5 Reasons Why You Should Be Using A Specialist PLM

Implementing a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system is, for apparel and footwear businesses of all sizes, a strategic decision that simplifies and shortens every stage of the process of product development. At Option Systems, we've developed STYLEman PLM specifically for the fashion sector, addressing businesses' needs in this area of product development and sourcing.

So, how can a specialist PLM such as STYLEman PLM benefit your fashion business?

1) Quicker Time-To-Market

Product development can be a complicated process, but short time-to-market leads are essential to capitalise on changing consumer trends, or the seasonal nature of fashion. PLM software facilitates total control over data so that products can be deployed more promptly. The supply of raw materials is more consistent, so there's less chance of delays holding up the manufacturing process. In the modern fashion marketplace, where consumers expect rapid delivery of fresh, innovative ideas, PLM software is central to quickly getting products to market.

2) Reduced Costs

Improving collaboration between teams in the PLM process makes considerable savings possible, both in terms of material and production costs. More efficient planning means fewer prototype products are necessary, reducing the cost of sampling.

3) Increased Productivity

Without software to streamline the process, Product Lifecycle Management is laced with unnecessary time-consuming tasks. For example, it's easy for business data to be duplicated by different departments, with multiple copies of the same documents. PLM software unifies each team's work so that unnecessary rework is avoided, and provides a single source of data for everyone involved in product development.

Consolidated to-do lists are a great way to pull everything together and form a clear aim, ensuring the right tasks are addressed at the right time. STYLEman also incorporates capacity planning to enable future bottlenecks are anticipated and planned for.

4) Improved Garment Quality

Achieving excellent product quality is not merely about the type of materials used in manufacture. Every step of the PLM process can influence the quality of the finished garment. PLM software can ensure an overriding focus on standards at every stage of the journey, from design to delivery. Even when teams are based remotely, PLM systems can ensure that distance doesn't compromise attention to detail.

5) Business Scalability

Consumer demand is unpredictable in the fashion industry, with the weather, seasonal trends, and celebrity endorsements all critical factors in determining which garments will be popular. As an apparel business, you need to be able to scale up production – or scale down – at short notice, to ensure that demand is met or prevent mountains of surplus products piling up.

PLM systems offer your business increased agility to respond to demand. From increasing customisation to collaborating more openly with suppliers and partners, the PLM platform can provide the means to scale quickly, growing revenues, and cementing a positive brand image with resellers and consumers.

Styleman PLM: Not Just A Generic Platform

If you're investing in PLM software, you'll want a platform that meets your business's challenges and opportunities. A generic PLM system is unlikely to accommodate the intricacies of apparel and footwear manufacturing, and won't offer the add-ons that your brand needs for market success.

STYLEman PLM is designed for fashion businesses like yours, and we offer a free product demonstration to evaluate the impact on your Product Lifecycle Management. To arrange your demo, click here and we'll be in touch.

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