Dockets in Garment Industry

Dockets in Garment Industry

Swati Wadekar
Executive IE officer at Pratibha Syntex, Indore
Email: swatiw1110@gmail.com

Introduction:
Dockets are essential components in garment manufacturing industry. Typically “Docket” refers to a set of documents or paper work that contains all necessary information or data about the particular order or garment style. These documents include details such as fabric details, size grading, trims details, sewing instructions, color codes, packing details, specific instructions, and any other needed details for production. The docket also consists of fabric and trims samples as well as the production deadline and agreed price ensuring that you and the manufacturer are working to the same information. In garment manufacturing industry dockets are needed for process control, quality assurance, supply chain management, style change over and other processes. A perfect docket can help finish the whole process properly. Documentation is always the first step in successfully executing a project. If the documents are proper, then the concerned persons involved can properly execute the task.

A garment manufacturing industry has to maintain different types of dockets.

List of Dockets Using in Garment Merchandising:

1. Production Order (PO)
2. Bill of material (BOM)
3. Specification sheet / Tech pack
4. Packing List
5. Approved trim card (approved sample of trims such as main label, care label, hang tag, zipper, button, lace, sewing thread, etc.)
6. Sample comments sheets (sample approval and comments received from buyer)
7. Fabric color/shade approval (Lab dip / fabric swatches)

Briefly described above each docket.

1. Production Order:
A production order is an order issued within a company to manufacture the garment within a given time. The production order consists of the description of style and style number, sizes, order quantity, quantity for each size, fabric consumption, specifications of trims, packing instructions, label specifications, etc.

2. Bill of material:
Bill of material is a list of all needed material with their cost and quantity that are required to build a product as per the buyer’s requirements. It is prepared by the production merchandiser.

3. Specification sheet / Tech pack:
The Specification sheet or Tech pack is very important document for the merchandising. It consists all the technical information about the garment such as fabric, tolerances, interlining details etc.

4. Packing list:
Packing list is the document that has all the necessary details for the packing of the garment such as PO and style number, style description and color, total and size wise order quantity, carton information, all size names and size wise pack quantity etc.

5. Approved trim card:
The trim card is made of little thicker white paper. The company name, company logo, and company address are printed on the top of the trim cards. The trim card contains fabric sample, thread sample, button and zipper sample, fit tag sample, label sample, elastic sample, contrast fabric sample and other necessary accessories sample. It is issued to the all departments by a merchandiser.

6. Sample comments sheets:
Sample comments sheet is very important to construct a garment as per the buyer’s requirement. A sample comments sheet include detailed technical drawings along with construction notes and finished garment measurements also. It is very important to request a ample comment sheet from buyer for each design to avoid construction hurdles.

7. Fabric color/shade approval (Lab dip / fabric swatches):
A lab dip is a dyed fabric sample that is made to match the standards of buyer’s requirements. So that you can check to see if you are agree with it before the full order to be processed. [1]

Dockets Using in Garment Sampling Department:

1. Tech pack
2. Pattern cards
3. Sample request form
4. Sewing instructions
5. Approval sheets

Briefly described above each docket.

1. Tech pack:
Tack pack is a very essential document for the sampling department. It contains all the  information about design, materials, measurements, construction, and labeling instructions.

2. Pattern Cards:
Pattern card Include all the details of pattern, specifications, and any adjustments made during the sampling process.

3. Sample Request Forms:
Sample request form Used to request the creation of samples, specifying details like quantity, size, color, and purpose.

4. Sewing instructions:
Sewing instructions sheet consists detailed instructions of the sewing techniques and stitching.

5. Approval Sheets:
This document used to record approvals at different stages of the sampling process, ensuring quality and accuracy.

Dockets Using in Industrial Engineering (IE) Department:

1. OB (Operation breakdown)
2. Skill Matrix report
3. Capacity study sheet
4. Style change over plan

Briefly described above each docket.

a) Operation breakdown (OB):
An Operation Breakdown is one of the primary IE tools. It is a list of operations of a style. It consists the sequence of operations, machines, special folder and attachments and equipments required for each operation, needle number and threads, and cost of per operation.

b) Skill Matrix report:
Industrial engineer physically check about the records and certified with his evolution. IE department shawl maintain all records line wise in the data bank for skill development and future reference.[2]

c) Capacity study sheet:
Industrial engineer starts this activity in the second day after line setting. In this activity every operation of the garment shall be follow.

d) Style change over plan:
An IE needs to plan on the style change over according to quantity of running style. In this docket, a tentative date given by an IE for the style changeover.

Docket Using in Quality Department:

1. Approved Trims card
2. 7.0 report
3. Audit report
4. First 50 pcs review report

Briefly described above each docket.

1. Approved Trims card:
Approved trims card is very essential document for quality department. Quality checker can ensure the trims of the styles with trim card.

2. 7.0 report:
7.0 system is one of the inline garment inspection system. In this system, the roving quality checker check 7 garments of each operation in production line. If the quality checker finds a single defective garment in 7 checked pieces, he marks RED on the operator quality performance sheet (Or the checker place a Red Flag on that workstation). This means the operator needs to improve her stitching quality. [3]

3. Audit report:
A auditor in garment manufacturing industry audit 10%– 15% of given lot and make their report accordingly. If he finds any defect while conducting the audit then he can return the lot for rechecking.

4. First 50 pcs review report:
After the style changeover, Quality checker, Quality in-charge, supervisor, production incharge, technical head review the first 50 pcs and if any changes are needed or defects are found then make report accordingly so than correct the changes in production line.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the critical role of dockets as foundational documentation, serving as a guide for various departments involved in garment manufacturing industry. Properly maintained dockets ensure accurate information transfer, process control, quality checks, and efficient execution of tasks, ultimately contributing to successful production outcomes.

References:

1. Jahanara Rony, “List of Documents to be Maintained by Garment Merchandiser“  https://fashion2apparel.com/documents-maintained-by-garment-merchandiser/
2. Kh Mashiur Rahman “IE Department Standard Operation Procedure“ https://garmentspedia.blogspot.com/2016/12/ie-department-standard-operation_13.html
3. OCS Admin -July 09, 2020 “What is 7.0 System in Garment Inspection?“ https://www.onlineclothingstudy.com/2020/07/what-is-70-system-in-garment-inspection.html

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2. How to Prepare a Complete Production File by Merchandiser
3. Career in Merchandising: Factory vs Buying House
4. How to Maintain Garment Quality Standards with QC Checklists
5. Copy-Paste Worksheet, A Big Mistake in Merchandising
6. Importance of Effective Tracking for Effective Merchandising

Mazharul Islam Kiron

Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. Mr. Kiron is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.

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