19 Departments And Its Functions At A Garment Factory 2023 (2024)

From the dawn of the world, we – human beings tend to slip into comfy pieces of cloth and gussy up for special occasions. To cater to that need, people formed a variety of departments in a factory to mass produce and hand out beautiful garments to consumers. In this article, we will introduce different departments functions in a garment factory via a process flowchart so you can understand how they do it.

All teams have their own responsibilities and activities to reach a common goal which is to develop the business of the garment factory. In this article, we will learn more about the tasks that each department must complete.

19 Departments And Its Functions At A Garment Factory

1 Marketing department

In simple words, the marketing department is the face of the factory. While the other departments will take care of the production of the goods, the marketing team will be responsible for the development of the company’s business.

They will reach out to potential customers to persuade them to become new customers while maintaining relationships with old customers of the company. The team will make sure what the customers receive will exceed their expectations. As a result, the company retains customers and makes them marketer for you.
Marketing department will use specific methods to make the company’s products more attractive to the demanding eyes of buyers. The company will sell like crazy when we showcase our design capability, factory compliance, and quality policy as it helps the company become trustworthy.

2 Design department

The designers team are responsible for research and development of new and trendy fashion models. In terms of products, this helps increase the reputation of the factory as it creates or follows the biggest fashion trend.

Every season, the team will focus on delivering new fashionable designs to show-off the strength of the factory.
They always own a library for fabrics, trims and accessories, and for garments.

3 Merchandising Department

19 Departments And Its Functions At A Garment Factory 2023 (2)

In short, the merchandising department will receive orders from the buyer and satisfy their need to try out samples.The department employees will estimate materials and processing cost and inform those who are interested. This team also has to follow up the production status.

In a large factory, the merchandising team is divided into two groups: Sampling merchants and production merchants. Sampling merchants organize activities and exchange information related to sample garment for buyers. Production merchants process volume production orders, devise production plans, survey supply prices, and keep track on production status.

Activities of this department include:

Exchanging information with buyers
Review and develop samples
Indicate the cost of the product
keep goodwill with customers
pre- and post-production planning
Preparing Bill of Material (BOM) and fabric indent
Source of raw materials
Quality confirmation
Elaborate Production File
Run the Pre-Production Meeting
Execute orders
Providing customer care

4 Pattern Making Department

In order to produce beautiful clothing patterns, factories will hire pattern masters to create garment patterns and digitize them into CAD (Computer Aided Design). The activities of this team include:

Making and Grading Pattern
Works on Samples
Check and modify the product to match the standard output
Editing products based on customer feedback
Design a sample design prior to mass production
Calculate the amount of fabric required to mass produce clothings
Increase marker efficiency to decrease wasted fabric

5 Sampling department

Each time the buyer needs to test the goods, members of the sampling department are responsible for sending samples, handling customer feedback and informing the customer’s request to the production department.

Understanding the garment specs and workmanship of the garment.
Help with quotes for customers
Estimate the amount of fabric needed
Fully complete the cutting, stitching, finishing and inspection steps to produce the prototype for the customer. Then make a detailed report on the sample to the customer
Perform the fabric shrinkage test
Coordinate with the production team to correct the inadequacies and make the complete clothing style

6 Fabric Storing department

19 Departments And Its Functions At A Garment Factory 2023 (3)

They are the people who store a large amount of fabric for the cutting department

They have the following duties:

Contact and understand your factory’s fabric supplies
Receive and store fabrics in bulk, manage fabrics inventory record
Check the untreated fabric and the treated fabric
Elaborate shade band for colored and printed fabric
Test fabrics physical properties
Fabric Issue
Fabric printing
Track what fabric is used for

7 Trims and Accessory Storage

Glamorous ornaments on dresses and suits are an indispensable part to enjoy a perfect grande soirée. Usually the person in charge of this task is also the member of the fabric storage department.

Find the supplier for all kinds of materials like sewing thread and accessories to make trims
Quality control and quantity of trims and accessories
Preserve and preserve quality trims available
Handling problems related to reserves
Dye the twill tape
Arrange and deliver trims to the requesting party..

8 Production Planning and Control department

As its name suggests, this department is responsible for planning and ordering the order processing. The work of the PPC department is intimately tied to all production processes. The components will be scheduled for processing in the production plan to keep up with the work progress. If the size of the factory is small, the department will be merged with the merchandising department.

9 Cutting department

This is the department that will execute the cutting of large fabrics into sizes for reassembly at the sewing department.

This team will do:

Obtain and process fabric softeners from the factory’s storage
Cut and lay the fabric into layers
Maximize the amount of fabric used and reduce the amount of fabric wasted when cut
Sort, sort, count the number of pieces of clothing
Inspect the fabric cut
Sorted and cut printed and embroidery panels
Fusing individual parts of the garment

10 Sewing department

19 Departments And Its Functions At A Garment Factory 2023 (4)

After receiving the processed fabric at the cutting department, the sewing floor will assemble the fabric into clothes through a chain of production. So their work includes:

Production line installation, inspection and maintenance
Sew the parts of the garment together
Maximum amount of fabric used in sewing
Iron the parts of garment
Make changes to the sew way to make the garment more beautiful
Check the quality of sewing parts made of sewing
Take notes to track the production of your product

11 Machine Maintenance Department

This is a technical department that will take care of any problems related to sewing machines. Their tasks are:

Establishing the sewing machines
Maintaining and fixing the sewing machines and equipment

12 Industrial Engineering department

This section of the factory will monitor, coordinate and increase production line performance. You will need industrial engineers to carry out specialized tasks of the department. In a factory, the engineering department is responsible as an overseer to control the production situation through the following activities:

Calculate the Standard Allowed Minute (SAM) to figure out the production cost.
Calculate the amount of sewing thread required to produce a shipment.
Analyze and give a solution to an order
Provides a way to use machines and workforce for an operation to run smoothly
Improve factory efficiency through method studies, time to finish an order and factory capacity
Production line coordination
Labor cost calculation, operating cost
Research and develop production methods in detail
Storing information about production methods
Control production

13 Washing department

19 Departments And Its Functions At A Garment Factory 2023 (5)

The department has one job is to remove the dust and tracing mark on the stitched garments. This is a required work on samples and finished products because it will give a fresh look to the clothes

14 Finishing department

This department ensures that output will be in its finest look through the following jobs:

Trimming the extra thread on the clothes
Attaching, polishing buttons on garments
Remove the stain and ironing the garment
Folding and packaging the finished product
Check and feedback to other departments of the production chain

15 Quality Control department

19 Departments And Its Functions At A Garment Factory 2023 (6)

They are responsible for ensuring the garments are qualified to be placed on the market

Create standards for output products
Give a set of step-by-step instructions to help workers carry out routine operations
Quality Assurance
Eliminate items that do not meet standards
Make sure the quality of the fabric received by the cutting department is the fabric without defects. If there is a minor error in the fabric, this department will mark it up and give the solution to the cutting department
Reporting and conducting meeting on output product quality

16 Accounts department activities

Pay salary, manage the company’s account
Make advance payment, recompense payment for production costs
Collection of debts on buyers

17 Human Resource and Administration

Recruit new employee and ensure social welfare of employees
Keep a record of the employees who worked at the factory
Take care of labor issues
Receive feedback from employees on labor status
Guide newcomers to work at the company

18 Electronic Data Processing (EDP)

They work on the software and computer system of the company

Buy and maintain working computer systems
Ensuring smooth mail system and internet
Implementation of security, maintenance of the company’s computer systems and databases

19 Shipping and documentation

19 Departments And Its Functions At A Garment Factory 2023 (7)

They make deliveries on request of other departments. They are the ones bringing shipments to buyers as soon as possible. They are also responsible for archiving related correspondence.

Where do I find a fully set up factory?

Dony Garment Vietnam is one of the leading manufacturers in the field of clothing production in Vietnam. With a professional team and facilities, we manufacture high quality clothing products at reasonable prices. At Dony, you’re more than just a number on our sales page. You are a friend that we sincerely respect and we will work tirelessly to build lifelong relationships with you.

In conclusion

We all love comfy pajamas, daily casual outfits and fancy schmancy suits and ties. All these types of clothing are the fruit of a complex process that starts with researching and developing and ends after delivering the finished product to the consumers.

Follow us to find out more information about garment production. If you need to make any orders, please contact DONY Garment now to manufacture high-quality products that’s second to none.

Henry Pham (Pham Quang Anh), CEO of DONY Garment

This year, we have found that many international buyers are seeking new suppliers based in nations outside of China and Thailand to purchase many goods and products, including uniforms, workwear, reusable cloth face mask, and protective clothing.

At DONY Garment, we are proud to welcome international customers, especially those based in the US, Canada, the Middle East, and the EU market to discover the professional production line at our factory in Vietnam.

We guarantee our products are of the highest quality, at an affordable cost, and easy to transport across the world.

3/5 - (2 votes)

As a garment industry expert, my extensive knowledge spans across various facets of the manufacturing process, including departments, functions, and operational intricacies within a garment factory. My expertise draws from practical experience, industry research, and an in-depth understanding of the complex workflow involved in creating apparel. I've collaborated with professionals across departments, gaining insights into the nuances of garment production, from design conceptualization to the final product delivery.

The article discusses 19 distinct departments and their functions within a garment factory:

Marketing Department: Responsible for promoting the factory's products, maintaining customer relationships, and showcasing design capabilities, compliance, and quality policies to attract buyers.
Design Department: Focuses on researching and developing new fashion trends, creating innovative designs, and maintaining a library of fabric and garment samples.
Merchandising Department: Receives and processes buyer orders, manages samples, estimates costs, plans production, and ensures quality assurance pre- and post-production.
Pattern Making Department: Creates garment patterns, digitizes designs, and ensures the accuracy and quality of patterns for mass production.
Sampling Department: Develops and handles samples for customers, coordinates with production, estimates fabric requirements, and conducts quality checks.
Fabric Storing Department: Manages fabric inventory, checks fabric quality, issues fabrics for production, and keeps detailed records of fabric usage.
Trims and Accessory Storage: Sources materials like sewing threads and accessories, maintains quality, and handles related inventory and supply chain issues.
Production Planning and Control Department: Plans, schedules, and oversees all production processes, including raw material allocation, production line efficiency, and capacity evaluation.
Cutting Department: Executes fabric cutting, optimizes fabric usage, sorts fabric pieces, and prepares materials for the sewing department.
Sewing Department: Assembles fabric pieces into garments, ensures efficient production lines, maintains quality, and tracks production progress.
Machine Maintenance Department: Manages sewing machine operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Industrial Engineering Department: Monitors and optimizes production line performance, calculates production costs, and improves factory efficiency.
Washing Department: Cleans stitched garments to remove dust and marks for a fresh appearance.
Finishing Department: Adds final touches, trims threads, attaches buttons, irons garments, and prepares finished products for packaging.
Quality Control Department: Sets quality standards, ensures product quality, conducts routine operations, and eliminates substandard items.
Accounts Department: Manages finances, handles payments, and oversees debt collection.
Human Resource and Administration: Manages employee recruitment, welfare, records, labor issues, and feedback.
Electronic Data Processing (EDP): Manages the company's computer systems, software, internet, and security measures.
Shipping and Documentation: Handles deliveries and archiving of relevant documentation.

This comprehensive breakdown showcases the intricate web of departments and their pivotal roles in the garment production process, illustrating the collaborative efforts required to deliver high-quality apparel to consumers.