provides an email alert newsletter option for industry pros who sign up for the publication. You’ll receive the information in your email inbox. Receive email alerts and newsletters that are custom-designed for your industry from SAS, which is a major apparel software developer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Develop a culture of sharing information at your business. Ask each of your employees to regularly read at least one clothing software newsletter or magazine and share the apparel software news and trends they've uncovered at staff meetings.

Apparel software keeps you competitive in every phase of the fashion industry, from global sourcing, through manufacturing, down to POS apparel software that totes up the final sale. And apparel software has just begun to remake the industry: Fashion design software already can show how a design will fit, skipping the traditional step of making a sample. Some starting points on apparel software:

1. You can choose between vendors that specialize in apparel software or major business software vendors that adapt their products to the fashion business.

2. You can find enterprise resource planning apparel software to automate your entire business or focused products like clothing design software to automate one aspect.

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Apparel design software

Fashion design software brings computer aided design (CAD) into the creative process. Designers can see how garments will look and fit in 3-D, then convert their designs to patterns for manufacture.

I recommend: OptiTex, Tukatech and Blue Fox are fashion CAD specialists.

Apparel software for product development and management

In a business driven by style and trends, apparel software can help you get faster and smarter about product development and product lifecycle management (PLM).

I recommend: Business Management Systems, Enovia, Gerber Technology, PTC, and Yunique offer fashion industry software product solutions, as does giant business software supplier SAP.

Apparel software for manufacturing and supply chain management

Fashion industry manufacturing runs on global sourcing and quality control that is as complex and sophisticated as any industry. Apparel software covers each link in the chain.

I recommend: Try supply chain management experts i2 Technologies, Lawson or manufacturing software giant Oracle. RFID is a major concern in the clothing business – Avery Dennison offers apparel software for tagging and inventory control. Managing color from design through production is another big issue -- Datacolor makes apparel software that ensures consistent color.

Apparel software at the retail level

Software solutions track sales and inventory both at the cash register and the ecommerce shopping-cart level.

I recommend: Microsoft and NSB Group offer retail-oriented apparel software; also check Business.com for point of sale systems that can be adapted to fashion retailing. Everest Software develops apparel software solutions that cover both brick and mortar stores and online clothing sales.

End-to-end apparel software

Some apparel software vendors offer integrated software suites that cover many sides of the garment industry.

I recommend: Gerber Technology, LogOn Business Systems, Frogfish Solutions and New Generation Computing are end-to-end apparel software vendors. For more apparel software vendors, try company directories from ApparelSearch and Apparel magazine.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Fashion software that draws on laser body scans is beginning to change garment size and fit standards which have gone unquestioned for generations.
• •  Weaving, knitting and embroidering in clothing manufacturing are all now heavily driven by computer aided manufacturing.

Retail apparel software can help to set your company apart from your competitors. With the right kind of clothing manufacturing production software, you can execute projects quicker and more efficiently while maintaining costs and streamlining your production reporting procedures. Your apparel software can keep your team focused while increasing communications within the company.

Your retail apparel software can help keep performance to a maximum and wasted time to a minimum. Use apparel inventory software to help direct your projects through a web-based platform that is hosted by suppliers of apparel software or through desktop applications that can be used company-wide. Your entire business process can be turned over to an outside apparel software program management firm or directed internally through your own operations. Find a number of ways to integrate apparel manufacturing software into your organization.

1. Make sure you’re using the best software programs for apparel

2. Try clothing design software demos

3. Hire an apparel software company to get you on track

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Avoid waste with good software for apparel

Materials, time spent on design and order fulfillment take up a big piece of an apparel business budget, so you should make sure that you're putting your resources into manufacturing software for clothing companies that works. Through your sales figures, project timelines and your own new found time, you should have a good handle on what is the most appropriate apparel inventory software for your company. If you can't see big results, you should consider upgrading or replacing your clothing software programs.

I recommend: GCS has received accolades for its latest apparel software products. Unleaded Software hosts a blogging site for those interested in design software and fashion news affecting the apparel industry.

Go online for web-based apparel inventory software

For many of the newer online programs you don't even have to download any special software to your systems if you choose to engage a Web-based clothing design software tool. These operations typically allow you a trial period, which you should take advantage of as well. With many of the web apparel manufacturing software programs, you can even let the providers host your site so little is required of your IT team to implement the system.

I recommend: File Transit has a system can bring your operations online, allowing you to access your systems from any Internet source. It interfaces with a Java platform. The Cyber Merchants Exchange provides a complete web-based retail apparel software system.

Bring in a clothing manufacturing production software consultant

If you want to ensure that you're making the most of apparel manufacturing software programs, consider bringing in a consultant to help you choose the right platforms for your use. Specialists can set you up and train you and your staff, leaving you time to enjoy your new operations without as high of a learning curve.

I recommend: NGC offers software and services for the apparel industry with their order processing and apparel enhancement software products that are next-generation and will bring you up to date in the industry. Vision Net is a leading IT apparel consulting firm that can help you with most aspects of your business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  No matter what kind of apparel manufacturing software you decide to incorporate into your business, make sure that you can easily upgrade your systems. ask your vendors to offer upgrades when they become available.

Apparel software key terms deal with many levels of the apparel business. Some terms deal with the shelf product, such as Stock Keeping Units (SKU). Some terms deal with the creation of apparel, such as nesting, cut order, and draping of fabrics. Other terms deal with the entire process, such as Product Lifecycle Management. For a sampling of terminology in the industry, learn about some apparel software key terms below.

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Prepack

Prepacking is the term for packing individual Stock Keeping Units of apparel into larger cases so that they flow more easily through the supply chain. For example, in clothing, the software can prepack items by automatically grouping certain sizes together according to customer request.

I recommend: Apparel Information Management Systems (AIMS) gives an example of prepacking.

Draping

In some software programs, a drape module allows the designer to hang fabric over an on-screen model, changing colors as needed. This program allows the client to view the apparel and give approval before the manufacturer spends time and effort on a sample article of clothing.

I recommend: Aria Systems provides a drape module in its software.

Nesting

Nesting involves allocating space efficiently on the fabric roll to prevent wasting of material. Pieces of fabric are nested against each other for the cutting process. Sophisticated algorithms in apparel software make better use of the fabric roll and save time on manual nesting preparation.

I recommend: Techexchange.com has an article on the OptiTex Nesting software program which describes how it nests material.

Cut order

Planning for the cut order in fabric means determining the best order in which to cut the fabric for use once nesting has been determined. Algorithms in apparel software optimize cutting order and save money and material.

I recommend: Cutplan discusses cut order and ways to optimize it.

Advanced shipping notice (ASN)

An advanced shipping notice (ASN) is a notice sometimes requested by the purchaser or trading partner. Usually the seller sends the ASN once workers have prepared the orders and invoices.

I recommend: AS/AP describes how to prepare an advanced shipping notice.

Product lifecycle management (PLM)

Product lifecycle management (PLM) refers to the entire lifecycle of apparel, from the design process, to development and manufacture, to distributors, to transportation, to retail.

I recommend: Business Management Systems (BMS) discusses the concept of PLM for the fashion industry.