4 Best ERP Software for Garment Manufacturing Companies
Are you in the market for the best garment software to help you streamline your production management processes? Or, maybe, you are curious to know what ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software can meet your needs as an apparel manufacturing business. Either way, this post is for you.
Managing production operations can be particularly challenging, especially in the apparel industry. You’d have to worry about inventory management for your materials, supply chain, customer relationships, etc. For these reasons, you need a software capable of automating these processes to a reasonable level, allowing you to focus on growing your business.
In this post, we will be exploring the best 4 manufacturing management software designed to help apparel businesses improve manufacturing operations, streamline inventory management, and get ahead in the fashion industry. So stay tuned.
4 Reasons Why You Need a Manufacturing Management Software For Your Apparel Business
Managing your shop floor operations using manual systems like spreadsheets is like trying to perform accounting using just pen and paper; you are bound to make costly errors. For starters, you will either overestimate or underestimate the quantity of raw materials needed to fulfill production orders. To avoid these pitfalls, you can hire a team of software developers who can implement an ERP system with manufacturing management capabilities.
Here are 4 other reasons to use one:
1. Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity
Garment manufacturing software automates numerous production processes, from design and pattern making to cutting and sewing. This automation reduces the time and labor traditionally required for these tasks, allowing for quicker turnaround times and increased output. By minimizing manual input and errors, companies can achieve a smoother workflow and higher productivity levels.
2. Improved Inventory Management
One of the perennial challenges in garment manufacturing is maintaining the right inventory levels. Too much inventory ties up capital, while too little can lead to production delays. Garment manufacturing software offers sophisticated inventory management tools that track material usage, manage stock levels, and provide alerts for reorder points. This precision ensures that materials are available when needed without overstocking, thus optimizing inventory costs.
Streamline your processes with a tailor-made inventory management solution.
3. Streamlined Supply Chain Management
Garment manufacturing software provides real-time visibility into the entire supply chain, from raw material sourcing to final product delivery. This visibility enables manufacturers to identify bottlenecks, track performance, and make informed decisions quickly. Effective supply chain management can lead to reduced lead times, fewer disruptions, and a more responsive operation.
4. Cost Reduction
By automating processes and improving inventory and supply chain management, garment manufacturing software significantly cuts down costs. Reductions can be seen in labor, waste materials, and inefficiencies that often plague manual systems. Additionally, the ability to forecast demand more accurately helps prevent overproduction and excess inventory, both of which can be costly.
Key Features of an Apparel Manufacturing ERP Software
When looking to pick a garment manufacturing ERP software, there are certain key features you need to keep an eye out for to help you decide if the software is a good fit for your business. These features are as follows:
1. Inventory Management
- Real-Time Tracking: The best textile manufacturing ERP should have a robust inventory tracking feature. This enables tracking of fabric and other materials in real-time, helping to prevent stock-outs or excess inventory.
- Barcode Integration: Utilizes barcode scanning for accurate and efficient inventory control.
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP): Automatically calculates material requirements based on production schedules.
2. Production Planning and Control
- Scheduling Tools: Provides tools to manage production schedules, optimizing machine and labor usage.
- Workflow Management: Allows for the setup of specific workflows for different product lines, ensuring each step of the production process is monitored and controlled.
- Quality Control: Facilitates quality checks at different stages of the production process to maintain product standards.
3. Supply Chain Management
- Vendor Management: What’s a clothing manufacturing ERP software without vendor management capabilities? This feature manages relationships with fabric suppliers and other vendors, including tracking vendor performance to ensure compliance with delivery and quality standards.
- Purchase Order Management: Automates the creation and tracking of purchase orders, and integrates with inventory to replenish stocks as needed.
4. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Order Management: Tracks customer orders from placement to delivery, ensuring order fulfillment and customer satisfaction.
- Customer Data: Stores detailed customer information, order history, and preferences to enhance marketing efforts and customer service.
- Sales Analytics: Provides analytics tools to track sales performance and identify trends or opportunities in the market.
4 Best Software Solutions for Garment Manufacturing Companies
1. Uphance
Uphance is undoubtedly one of the best apparel ERP software solutions on the market. It’s a cloud-based, complete software solution with built-in production, inventory, and customer relationship management modules. This is in addition to the product lifecycle management (PLM) module, which enables you to efficiently manage product development from the ideation stage through to production and entry into the market.
Another reason why Uphance is ideal for apparel manufacturers is that it enables you to manage material requirements and vendor invoices efficiently, track goods receipts with pinpoint accuracy, and run production batches with confidence.
Did we forget to mention that Uphance has a multi-currency feature? Why not schedule a demo right away to see Uphance in action.
2. MRPeasy
MRPeasy is another great software that can help you streamline your manufacturing operations. Although a multi-purpose software, businesses in the apparel manufacturing industry can also use it.
Some of the features MRPeasy offers include:
- Lead time estimation
- Financial reporting and forecasting
- Production scheduling
- Inventory optimization system
- Material procurement
- CRM and accounting features
3. Katana
If you are looking for a software solution that gives you complete control over your shop floor operation, Katana is the software for you. Katana makes it easy to efficiently allocate material resources for best results. In addition, it makes it easy for you to accurately cost materials needed for production runs.
Other key features include
- Purchase order management
- Seamless integration with most management solutions
- Shop floor automation
4. Absolute ERP
If quality control and compliance are the key features you are looking for in a manufacturing management software, you should consider Absolute ERP. The other key features that make it a good fit for fashion brands are as follows:
- Process automation
- Finance and accounting management
- Forecasting and reporting
- Multi-currency feature
Conclusion
So there you have it; 4 garment manufacturing management software solutions you just can’t go wrong with. Curious to see Uphance in action? Schedule a demo right away.
