In this article, line means sewing production line or production batch. Each line contains a set of machines to make garments for mass production and set of machines vary depending on product category.
Line planning: is scheduling and allocating of orders to production lines according to product setting (product is being made in the line) and due dates of production completion. A line plan defines when a style is going to be loaded to the line, how many pieces to be expected (target) from the line and when order to be completed. For example, please refer to the following Table-1, where a simple line planning has been shown in spread sheet.
During booking orders or allocating orders to the production line, planners must check what is running on the line and how many days it will take to complete the running style.
Benefit of Line planning: It helps production manager as well as line supervisor with information such as what is the daily production target for line. They set their line (machines and manpower) accordingly. Line plan also provides information such as how many days style would run, what is the next style going to be loaded?
