Sewing machines are the main resources for making garments. In mass garment production, different types of machines are installed, instead of a single sewing machine.
What types of machine-mix one should purchase depends on the product category that one wants to make in his factory. As you know, for knitted garments you need a higher number of over-edge and flatlock machines whereas for woven products you need a higher no. of lock stitch sewing machines.
When you plan for a new factory set up for garment manufacturing you should select machines based on your product profiles. Otherwise, you will have the wrong machine ratio. As a result, you will fall short of some types of machines and others will be less utilized.
It is not only the selection of the correct types of machines but you should need to purchase the correct number of machines for all machine categories that you purchase. If you purchase machines only those are required initially then you can control initial capital investment.
Here is the secret to how I select machine mix for a new set factory.
Here is the secret to how I select machine mix for a new set factory.
- Select Product Type - As I mentioned above, the requirement of machine types will depend on product types and product styling. So, the first thing is you have to decide what are you going to make. Is it a men's shirt, blouse, T-shirt, trousers, Salwar Kameez or Kurti? If you are planning to make multiple products in your new set-up, then define how many units do you like to make per day for each product.
- Daily Production Target: Once you finalize the product or product lines you wish to make, decide how many units (pieces) you would like to produce monthly or daily. OR in another way what is the average production demand of your customer. As an example, let you plan to make 1200 men's shirts per day.
- Estimated Line Efficiency: At the start-up stage, you may not be aware of the efficiency. But you have to consider an efficiency figure at what level your line may perform 6 months ahead to calculate machine requirement. As most of the factories run at 40% efficiency (India), use this figure for calculations. Or if you wish to consider a higher figure you can.
- Prepare Operation Bulletin: Next step, you need to seek help from the industrial engineer to prepare the operation bulletin (OB) of the product. Engineers will analyze the product and check what all types of operations (jobs) are needed to make the garment, select of correct types of machines for each operation, and then calculate product SAM, no. of machines for each operation, machine requirement per line to get production as per your target. For multiple products prepare OB for each product and calculate machine requirements accordingly.
- Calculate no. of lines: Divide the daily total target by per line estimated production to calculate the no of lines. For example, if you plan for 400 pieces per line per day then you need to set 3 lines to get 1200 pieces per day at defined line efficiency.
- Make a matrix of machine mix: Once you have line-wise calculated no. machines for each product prepare a table with a machine list of each product. Calculate the total number of sewing machines for each type. Refer to the following image for the machine mix matrix.
- You are ready with your machine requirement for your new factory.
Also read: Step-by-step guide to t-shirt manufacturing
If you still have some queries on the above procedures then please drop a question in the following comment box.