Propper International manufactures 120,000,000 garments annually for the US Department of Defence. Propper produces apparel for first responders, tactical and law enforcement markets. This US-based company, which has production in Cabo Ro, Puerto Rico boasts 1,400 employees worldwide, who produce 200,000 units each month. Propper’s commercial products are primarily distributed through more than 3,000 military, public safety, outdoor and specialty retail stores, and websites across the US, Coats Digital said in a press release.
Propper International made the decision to adopt Coats Digital’s recognised international method-time standards solution, GSDCost, so that it could introduce a powerful digital tool that would deliver more robust, consistent and accurate garment manufacturing processes to replace time-consuming and confusing manual procedures founded on inaccurate historical data.
Propper International is using the GSDCost Solution from Coats Digital in order to increase production efficiency.
It is expected that the solution will improve efficiency by between 3-7 percent within the first 12 months, depending on type of garment.
Implementing GSDCost allows for real-time updates to production, reducing the dependency on Excel spreadsheets.
“I have already witnessed the huge efficiency and cost-saving benefits that Coats Digital’s GSDCost has brought to other apparel manufacturers and was keen to capitalise on these at Propper. Propper has benefited from the GSDCost project, including structured sew operation methods, attainable production goals, accurate machine and manpower requirements, as well as a platform that allows them to share and store all of this information. GSDCost’s user interface is exceptionally intuitive, and I have no doubts that this engineering tool will help us to achieve the next level performance we need to improve all our product ranges quickly and successfully,” said Eric Marambio: engineering manager of Propper International Inc.
Propper International chose GSDCost in order to eliminate the deficiencies found during time, cost and method analyses, as well as to manage production processes efficiently and sustainably through robust data reporting. To eliminate the high dependence on Excel spreadsheets, Propper International needed to implement actionable insights to ensure that stakeholders had access to production updates in real time. This would avoid any inconsistency between the calculated Standard Minute Values (SMV) (also known as Standard Allowed Minutes or SAMs) and the actual SMVs—mitigating the risk of ongoing confusion between planners and operators, incorrect line balancing, and unnecessary time/material wastage.
“Propper International Inc is a global leader in military products, and we are delighted that such a prestigious manufacturer has chosen Coats Digital’s GSDCost solution to future-proof its business by optimising its production processes using proven, scientific methods. Propper’s engineering team is already projecting a 3 to 7 per cent efficiency improvement depending on the garment style, and we look forward to working closely with them to ensure the company retains its leading market position and continues to outpace its growth targets,” said Georgina Vazquez, project manager, Coats Digital.
Coats Digital’s GSDCost method analysis and pre-determined times solution is widely acknowledged as the de-facto international standard across the sewn products industry using the GSD methodology. The solution supports a more collaborative, transparent, and sustainable supply chain, in which brands and manufacturers establish and optimise ‘International Standard Time Benchmarks’ using standard motion codes and predetermined times. The use of standard motion codes and common standards allows for accurate cost predictions, negotiation based on facts, and an efficient manufacturing process.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk