Industrial and Commercial Practise

1. Industrial and Commercial Practise By Amy, Abi and Jo

2. Computer Aided Manufacture for Pattern Adaptation • Computer Aided Machinery can be used to create patterns for different garments. • This is done by scanning in the pattern pieces requires, or downloading them using the software and looking at the “Control Points" or nodes which determine the basic sizes or dimensions of your garment pattern. • These can then be altered to specific measurements to ensure that the garment is the perfect fit for the wearer, making an overall more desirable product. • These will often be used in small clothes stores or for personal use as they provide personalised sizes based on specific measurements, but larger chain stores will not use this method for size adjustment as they produce clothes in standard sizes, not personalised measurements. • However, larger chain stores may use this for adapting certain element of a pattern, such as darts or length, but these would be kept in all the garments, and not adapted for each individual one. • This method saves time and hard work by estimating the placement of the lines from the measurements given for specific points, and that no pattern tracing or cutting would be needed.

3. Computer Aided Manufacture for Pattern Placement • Computer software also exists which calculates where the pattern pieces should be placed on the fabric to minimise the wastage of the fabric. • This is very useful for large scale chain stores as they could save hundreds of pounds in materials, as they are buying them in such large quantities. • It can also be useful to smaller companies, who are often trying to save money on their materials costs. • This helps the company to save lots of money and also to reduce their wastage and impact on the environment, by minimising the amount of fabric which will be sent to landfills.

4. Computer Aided Manufacture in Garment Production • Computer Aided Machinery can also be used to actually produce the products. • This process involves a production line made up of machines, each with a specific task, and each product gets passed down the line until it is completed. • The process starts with the cutting out of the fabric, which can be done using a band saw – a machine which draws the required shape using a sharp computerised knife, meaning that it is then cut out of the fabric. • The pieces are then passed down the motorised line, with each machine stitching a specific seam or hem etc., until the garment is completed. • This is beneficial for large scale companies, as it does not require much labour costs as one or two operators could control the entire system, and would also encourage companies to use this method over child or slave labour, as it is much more ethical, more time saving, more controlled and, although the original purchase of the machinery may be large, it is cost cutting over time.

5. Electronic Data Processing The first commercial business computer was developed in the United Kingdom in 1951, by the Joe Lyons catering organization. This was known as the 'Lyons Electronic Office' - or LEO for short. It was developed further and used widely during the 1960s and early 1970s. Today software is available off the shelf: apart from Microsoft products such as Office, or Lotus, there are also specialist packages for payroll and personnel management, account maintenance and customer management, to name a few. Electronic Data Processing (EDP) can refer to the use of automated methods to process commercial data. Typically, this uses relatively simple, repetitive activities to process large volumes of similar information. For example: booking and ticketing and billing for utility services. At first, individual organizations developed their own software, including data management utilities, themselves. Different products might also have 'one-off' bespoke software. This fragmented approach led to duplicated effort and the production of management information needed manual effort. LEO was hardware tailored for a single client. Today, Intel Pentium and compatible chips are standard and become parts of other components which are combined as needed.

6. CAA (Computer Aided Administration) Stock control is used to evaluate how much stock is used. It is also used to know what is needed to be ordered. Stock control can only happen if a stock take has taken place. Stock rotation must be put into use with stock control by using the oldest products before the newer products. • It simplifies the registration procedure. • It enhance the speed, reliability and consistency of the system. • CAA provides transparency in valuation. • It replaces copying/filing systems with imaging. • You can automate all back-office functions. • It enables a system that enables setting time and quality standards. Computer Aided Administration makes the process of stock control much easier and faster. Here are some of the main advantages… Here is an example of CAA, showing the dates when stock needs to be ordered again, to meet customer demand.

7. Electronic data interchange • Electronic data interchange or EDI describes the process of exchanging business documents between companies via the use of computers. EDI eliminates the faxing and mailing of paper documents. EDI is increasingly being used via the internet but WAN connection (wide area netweork connections) can also be created. EDI has set standards for document formatting but these can be altered within an exchange to suit certain situations. This is so all the computers involved in data transaction understand and process information in the same way. • Edi is widely used in many fields of industry which 160,000 companies now using the system. . This has a number of benefits; EDI makes transactions faster and more secure; unlike paper documents there is no risk from postal mishaps and delays and fire damage. Paper documents need filing cabinets and storage space; by implementing a EDI system warehouse and storage space can be dramatically reduced. EDI eliminates a degree of human error and costs less in labour hours than a paper based business. • However, one draw back to Edi based business is that all partner companies must have the same technology and Edi standards for it to work efficiently. There are costs for software and installation but these are almost always offset by the long term efficiency of the program.