FashionNX is a cutting-edge solution designed for the fashion and apparel industry. It enables seamless management of product lifecycles, merchandising processes, and production workflows. Tailored for dynamic industries such as apparel, garments, footwear, and accessories, FashionNX bridges the gap between design and production with its comprehensive suite of tools.
In FashionNX, building and using tech packs for styles and variants are seamless, enabling precise technical specifications tailored to each design. Users can upload sketches and drawings, define sizes, colors, parts, and measurements, and manage other essential style details. Additionally, FashionNX supports defining production routing for each style and its variants, streamlining manufacturing operations. It allows users to specify the time required, machinery, and skill levels for every operation while accommodating sequential and parallel workflows. This comprehensive approach ensures efficiency and consistency in style management and production planning.
What is Tech Pack?
The Tech Pack is indispensable for managing styles because it standardizes and streamlines the documentation of key elements like measurements, material requirements, and manufacturing processes. By consolidating these critical details into a single, accessible format, the Tech Pack minimizes errors, enhances team communication, and ensures consistency across production stages.
Whether defining intricate measurements, outlining operational sequences, or detailing the components of a product, the Tech Pack empowers teams to bring their designs to life with precision and efficiency. It is a cornerstone for managing styles in a competitive and fast-paced industry, making it a must-have tool for brands striving to deliver quality and innovation.
Accessing the Tech Pack in FashionNX
Accessing the Tech Pack in FashionNX is the first step toward organizing and managing style development effectively. It acts as a centralized hub for detailing all aspects of product specifications, material requirements, and production processes. Here’s how users can navigate to the Tech Pack module and explore its powerful features:
Click on Merchandising
Next, click on “Tech Pack”. Within Tech Pack, users can find three more options: Measurements, Bill of Materials, and Routing
This will open the gateway to three critical sub-modules that form the backbone of style management:
- Measurements: A detailed system for defining and managing the dimensions and sizes of products. It ensures precision and consistency in specifications.
- Bill of Materials (BOM): A comprehensive list of all the raw materials, quantities, and instructions needed for manufacturing a product.
- Routing: A sequential outline of the manufacturing process, detailing each operation and its order in the production line.
These sub-modules work together to provide a holistic approach to managing styles, ensuring that all aspects of product creation are well-documented and accessible. Such a structured approach is integral for managing the complexity of style development and management in the fashion and apparel industry.
Measurements: Managing Product Specifications
The Measurements sub-module is a critical component of the Tech Pack in FashionNX, designed to ensure accuracy and consistency in defining product dimensions. Precise measurements are vital in industries like apparel, footwear, and accessories, where product specifications can significantly impact fit, functionality, and overall quality. This sub-module allows users to systematically manage measurements across a wide range of products and styles.
How to Access Measurements
Navigate to Measurements
Access Measurements by clicking on Measurements within the Tech Pack
Explore the Measurements Window
The Measurements window is a user-friendly interface where product specifications can be managed. It comprises the following key fields and sections
Code: A unique identifier for the measurement.
Description: A brief description of the measurement.
Type: Specifies whether the measurement applies to an Item or an Item Group.
Item No.: The item’s identification number.
Description: A detailed description of the selected item.
Size Template: A predefined template for sizing.
No. of Sizes: Specifies the total number of size variations for the item.
Main Section Columns
#: Row number.
Part: Identifies the part of the product being measured.
Details: Allows users to define detailed measurement heads.
Reference: Refers to any additional specifications or notes.
Margin: Indicates tolerances for variations in the measurement.
Size Values: Columns representing the sizes and their respective measurements.
Action Buttons: Located below the rows and columns are buttons for Find, Cancel, and Refresh to help navigate and manage data efficiently.
Defining Measurement Heads
Measurement Heads provide a systematic way to define and standardize product measurements across different product types.
Creating a Measurement Head
Navigate to Modules > FashionNX > General > Measurement Heads
This will open the Measurement Heads window that contains the Code and Name fields along with the Find and Cancel buttons.
In the Measurement Heads window, define:
Code: A unique identifier for the measurement head (e.g., 10018).
Name: A descriptive name indicating the measurement (e.g., INSEAM LENGTH).
Save the newly created Measurement Head
Utilizing Measurement Heads
Toggle back to the Details column in the Measurements window. Click the Details column toggle to open the List of FnxMeasurement Heads.
Select the desired Measurement Head from the list,
Example in this case, the user can find the newly created measurement head of INSEAM LENGTH at sequence 19 with its pre-defined Code and Name
Why Use Measurement Heads?
Measurement Heads ensure uniformity and precision, reducing errors and inconsistencies during the design and manufacturing stages.
Creating a Measurement
Creating measurements involves specifying dimensions for individual items or item groups. Open a New Measurements Window to access the Measurements window to begin creating new measurements
Fill in the Required Fields
Code: Enter a unique identifier for the measurement (e.g., 10002) (Screenshot at 5:45).
Type: Choose between Item or Item Group depending on the scope of the measurement (e.g., Item)
Item No.: Select an item from the List of Items. For instance, choose “GREEN TEXT-Olive
When an item is selected, related fields such as Description, Size Template, and No. of Sizes are auto-filled based on the item’s details. In this case – FG00182, GREEN TEXT-Olive, Mens Bottom, and 5 respectively
Add Measurement Details
Next, the user needs to click on the toggle in the Details column.
Use the Details column toggle to open the List of FnxMeasurementHeads window. Select a predefined Measurement Head such as INSEAM LENGTH. Enter values for each size column based on the specific requirements of the product
Specify Measurements for Product Parts
For part-specific measurements, click in the Parts column. This opens the List of FnxGarmentParts window, where users can select the relevant part
Why Measurements Matter
Measurements in FashionNX serve as the foundation for quality control and consistency in product development. By leveraging the Measurements sub-module, businesses can:
- Ensure all dimensions adhere to predefined standards.
- Simplify communication between design, production, and quality teams.
- Provide clear instructions to manufacturers, reducing errors and rework.
The ability to standardize measurements across styles and products is a game-changer for industries where fit and accuracy directly impact customer satisfaction.
Routing: Defining Manufacturing Processes
The Routing sub-module in FashionNX is a pivotal tool for structuring the manufacturing process, outlining the sequence of operations necessary to create a product. It ensures that each step, from cutting and stitching to finishing, is documented clearly and organized. By providing a detailed blueprint of production workflows, the Routing sub-module enhances efficiency, reduces errors, and consistently enables teams to produce high-quality products.
Accessing Routing
Navigate to Routing, go to Module > Merchandising > Tech Pack > Routing to open the Routing interface
Explore the Routing Window
The Routing window provides a detailed layout for managing manufacturing operations. It consists of
Code: A unique identifier for the routing.
Type: Specifies whether the routing applies to an Item or Item Group.
Item No.: The identification number for the item or group.
Description: A short description of the selected item or group.
The columns allow users to define and configure specific aspects of the manufacturing process. These include Sequence, Part Name, Group, Process Code, Name, Base Process, Assembly Process, and other important rows and columns in the Routing window.
Creating a Routing
To define a new routing for a product, follow these steps
Enter Basic Information
In the Routing window, fill in the required fields:
Code: Provide a unique identifier for the routing (e.g., 1000000015).
Type: Select whether the routing applies to an Item or Item Group. For instance, choose Item Group if routing is for multiple related items (Screenshot at 11:01).
Select an Item Group
Choose an item group (e.g., 101 Outerwear) from the List of Item Groups. Upon selection, the Description field will auto-update with the item group name (e.g., Outerwear)
Define Operations
Click on the Process Code column toggle to open the List of Fnx OperationMaster, which contains all available operations
For example, in the following screenshot, we can see the various operations that have been selected to produce the outerwear piece of apparel
Users can see the Sequence, Part Name, Group, Process Code, Name, Base Process, Assembly Process, and other important rows and columns in the Routing window. They can also access Operations directly from the Process Code column by clicking on the Arrow toggle which will then open the Operations window
Key Features of Routing
The Routing window’s columns allow users to configure each step of the manufacturing process in detail, including operational sequences, specific parts, and assembly procedures.
Unlimited Combinations
FashionNX offers flexibility in creating routings. There are no restrictions on the number of operations or the combinations of processes users can define. This ensures that manufacturing workflows can be tailored to the unique requirements of each product.
Routing in FashionNX provides a clear and structured roadmap for product manufacturing, ensuring every operation is accounted for and performed in the correct order. It enhances:
Efficiency: Streamlines production by minimizing downtime and errors.
Customization: Tailors manufacturing workflows to suit specific product needs.
Consistency: Ensures standardized processes for similar products, maintaining quality control.
By using Routing, businesses can better manage their production workflows, enabling them to deliver products that meet design specifications while optimizing time and resources.
Bill of Materials (BOM): Managing Product Components
A Bill of Materials (BOM) is an indispensable tool in product manufacturing, detailing the components, quantities, and instructions necessary to create a product. It acts as a blueprint, ensuring every step in the production process is streamlined and efficient. In industries like fashion, apparel, footwear, and accessories, the BOM serves as a critical link between design and production, enabling precise material planning and inventory management.
Accessing Bill of Materials (BOM)
To access the BOM feature in FashionNX go to Module > Merchandising > Tech Pack > Bill of Materials (Screenshot at 1:12:10). This will open the Bill of Materials window
Exploring the BOM Window
The Bill of Materials window contains the Style, Description, Internal No., BOM Quantity, and Stage fields on the top left and No., Status, Version, Branch, Project, and Price List fields on the top right.
Below, users can find rows and columns for Contents, Attachments, and User Fields.
Generating a BOM via Style Master Data
Users can navigate to Style Master Data and follow these steps:
Module > Merchandising >Style Master Data
Open the Costing tab within the style master data
In the Costing Sheet, users can see the various raw material requirements and other critical details
Users can find the “Generate BOM” button within the Costing Sheet window to generate the Bill of Materials. Review the costing details and click on the Generate BOM button
Clicking on the “Generate BOM” button will generate a Bill of Materials. Once the BOM is generated a confirmation notification will appear
The generated Bill of Materials
Users can also notice in the Status field that the status of the generated BOM is set to “Draft”
Editing a BOM
Once a BOM is created, it can be edited/refined by the users to meet specific production requirements. Users can edit the newly generated BOM by adding new rows as per their needs and filling in the details
Here’s an example of a fully functional and detailed Bill of Materials generated in FashionNX
The initial generated BOM using the Costing Sheet will be listed as Draft. If any changes were made in the costing sheet, users then need to generate a new BOM, which in turn will deactivate the previous BOM. The newly generated BOM will again have its Status set to Draft.
By incorporating the Bill of Materials (BOM) feature, FashionNX empowers businesses to manage their product components with precision, ultimately improving production efficiency and product quality.
Conclusion
The Tech Pack module in FashionNX is a powerful tool for streamlining product development, ensuring accuracy, and optimizing production workflows. Its comprehensive approach provides a robust framework for organizing and documenting critical elements such as measurements, manufacturing processes, and material requirements.
With powerful sub-modules like Measurements, Routing, and Bill of Materials (BOM), FashionNX empowers teams to bring designs to life with precision, efficiency, and consistency. These tools streamline style development, enhance communication across departments, and ensure quality control at every production stage.
Whether it is standardizing product specifications, defining manufacturing processes, or managing components with a BOM, FashionNX bridges the gap between design and production.