On this page, you can find an explanation of all the process steps available in tex.tracer. Do you miss a process step? Let us know, we are happy to add the process step to our platform!
At tex.tracer, we follow the flow of goods. We have categorised the process steps into the tiers that are commonly used in the industry.
Other:
Other encompasses processes that do not belong in a tier. Such as trims, accessories, embroidery and so on.
Trims: trims are the items that are necessary to construct the product, and for the product to function. These items are for example: buttons, zippers, rivets etc. Add the trim partner here!
Accessories: accessories are the items that are not needed in the construction of the product or for the product to function (=trims). Accessories add to the look of the product, such as bow-ties, sequins, and patches. Add the accessory partner here!
Embroidery: embroidery is the decorative technique that involves stitching designs, patterns or motifs on fabric using needle and thread or specialised embroidery machines.
Tier 0:
Tier 0 encompasses a brand’s offices, distribution centers and retail locations, along with agents and importers. However, this tier does not participate in the production process.
Design & Development: the process by which the product is designed and developed. The design and development team decide in this process what materials, colours, accessories etc are used, and where the production will take place.
Warehousing: the place where the articles are stored in a warehouse. The warehouse may be owned by the brand or is handled by a distribution partner.
Retailing: the stores where the articles are sold.
Importing: the importing company/importer a brand works with. The importing company/importer is often located in the country where the articles are delivered or sold.
Exporting: the exporting company/exporter a brand works with. The exporting company/exporter is often located in the country where the articles are produced.
Transport: the logistic partner that transports the articles from the production location to the warehouse.
Tier 1:
Tier 1 comprises the factories and facilities where garments are cut, sewn, packaged, and prepared. These locations are commonly referred to as confectioning or CMT (cut, make, and trim) facilities.
Confectioning: confectioning refers to the process of assembling articles by sewing together the various components, such as fabric panels, trims, and embellishments, to create finished garments. It involves cutting the fabric pieces according to the pattern, sewing them together, and adding the necessary finishing touches.
Cutting: is the process in which fabric is cut according to the pattern.
Sewing: the process in which the cut fabric pieces are sewn together.
Manufacturing: refers to the production process of the product.
Molding: a fabrication process where raw material, often in a liquid or semi-liquid state, is shaped into a desired form by being poured or injected into a mold and then allowed to solidify.
Finishing: the process of finishing the articles before they are packed, removing loose threads, and ironing the articles.
Labelling: add your label partner here! You'll need to add the partner that provides the on-product labelling (brand label, wash and care label). You can also add the label partner that produces the hangtags. You can add them in a separate parallel supply chain.
Packing: the process of packing the articles before they are transported.
Assembling: the process of assembling (leather) goods.
Tier 2:
Tier 2 encompasses the processes that produce the fabrics and the wet-processes.
Tanning: the process of treating animal hides or skins to convert them into leather.
Weaving: the process in which the yarns are woven into fabric.
Knitting: the process in which the yarns are knitted into fabric.
Webbing: a fabric production process where synthetic fibers are woven into a strong fabric strip to achieve desired mechanical properties.
Fabric trading: the process where fabric is traded, for example on a market. The trader can be added into the supply chain.
Washing: the process in which the fabric or the garment is washed.
Dyeing: the process in which the yarn, fabric or garment is dyed.
Printing: the process in which a print, design or graphic is applied to a fabric or finished product. There are different techniques: screen printing, digital printing, heat transfer printing, block printing, sublimation printing, discharge printing.
Coating: fabric finishing technique encompassing applying liquid material to the surface of a fabric/product to enhance its properties.
Laminating: fabric finishing technique encompassing bonding two or more layers of materials together.
Compounding: the process of blending or mixing raw materials, such as polymers, fillers, additives, and colorants, to create a customised material with specific properties for manufacturing.
Tier 3:
Tier 3 encompasses the processes that turn the raw materials into fibers.
Ginning: is the process of separating the cotton fibers from the seeds in raw cotton.
Spinning: the process where materials are spun into yarns.
Yarn trading: the yarns are traded by a yarn trader.
Tier 4:
Tier 4 is the tier where the production process actually starts! It is the source of the raw materials, such as livestock farms, cotton farms, or the recycling supplier that recycles PET bottles into polyester.
Cotton harvest: the cotton farm where the cotton is harvested.
Raw material: any other farm/raw material producer (such as a wool farm, hemp farm etc).
Recycled material: the supplier of recycled material, such as recycled PET bottles, or the recycler of used consumer goods.
Material trading: traders that trade raw materials.
Natural material: wool, hemp, leather, etc.
Man-made material: polyester, viscose, modal suppliers.
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