What is Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)? Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a software that allows an organization to use a system of integrated applications to manage the business and automate many back-office functions related to technology, services and human resources. ERP software typically integrates all facets of an operation – including product planning, development, manufacturing, sales and marketing – in a single database, application and user interface.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a computer application specifically designed for the industrial and manufacturing units. It consists of several modules that operate in collaboration with each other and look after the overall industry. For each department ERP contains a dedicated module. ERP is the automation of a manufacturing industry from raw material to end product and all the procedure that are directly or indirectly involved in this process. Below Fig. shows the major modules of an ERP software. ERP modules are explained as follow:
Fig: Modules of Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
Application of ERP in Garment Merchandising Uses of ERP in textile sector of Bangladesh is increasing. Though ERP system is very costly but it has great advantage in textile processing system. All kind of processing information is stored in ERP and we can know it short time from ERP. Such as in Merchandising – creating order sheet, costing, sample tracking, material booking and reserve, follow up design and EMB making, follow up bulk production, packing instruction and shipment, all kind of working process can be done in ERP.
Fig: Working process of ERP in apparel merchandising
ERP system modules in apparel merchandising:
According to work process ERP system in apparel merchandising is divided into some system. These are;
Order Management System
Embroidery Management System
Sample Management System
Inventory Management System
Purchase Management System
Production Planning System
Shipping Management System
Fig: ERP System Module
All ERP modules in apparel merchandising are described briefly with pictures:
1. Order management system:
Order management system is the most important part in ERP. New bulk order sheet created in this part. All types of information about an order input here. Such as order quantity, order style pictures, fabric colors, threads, ship-mode, elements, order items description, accessory description, customer details, parts mold, packing description and other information are input here to make a complete order sheet. After making order sheet is checked very carefully because of production floor flow this order sheet. If any mistake information input in order sheet then in production floor will make mistake which is great hamper for production process.
Fig: Order management system
Booking of Material (BOM) is input in this part for reserve material, fabric, accessories and necessary thing of an order. After making order sheet BOM is done according to the parts which are used in order sheet. If any wrong consumption input in BOM also, there are great problem happen during the production. It causes waste of time in production process and great loss for factory. So, in this part input information are check very carefully.
2. Embroidery management system:
There are different types of design and logo in sample but these designs and logos were picture format and these picture format need to convert into DST and EMB format for sewing on fabric. If there are so many designs and logos then its need to follow up so that works finished required time. By this ERP system we can easily follow the work and complete work in required time.
Fig: Embroidery management system
3. Sample management system:
After finishing sample order sheet then order sheet passed sample section for sample development. Sample order is sheet similar to bulk order sheet. All types of fabric parts, materials, accessories and other information are input in sample order sheet. In ERP, from sample management system we can know sample making status such as which date sample submit, which date sample send for cutting, when sample finish. If any problem in sample making, we also know about this problem from ERP.
Fig: Sample management system
4. Inventory management system:
All types of fabric, thread, material for making sample and bulk production information are input here. We can easily find required fabric, thread, materials which are available or not available in factory. It saves time.
Fig: Inventory management system
5. Purchase management system:
Sometimes there are many kinds of accessories, label and fabric which are not available in factory, it’s need to buy from another source and we can make purchase materials order in ERP easily. Also, we can know purchasing orders, quantities, materials description and many information about purchasing from ERP in short time.
Fig: Purchase management system
6. Production planning system:
After approved sample order then it’s ready for bulk production. Before bulk production of an order make sure all material, accessories and fabric are available for production in factory and we can easily find that all material, accessories and fabric status of an order from ERP in very short time. Also, we can know running production status of orders in floor individually in this system.
Fig: Production planning system
7. Shipping management system:
It is the finishing process of an order in ERP. There are different types of polybags, hangtags, stickers, bar-code stickers, cartons required after finishing bulk products of an order. If any parts are missing of an order then it causes delay of shipment. But in ERP we can easily input information partly such as packing instruction, carton instruction, shipment date etc. We can also input price information of an order in ERP and any time we can easily find about order price, packing and shipment process information. We can also track shipping invoice in ERP.
Fig: Shipping management system
Conclusion:
At last we can say that; the role of ERP in Garments merchandising sector is great. If we use ERP in our textile sectors then it becomes more develop day by day. ERP saves time and reduces lead time of an order. So, we can make great benefits by using ERP software. But expert and experienced people are required to maintain and work in ERP.
Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.
