Introduction to garment value streams

Learning objectives

• Define a garment value stream end to end.
• Distinguish value-added and non-value-added time.
• Recognize how information flow drives lead time.

Material and information together

A value stream includes every information and material step needed to move an order from demand to delivery: merchandising, sourcing, sample approval, fabric, cutting, sewing, washing, finishing, packing and shipment. Waiting between steps often dominates touch time.

Garment-factory example

A style may require only hours of processing but spend days waiting for lab-dip approval, bundles, shade decisions or capacity.

Method

1. Select one product family.
2. Define start and end points.
3. Walk the actual flow and capture time, inventory, information and defects.
4. Compare lead time with processing time.

Common mistakes

• Mapping an ideal procedure from a meeting room.
• Excluding approvals and planning from the map.