Fashion PLM The “Let’s tackle efficiency” GUIDE
Dear Fashion Professionals, PLM is the heart of development and your stimulus from the first draft to product delivery. Data management is really only the beginning. The seamless integration of data and processes gives you even more in terms of efficiency – and direct integration of satellite systems from CAD to ERP improves results still more. PLM has amazing potential in terms of costs, time and quality. This guide has lots of information and best practices to show you how to optimally align your PLM. The result is a kind of map for the management of your development processes and product data – it will help you to find your way around in the topic.
Enjoy your reading! Dr. Andreas Seidl
Develop and produce faster: Efficient workflows and instantly-available data +++
Contents
Page 5 PLM for the apparel industry Page 4 What PLM systems can (and will) do for you
Pages 6–11 What PLM systems must achieve
Page 12 Which functions do you need?
Page 14 Introduce your PLM system smoothly Page 18 PLM GoLive in your company
Page 16 Currently happening in the industry
Produce top quality: Clear approval procedures and top data quality +++
Straight to the point What PLM systems can (and will) do for you
A PLM system is a process and data guarantee. Especially if it’s a fashion specialist like PLM GoLive. And the better this system manages and distributes your product data, the more economically your company can work. That’s why PLM GoLive combines all process elements, integrates central tools like CAD, 3D with Vidya and ERP, helps to optimally organize daily operations and gets all the data and files to where they’re needed. It’s also a valuable tool for translating strategy into practice. PLM GoLive is your control center if you want to be faster to market, increase your product quality and reduce your costs.
How does the future look? PLM GoLive is the backbone of the development process and instantly provides a seamless process (also in the Cloud upon request), from the first draft to the store – a process which every company can freely customize. Employees, locations and partners are all flexibly linked.
5 things that you can do better with PLM GoLive ° Get an overview and detailed knowledge of all areas ° Manage data ° Accelerate processes ° Avoid redundancies and faults ° Safeguard decisions and information
4
Basic knowledge PLM for the apparel industry With PLM GoLive you manage all phases, from the first design to market introduction. Our PLM system supports you with all the tools and workflows that you’ll ever need.
Power test – version management ° Over 200 model descriptions ° More than 70 patterns ° Hundreds of fabrics, trimmings & accessoires ° Thousands of e-mails in different languages
However, a seamless clothing process is only created through the perfect interaction of PLM GoLive with central systems along the fashion process chain, from initial design to delivery. PLM GoLive also maps all relevant information and summarizes it at your fingertips. And that’s exactly how a PLM system shows that it’s perfect for the apparel industry.
PLM GoLive in the fashion process
Collection transfer to the ERP system
1 | Collection framework plan 2 | Collection concept
7.
3 | Product development from sketch to style 4 | Pattern and sizing & fitting 5 | Article coordination
5.
6 | Sample pattern creation
6.
7 | Model freeze and salesman samples
3.
1.
4.
2.
5
Core questions: What PLM systems must achieve Question 1
We want to improve our processes. Do we need a PLM system to do that? Yes. Just how your processes should look depends of course on your initial conditions. But the clothing industry itself has special requirements in terms of development cycles, data volumes and product variants – and PLM for Fashion has to map these special requirements with minimal effort. No matter which process path is used, getting the right products to the customer in the fastest timeframe and with the most economical methods is what counts in the end. And that’s what PLM GoLive is designed to do outstandingly. A prerequisite for planning your system is having an overview of all processes and their enterprise-wide standardization. This is complex but well worth it, because process optimization mostly happens by itself later.
What can you do with PLM GoLive? Relax more during development and production! When everything’s at hand, you can work better and this is most obvious in the initial phase of a newlyintroduced system: management systems can achieve up to 50 % fewer process errors. Giga study: Total Economic Impact of Collaborative Product Development
So how do you choose a system? In daily business, change is the only constant, so choosing the right system is particularly important. Your system should
° flexibly map structures and changes ° adapt workflows with minimal programming effort ° have the largest possible portfolio of standard functions ° have the lowest possible operating and maintenance costs ° provide for the integration of future technologies by default
6
PLM GoLive can give you – structure and process mapping as a flexible standard system
Complete fashion PLM GoLive has a consistent and proven reference process for apparel development. You only have to change what’s really important for your company.
Innovation included As a standard system, PLM GoLive exploits technical innovations with every release. Your system is always future-proof.
Fair running costs PLM GoLive combines many Human Solutions Group technologies, so you have no extra outlays. These include Cad.Assyst, ERP BOS, Vidya and iSize.
Global flexibility PLM GoLive is available as a local, a remote and a web client. This makes it available anywhere and anytime – and you decide who accesses what. Program and data can be hosted in the Human Solutions Cloud, in your private Cloud or by network.
7
Question 2
Honestly – will PLM really make us faster, more productive and more economically efficient? Yes! PLM GoLive can automate processes and collect the right data for the next workstep. You no longer need to laboriously enter data multiple times in different departments, compile reports and constantly look for information. This lightens workloads and saves time and costs. The overview provides transparency in planning and costing. But you can do even more. If you wish, the key factors of cost recovery and sales targets will run like a red thread through your processes, using information taken from the collection framework plan – so all your strategic objectives are always in plain sight.
What can you do with PLM GoLive? Anything you (and your markets) want. If you know your processes, you can work a lot better – and even better than that if the processes run automatically. Up to 40 % faster time-to-market and up to 85 % faster processing of change requests are possible. Giga study: Total Economic Impact of Collaborative Product Development
PLM even faster You can use PLM GoLive directly from the Fashion Cloud GoLive (from Human Solutions or in-house) and/or host your product data in the Cloud. New users only have to be activated and changes in the PLM system are visible at the next login, without time-consuming rollouts.
8
PLM GoLive can – automate workflows and processes and enhance data
Example 1 – How much revenue will the collection earn and what is the contribution margin? Keeping calculations in the development process up-to-date is enormously expensive. PLM GoLive does this automatically right through to product release. Then ERP BOS and Autocost take over upon request and determine all the cost data for the production.
Example 2 – What’s still to be done? With PLM GoLive, you always have an overview of your tasks. When a task has been completed, the person responsible for the next workstep knows it right away, so idle times and forgetting tasks are things of the past.
Example 3 – From sketch to released product. Apparel products are created step-by-step. PLM GoLive accompanies this development process. The data on an article doesn’t have to be completed right away; it can be concretized over time up to the final, approved material or parts list. Cad.Assyst and Vidya can take over a good proportion of this task. Product release will then be automatically requested and documented.
Example 4 – Flexible adaptation to corporate structures and process types, from full purchase to outward processing. If full purchase turns out to be cheaper during product development, just change the process. PLM GoLive is flexible when it comes to the parallel mapping of different process types. Similarly, you can manage all brands in womenswear, menswear and children’s wear, as well as various types of manufacturing.
9
Question 3
Seamless digital process today, tomorrow the complete networking of data, processes and systems? Will PLM GoLive bring me strategic advantages? Yes. Growth is an important maxim in the fashion industry. It requires the integration of new product ranges, for example, or the development and expansion of your own businesses. With the seamless digital processes and consequently with PLM GoLive, you’ll not only become more efficient and productive, you can also implement strategic decisions better and make course changes in your company more easily. At the same time, by adopting digitization you’re taking a first, pioneering step towards flexibility, collaboration, customization and data networking. However, a process is only seamless if all the data is made available in an automated process and you are not dependent on single licenses for departmental-specific tools like CAD. PLM GoLive integrates all these tools.
What can you do with PLM GoLive? Implement innovations more easily. When all the data is there in the required form, you can react more quickly to trends. You can also implement new business models and process innovations more easily, like faster time-tomarket and direct cooperation with partners.
10
PLM GoLive can give you – One Process for Fashion The Human Solutions Group system forms a continuous process chain, integrating the department-specific tools from Human Solutions, Assyst, AVM and a variety of third-party systems.
Product development/design (drafts, fabric selection, material selection, style definition) Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, open Vidya simulation in the program
Collection concept and framework collection plan (price, volume, margin, etc.)
1.
Salesman samples Automarker, Autocost
2.
7.
3.
PLM GoLive
Model freeze
6.
2D pattern (incl. sizing & fitting data) Open Cad.Assyst, sizetables and avatars from iSize right away
4.
Article coordination
5. Sample piece creation (incl. order) Lay.Assyst, Automarker, Autocost
NEW
3D & PLM – Integration with Vidya Integrate material data from PLM GoLive directly into Vidya. PLM structures are also displayed. Vidya simulations, images and 3D views can also be opened from PLM GoLive – so your 3D data is optimally integrated into the development process.
11
In concrete terms Which functions do you need?
Each company has its own working methods and processes that have evolved over many years and PLM GoLive supports them all. Choose what your PLM system should be able to do – on site or on the road.
Fashion specialist: anagement of all product data, master data and workflows in product development for °M
womenswear, menswear, children’s wear, outward processing and full purchase
anagement of a high number of interwoven variants °M ° P hase management ° I ntegration of accessories
Full reference process with a wide range of functions and automation options: ° Collection framework plan for the company as a whole or per brand ° P lanning: Product quantities, unit sales, fashion degree, base price ranges, colors and dates – on a specifiable level, season, collection or theme
° C alculation: Possible schemas such as outward processing, full purchase, retrograde (“reverse calculation”), plausibility checks
° P roduct/model descriptions: Colors/color cards, sizes, sizetables, descriptions ° B OMs with material images: Compaction during the development process, material and component piece lists, size and color-dependent
° Integrated document management: E-mails sent from PLM GoLive, autosaving of
outgoing mails, information storable in all file formats, attachments in the database, libraries and reports S upply chain management: Management of orders, deliveries, shipments, linking of development workflow with order workflow, simulation of the delivery date, collaboration: agent/producer/supplier, shipping company, preparers
12
Future-proof technology ° Integrated workflow: self-configurable dashboards/worklists, management information ° Control of software programs as part of the work process ° Multilingualism: dialogs/menus, reports/evaluations, currencies/weights/dimensions/ units, also Cyrillic and Chinese
° Comprehensive functionality – locally and on the web: Flash client (Cloud), remote client (Web/local) and desktop client (local)
° Integration platform: ERP (ERP BOS, interfaces to Intex, Microsoft AX, SAP and others), CAD, Automarker/Autocost, PIM/MAM, catalog systems, DWH, etc.
PLM GoLive: Your central control and management system for the entire collection development, including workflows and master data – from initial design to model freeze.
NEW
The fashion apps from PLM GoLive: Essential – mobile collection book for management and sales To help you exploit every business opportunity, you can now display your collections on your smartphone and share them – in overview and in detail with photos or film. Viable – the Dashboard for managers You know it all at a glance. The Dashboard app makes your KPIs for the current collection mobile – reliable, up-to-date and always with you. Practical – Snapshots for the creative “Snap it all” is the motto of our Snapshot app. You can take photographs and collect and share ideas and suggestions on the road.
13
To the p oin t
Introduce your PLM system smoothly
Introducing a system which impacts on all areas of your company isn’t exactly child’s play. It requires concentration and takes effort, commitment and passion on the part of the manufacturer and your teams. Ultimately, however, it’s not about individual functions but the way they work together. This is why the planning and system coordination can take several months – and of course it also depends on how much time you have in-house for the project. Our PLM experts have compiled their most important experiences for you here. And they will always be ready to give you advice and assistance with your projects whenever you need them.
Implement PLM quickly and securely The planning of your system takes place on the basis of the reference process in PLM GoLive. It’s only changed if necessary.
14
1.
The most important best practices for your PLM project Planning: Care is a must, but so is courage. Anyone who introduces a PLM tool must know what he wants. Goals, teams, tasks and responsibilities need to be clearly defined.
2.
3.
Increase data quality Assyst offers you tools to clean up your existing data and to unify datasets acquired heterogeneously.
4.
Record processes: You’re needed! We offer you tools and ideas, but only you know how you work. Ideally you should orient yourself on our reference process and document everything you do differently (or want to do differently). If you are only replacing a system you’ll have a much easier job. System tuning: Practice is the best teacher. Experience has shown that it’s best not to complete an entire PLM system in one go, but to take it step-by-step with sub-modules that match your processes. This provides enough time to meet all the requirements in every area. Data planning: What do you take with you? Which data is needed where and when? Which systems you want to integrate? And what information from past collections do you want to transfer? All this is defined together with the processes. Heterogeneous data is now unified. The alternative is to start the next collection with an empty system. Pilot test: Doing together instead of hoping. Once your power users start working with the system, the results will quickly show how good the drawing board work was. Now it’s time for post-adjustment.
5.
Introduction: Full or incremental? A new system and new (optimized) processes mean saying goodbye to old habits. This can be strenuous for users. Part of the planning is dedicated to ascertaining whether a fast rollout or a gradual introduction is better for your company.
6.
15
PLM perspectives Currently happening in the industry
How do we ensure profitability in product development? Excerpt from Löffler, Case Study, fashion 02
Löffler conceives and develops collections with PLM by Assyst – and profits from transparency and seamless processes. PLM has meanwhile become the backbone of communication between all the company’s departments. Thanks to the collection framework plan, the number and piece prices of the models can be defined and compared to the foreseeable production price. If, for example, seams are welded to avoid scuffing, the system immediately indicates whether or not the target price can still be maintained. “When we expand our system, we completely adhere to our company strategy – and with PLM by Assyst we continue to promote quality and profitability in development and production.” Harald Kroiss, IT/Organization Manager, Löffler
How can we strengthen our teams and ease the burden on our employees? Excerpt from Vaude, Case Study, fashion 02
Together with Assyst, Vaude has created an individual PLM system which networks all departments. Instead of a paper mountain of Excel sheets in each department, data is now entered only once. Transferring models to the next season is done in a minute. Workflows map the processing of the products and simplify compliance with timelines. Following the introduction of the PLM system by Assyst, Vaude undertook a management generation change, several restructuring processes and a streamlining of the production lines – and has grown considerably. These changes are also mapped in the system – together with all the special requirements. “Our wide range of products is a real challenge for any system. With Assyst, we’ve achieved the parallel mapping of our various different requirements in the development of apparel, shoes and tents, for example.” Britta Norwat, Application User Service, Vaude
16
Read the full articles at www.human-solutions.com/fashion
How do we achieve more efficiency in procurement? Excerpt from Walbusch, Case Study, fashion 04
Drawing on seamless information, automated workflows and lots of practical experience, Walbusch is restructuring its entire supply chain management system. And the technical foundation for this is PLM GoLive. The new Walbusch SCM system networks the entire Purchasing department with Quality Assurance, Materials Planning, Contract Awarding, Supplier Management, Import, Export and (soon) with suppliers and agencies. It also features the classic functions of PLM in the product area. Walbusch is using the system introduction to comprehensively optimize and standardize its procedures. Continuous support throughout the season is particularly important for Walbusch. Over 300 different tasks were grouped by procurement types (like EU and Far East Purchasing), or by product groups. “PLM GoLive really matches our need for flexibility. We can simply adapt the workflows in our SCM system to our actual needs in day-to-day business.” Hartwig Bohnenkamp, Head of Quality Planning, Walbusch
How do Development and Production work together effectively? Excerpt from Laurèl, Case Study, fashion 04
The international premium brand Laurèl uses PLM GoLive to successively create a fully digital process. Each department works with the same database, can immediately draw on current information and work effectively – thanks to automated workflows, which can be adapted depending on the product. What makes the Laurèl process special is the early-stage and intensive exchange of data with ERP, resulting in close collaboration between Product Development and Production. This means that the product data is available for calculation in Production. Conversely, ERP data like vendor master data is also visible in the PLM system. “The optimal data availability and workflow support is a great help for our employees. That’s why we want to gradually expand the system link with Assyst.” Roland Werfs, Head of IT, Laurèl
17
And now PLM GoLive in your company ‌
18
How are we managing our processes currently?
Your notes:
What should PLM GoLive do for us?
° Shorten development time ° Avoid errors ° Avoid redundant data entry ° Provide transparency ° Make planning more effective ° I mprove communication and information
Which technical possibilities and functions are our top priorities?
° S trategic planning of collections ° T ask management orkflow management °W ° C alculation aster data, piece lists and °M material lists
anagement of data and files °M ° C urrent information on the status quo
° U nified workflows ° A utomation of individual process steps
° F lexible integration of all sites ° F lexible integration of partners What areas would be ideal for entry with PLM? Which departments and IT systems would we link to PLM GoLive? Make an appointment with Assyst!
We will be happy to advise you about Fashion PLM. Assyst GmbH, +49 (0)89-905 05 0, contact@assyst.de, www.assyst.de Assyst is a company of the Human Solutions Group.
19
Fashion CAD
Fashion in 3D The “I’m glad I knew that” GUIDE
The “This CAD can even suprise me” GUIDE
Fashion PLM The “Let’s tackle efficiency” GUIDE
Fashion Manufacturing
The “Real Savings” GUIDE
Fashion Sizing & Fitting
Also read our other Topic Guides!
The “I want sizing fitting” GUIDE