Before production begins, a factory needs to define the Style categories it works on. Style categories are the foundation standard processes are built on, and without them, the system can't calculate efficiency or track production accurately.
Accessing Style Categories
From the main menu, go to Industrial Engineering Management, then Style Categories.
You'll find a list of all existing categories, with the option to display them as cards or as a list. To add a new category, click "+ Add Style Category" in the top right corner.
Style Category
Adding a New Style Category
Adding a category is quick: enter the name, and the system handles the rest.
- Enter the category name, such as shirt, pants, or dress.
- The system automatically generates a style image using AI as soon as the name is entered.
- You can regenerate the image at any time if you'd like to change it.
- Enter the category code, a unique code for quick identification.
- Click "Create Style Category."
Add New Style Category
Adding Standard Processes
After creating the category, the next step is defining the standard Processes linked to it.
Adding a Process Type
- Click "Add Process Type."
- Enter the name and prefix, which is optional.
- You can add multiple types as needed.
Add Process TypeAdding Processes Within Each Type
- Process Name in the primary language defined in the factory settings, with the option to add a secondary language.
- Process Code, which is generated automatically by the system.
- Machine Type associated with the process. You can assign multiple machine types if the process can be performed on more than one type of machine.
- Difficulty Level and Process Time, which can be entered in minutes, minutes and seconds, CMN, or by specifying the Hourly Target.
- Time Basis, whether it is calculated per piece for sewing processes or per carton for packing processes.
- Assign the process to its corresponding zone.
- Featured Process, to make the process available in all reports that support featured processes and allow filtering by them.
- If the process is performed by a team, such as Spreading or Finishing, you can enable the Team-based option directly.
Note: You can enable the option to set the standard stage time to 0 by contacting the Garment IO team and activating it from Configurations → Company Configurations → Factories → Garment IO Settings.
Add New Process
The process cost is calculated by multiplying the process time in minutes by the cost per minute for each machine, which is defined on the Machine Types page.
Adding a Process Type for Quality
- Add new operation type d with the Quality tag, along with defining its specific stages.
Add Quality Process Type with Quality Tag in Style Category- In the machine type field, the quality workstation type created earlier is selected.
Choose Quality Workstation
Zones
Add zones to the Style category, then link each process in the category to its zone, so it's ready when a new style is added — the new style's processes will automatically be linked to their corresponding zones.
Add Zones
Impact of Changing the Standard Time
If you decide to modify the standard time for a process, this change has a direct impact on calculated efficiencies:
- The system updates efficiencies retroactively, up to a maximum of one previous month, whether the production order is complete or not.
- Efficiencies are recalculated based on all processes performed during the selected period.
- Cost and duration details for processes prior to the modification period don't change.
Additional Features
- Change how the target is displayed: minutes and seconds, minutes only, or CMN.
- Copy processes to a different style category or another process type.
- Move processes between process types within the same category.
- Add more than one machine type for the same process if it can be performed on multiple machines.
- Reorder processes to control how they're displayed in reports and when added to styles.
- Create process groups to bundle specific processes together and simplify selection later on.
Note: removing a standard process will delete all production records linked to it in active orders.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- What are style categories and why are they necessary?
Style categories represent the different types of garments a factory works on, such as shirts, pants, and dresses. They're the foundation standard processes are linked to, and without them, efficiency can't be calculated and production can't be tracked accurately. - Can I change the style image after it's created?
Yes, you can regenerate the image at any time if you'd like to update or change it. - What's the difference between a process type and a standard process?
A process type is the classification, such as preparation, sewing, or finishing, while a standard process is the detailed step within that classification, with its own set time and cost. - Can I delete a style category that's used in production?
No, a style category linked to active production orders cannot be deleted. - If I change the standard time for a process, will old efficiencies be affected?
Yes, up to a maximum of one previous month. Costs and durations for processes older than the modification period don't change. - Can a standard process be performed on more than one machine type?
Yes, you can add more than one machine type for the same process if it can be performed on multiple machines.
Have a question about this article?
Reach out to the Garment IO team. We're here to make sure you're getting the most out of every feature.