Apparel adopts digital technology for real-time production management

Transitioning from the paper to the digital era in production was the aim of the successful experimentation with ARIMode's ERP-MES software duo in four pilot garment making companies: Confection Fléchoise, Femilux, Macosa and Textile du Maine. The project is one of a series of tangible and intangible projects being carried out from 2018 to 2023 as part of the Innofabmod project, coordinated and financed by IFTH, the Pays de la Loire Region and the European Union (ERDF).

"This ERP-MES software, adapted to the industry, enables better real-time monitoring, greater agility and traceability of its production, which was a fairly strong demand from principals, and fewer human errors. Companies were thus able to move from paper manufacturing orders (OF) to a digital tablet, a small revolution for garment making", explains Clément Gourlaouen, the coordinator of Mod'Innov, the cluster responsible for disseminating innovations in the sector, notably via the Innofabmod teachings.

Co-construction with pilot workshops

Crédit photo :© Mod'Innov">

"ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is used to enter all professions and employee data, from order to manufacturing. The MES (Manufacturing Execution System) provides manufacturing follow-up for the professions. These two software packages can be used independently, but are more efficient together", explains Nicolas Lunel.

The Ancenis Réseau Informatique company he manages, together with the pilots, developed the ARIMode solution between 2019 and 2022."We had built a first ERP version, to which we added a lot of functionality, module by module, and co-constructed our MES, which didn't exist, all thanks to regular meetings with the pilot companies who exchanged a lot. We were keen to parameterize our tool so that it really met the needs of the companies", precises.

Enormous gains in production tracking

Photo credit :© Confection Fléchoise">

At Confection Fléchoise, a garment making specialist working for the luxury goods industry, the ERP part involves around ten people in the workshop and the MES (application on a tablet communicating with the ERP), all the employees, some fifty in all.

"ERP has been a huge gain for us. Previously, purchase orders, deliveries and invoicing were done on Excel spreadsheets that were difficult to share internally. ARIMode enabled us to streamline these processes and delegate certain tasks", describes site manager Baudouin de Berc. "Another advantage is to better pilot the supply chain, notably by using the MES part installed at the cutter to declare material consumption in real time. The ERP-MES package gives us precise stock information. We are now more responsive to our customers, we can alert them to supply consumption and avoid production disruptions," he explains.

On the assembly stations "MES gives operators all the information on manufacturing orders. It enables them to monitor operations carried out on a daily basis, validating them as they go along. The aim is to control lines in real time. Over time, it will also enable us to analyze the progress or training needs of our employees", he concludes.

An interest for all garment makers

Photo credit :© Mod'Innov">

Generally speaking, Baudouin de Berc from Confection Fléchoise hails "the comfort of being able to share information of any kind (purchase orders, delivery notes, invoices...) and to have real-time information, for example for WIP between two workstations or stocks."

Confection Fléchoise clearly includes ARIMode in its future. To help the supervisors (in charge of a production line) use the MES, the company has set up tables and indicators visually translating the data captured by the latter. This Lean Management approach will continue in order to be ever closer to the field. The ERP will also be ramped up. As Confection Fléchoise is very satisfied with the software, the aim is to roll it out to the other sites in the FIM network, which includes around ten clothing manufacturers, and to make it communicate between sites.

According to Nicolas Lunel from ARIMode, all garment manufacturers, even those not targeting luxury goods, can be interested in the solution. But while ERP can be useful to all, MES requires at least two workgroups, i.e. a minimum of twenty employees. The costs involved depend first and foremost on the hardware, i.e. 480 euros ex VAT per year per fully-installed tablet. Software costs (excluding training) start at 400 euros ex-VAT per year per person.

ARIMode is developing its software solution in the industry, with the support of pilot companies who open their doors to demonstrate its effectiveness. And it is convincing, with today some twenty orders from garment manufacturers, demonstrating a genuine approach to operational excellence.