Apparel Manufacturing ERP Software

Apparel manufacturers face a dizzying, and occasionally contradictory, array of government regulations, industry standards, and consumer demands. Even something as basic as sizing can be a problem. Since the advent of “vanity sizing,” American clothing sizes are a loose standard at best. To add to the complexity, the same item is often available in a variety of sizes and colors. Many manufacturers create goods with logos, so licensing and royalty management is important. One of the most heavily regulated aspects of apparel is labeling; labels must include materials, country of origin, and cleaning instructions.

Items are generally made of subassemblies or components, so make-versus-buy is always a decision point for apparel manufacturers. The inventory system needs to support an item/size/color matrix. Subassemblies and raw materials may come from factories that are literally half a world away, so production management and order entry must account for lengthy transit times. Currency conversion is a consideration for the accounts payable system.

Payroll is standard but tracking and documenting employee training and proof of eligibility to work are important features for an apparel manufacturing system. Accounts receivable and general ledger are also standard. Most enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are deployed on-premises but web-based systems are available and an attractive option for small and medium-sized operations.

Key Requirements for Apparel Manufacturers

In addition to the core accounting functions, apparel manufacturers should evaluate the following functions to meet their sector’s unique requirements: