NetSuite
Apparel ERP Software
Apparel manufacturing ERP software is a set of features designed to manage the ordering, inventory, and assembly of clothing and other items. Create a variety of products using a matrix for colors, size, artwork, and patterns, then set up seasons and apparel lines. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for manufacturing integrates related systems—such as accounting, marketing, and sales—for a comprehensive view of the production and supply chain. These suites also include tools to manage licenses, track compliance for safety, and shipping regulations.
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24SevenOffice
24SevenOffice
24SevenOffice is a cloud-based Accounting and ERP system for small and mid-sized businesses. 24SevenOffice eliminates repetitive processes and greatly reduces the need to manually enter information. The system will also streamline...Read more
Katana Manufacturing ERP
Katana Manufacturing ERP
Katana Manufacturing ERP is a manufacturing ERP that gives you a live look at all the moving parts of your business — sales, inventory, and beyond. Combining a visual interface and smart real-time master planner, Katana makes mana...Read more
Software pricing tips
Read our Apparel Manufacturing ERP Software Buyers GuideSubscription models
- Per employee/per month: This model allows you to pay a monthly fee for each of your employees.
- Per user/per month: Users pay a monthly fee for users—normally administrative users—rather than all employees.
Perpetual license
- This involves paying an upfront sum for the license to own the software and use it indefinitely.
- This is the more traditional model and is most common with on-premise applications and with larger businesses.
Rated best value for money
SAP Business ByDesign
SAP Business ByDesign
With strong proficiencies in project management, accounting, and customer relationship management, SAP Business ByDesign is a software-as-a-service solution for professional services with 25 or more employees. ...Read more
businessMATE
businessMATE
businessMATE is a hybrid manufacturing management solution that caters to businesses across various industry verticals and helps them to automate their business processes and routines. It can be deployed on-premise or hosted in th...Read more
MasterTools
MasterTools
Online Computing designs and develops a proprietary ERP software called MasterTools. MasterTools combines all aspects of production planning, project management, shop floor control, inventory control, e-commerce, and financial ana...Read more
R4 Enterprise
R4 Enterprise
Royal 4 Enterprise is an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution with built-in modules for distribution, manufacturing, planning, inventory management, reporting and company financials. It serves midsize to large en...Read more
Sage 100cloud
Sage 100cloud
Sage 100cloud is a market-leading cloud-connected ERP platform for medium-sized manufacturers, distributors, and professional service businesses. Financials, budgeting and planning, inventory, supply chain, production management, ...Read more
Popular Apparel Manufacturing ERP Software Comparisons
Buyers Guide
Last Updated: May 20, 2022What is apparel manufacturing ERP software?
Apparel manufacturing ERP software is a set of features designed to manage the ordering, inventory, and assembly of clothing and other items. Create a variety of products using a matrix for colors, size, artwork, and patterns, then set up seasons and apparel lines.
An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for manufacturing integrates related systems—such as accounting, marketing, and sales—for a comprehensive view of the production and supply chain. These suites also include tools to manage licenses, track compliance for safety, and shipping regulations.
Here's what we'll cover:
- What is apparel manufacturing ERP software?
- Common features of apparel manufacturing ERP software
- What type of buyer are you?
Common features of apparel manufacturing ERP software
In addition to the core accounting functions, apparel manufacturers should evaluate the following functions to meet their sector's unique requirements:
| License and royalty management | Apparel manufactures that use trademarks must hold current licensing agreements and pay royalties to the trademark owner. The system needs to track the licenses and calculate payments due to trademark owners. The amounts should transfer to accounts payable. |
| Size and color matrix | A successful apparel inventory system uses a matrix of modifiers. The general description is entered once, and the sizes and colors are listed as modifiers to the basic description. The inventory must track each item as a separate SKU, and maintain separate reorder or production points. |
| Season and line planning | Apparel lines change season to season and year to year. The inventory should make recommendations for production. In addition, it should track existing inventory and make sales-versus-storage recommendations. |
| Artwork and pattern management | The system should store artwork and patterns for products. It should also track which components are copyrightable and which are not. Advanced systems will provide the ability to electronically file with the U.S. Copyright Office. |
| Component management | The components for each item need to be tracked, including sizes and colors if appropriate. Component management also includes make-versus-buy decision making, which might change from run to run. Whether made or bought, the production system must allow for time and cost of a acquiring components for each run. |
| UPC assignment | The system needs to catalog UPC codes for existing products and assign UPC codes to new products. Advanced systems can also use International Article Number (EAN) codes as well as UPC. |
| Cutting ticket management | The production management system needs to draw information from pattern and component management and inventory to produce cutting tickets. |
| Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) compliance documentation | More and more apparel manufacturers are seeking WRAP certification. Maintaining certification requires periodic compliance reports, which means it's important that your system track compliance information, identify issues and prepare the compliance reports. |
| Product label management | Apparel manufacturers must label products to comply with regulations, including required information such as country of origin, materials, washing instructions, and California Proposition 65 warnings. |
| Compliance reporting | The system should prepare all required compliance reports. It should also be customizable to produce other reports as required. |
| Material safety data sheet (MSDS) repository | OSHA requires that data sheets be on hand for hazardous materials that workers are likely to encounter on a daily basis. Dyes and cleaning agents are examples. The system should have a repository for MSDS information to supplement the required paper copies. |
| Size definition and conversion | American garment sizes are loosely defined. The system should have predefined sizes that can be customized if necessary. It should also provide conversion to European sizing (EN 13402), U.K. sizing (BSI 3666 and BS EN 13402), and Army Combat Uniform (ACU) standard sizes. |
| Currency exchange values | The system should track the exchange values for all currencies used by foreign suppliers. It should download values from a reputable site daily to accurately calculate inventory costs and accounts payable balances. The system should store the current value for currency exchange with every transaction. |
What type of buyer are you?
Apparel manufacturing ERP software is actually used by a range of different types of business within the apparel industry. While some apparel manufacturing ERP systems would be appropriate to most businesses within the apparel industry, others serves specialized needs. Understanding how your company fits into the larger apparel industry will help ensure you purchase software that fits.
- OEM manufacturer: Original equipment manufacturers produce items that are used to complete other company's end products. OEM apparel companies need ERP software that can assist with inventory management, forecasting, and make-to-stock and purchase-to-stock workflow management and planning.
- Apparel buying house: Buying houses serve as intermediaries between apparel manufacturers and retailers and can have special ERP requirements. They often have lengthy lists of clients with varying contracts and agreements and sometimes require ERP systems with an emphasis on customer relationship management or CRM.
- Apparel retailer: While retailers don't typically need very advanced ERP functionality, they do have unique inventory management challenges. Their size and color matrices are often relatively complex and their stock and purchase orders need to be managed with a larger degree of flexibility. They will also seek systems they can easily integrate with POSs and web-portals, helping provide up-to-date stock information to both brick-and-mortar customers and employees, customers using their branded mobile app and customers making purchases online.