Summary
- Improving production and productivity in fashion means making the best use of every resource.
- Clear processes and the right tools help teams align goals from planning to final delivery.
- Ready to optimize your apparel manufacturing? Subscribe to our newsletter to explore our tips!
Production and productivity are two terms that often go hand in hand in the apparel industry. Yet, many professionals confuse their meaning or overlook their impact on everyday decisions.
For production managers, understanding the difference is the first step to achieving consistent results. It’s also the best way to guide teams toward better performance.
In this article, we’ll explore their meaning in depth and share practical strategies to improve them in the context of fashion. With the right knowledge, you can transform challenges into opportunities for efficiency and innovation.
Happy reading!
Sumário
What is production and productivity?
Production refers to the process of transforming raw materials into finished goods. In the fashion industry, this means taking fabrics, threads, and trims and turning them into garments that reach store shelves.
It involves several steps, from design and pattern making to cutting, sewing, and quality control. Each stage contributes to creating value and delivering products that meet market demands.
Productivity, on the other hand, measures how efficiently you use those resources. It answers questions like: How much output did we achieve compared to the input invested? For instance, how many shirts can a factory produce with a certain amount of fabric, time, and labor hours?
In apparel manufacturing, both production and productivity go hand in hand. High levels of production without good productivity may lead to waste, delays, or poor quality. Likewise, excellent productivity with very low production may indicate underused capacity or unmet market needs.
The balance between the two ensures that companies remain competitive.
Learn more: Discover how to enhance productivity in the textile business chain
What is the difference between production and productivity?
Production shows how much you’re making, while productivity shows how well you’re using resources.
The two connect, but they are not the same. Check it out:
Measurement
Measuring production and productivity is key to identifying whether a company is on track with its goals.
You can measure production in units produced, such as the number of garments completed in a day or week. This straightforward approach gives managers a clear picture of output volume.
Productivity measurement, however, requires looking deeper into the relationship between inputs and outputs.
For example, calculating garments produced per worker per hour reveals whether your company is using resources effectively. This ratio helps managers understand efficiency beyond simple production counts.
Learn more: Key challenges in the garment industry and how to solve them
Form of expression
The form of expression transforms raw data into actionable insights. It allows managers to make better decisions, align teams, and set improvement goals that everyone can understand.
We often express production in absolute numbers, such as the total garments produced in a given period. Productivity, on the other hand, usually comes in ratios or percentages. For example, “pieces per operator per hour” or “output per meter of fabric used.”
Expressing results in the right format helps communicate performance to different stakeholders. For instance, investors may prefer productivity ratios, while line supervisors may need absolute production numbers to manage daily tasks.
Output and usage
Output refers to what you produce, while usage relates to how well you are applying resources during the process. In apparel manufacturing, output could be a batch of finished dresses. Meanwhile, usage considers how much fabric, labor, and time you used to achieve that result.
When companies focus only on output, they risk overlooking waste or inefficiencies. For example, producing a large quantity of garments that require excessive fabric waste is not sustainable.
Usage helps measure the balance between what you are producing and the cost of it.
Learn more: Main types of factory layouts and tips for your production
Added value
It shows the benefit created during the production process that goes beyond the cost of inputs. In fashion, it means transforming simple fabrics into garments that consumers are willing to pay more for.
Measuring added value helps companies understand their true impact on the market. For instance, producing basic T-shirts may have low added value. However, creating exclusive collections with unique designs can generate higher margins.
It’s important to notice that productivity also influences added value. Efficient processes allow companies to invest more in innovation and quality without raising costs.
Ready to take your company to the next level and maximize productivity? Get our free exclusive guide filled with expert tips to make it happen!
7 books to increase production and productivity in your company
Improving results often requires new ways of thinking and working. To inspire you, we made a selection of books that can help boost production and productivity in your business:
1) Feel-Good Productivity
Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal focuses on the idea that productivity doesn’t have to feel heavy. Instead, it shows how joy, motivation, and positive emotions can fuel better results at work.
The book explores how to redesign routines in ways that generate energy rather than drain it.
2) The Power of Habit
Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit explains how habits shape both individuals and organizations. It reveals that much of what we do daily runs on autopilot, and by changing these routines, we can unlock massive improvements.
The author also highlights how leaders can create “keystone habits” that ripple through an organization. For instance, focusing on safety in a factory often leads to better communication, stronger discipline, and higher efficiency.
3) Getting Things Done
David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) is a classic productivity system. It focuses on organizing tasks and projects, so you don’t forget anything. For managers who juggle multiple responsibilities, this framework can be life-changing.
It emphasizes capturing every task in a trusted system rather than relying on memory. This approach reduces mental overload. It allows leaders to focus on decision-making instead of worrying about what they might forget.
Learn more: 6 benefits of system integration in apparel manufacturing
4) The Effective Executive
The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker is one of the most influential books on management. It explains that effectiveness, not just efficiency, is the key to success in leadership roles.
Drucker outlines practices such as time management, decision-making, and prioritization. He also stresses the importance of focusing on strengths. By placing employees in positions where they can excel, managers can improve productivity across the board.
5) Four Thousand Weeks
Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks offers a refreshing perspective on time management. The title refers to the average human lifespan, reminding us that time is limited and we must it wisely.
Instead of chasing endless productivity hacks, Burkeman encourages readers to accept limitations and focus on what truly matters. For managers, this means prioritizing the tasks and projects that bring the most value to the company.
6) Slow Productivity
Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity challenges the culture of constant busyness. He argues that long-term results come from steady, focused work rather than rushed, overloaded schedules.
This approach is particularly relevant for fashion businesses, where creativity and precision matter as much as speed. By slowing down certain processes, managers can ensure quality while still meeting production goals.
Newport also discusses strategies like setting boundaries, minimizing distractions, and dedicating time to deep work.
Learn more: How can fashion technology boost your production?
7) Do It Now!
Do It Now! by William J. Knaus is a book about overcoming procrastination. It teaches readers how to stop delaying important tasks and take action immediately.
The book explains the psychology behind procrastination and offers strategies to replace avoidance with progress. Techniques such as setting realistic goals and breaking work into smaller steps are especially useful in production environments.
So, which one is more important for companies?
Production and productivity are two sides of the same coin, and success comes from managing them together.
When comparing production and productivity, it may be tempting to choose one as more important than the other. However, the truth is that both play essential roles in the success of a company.
Production ensures that businesses meet market demand. Productivity guarantees that you use resources in the most efficient way possible. Neglecting either side can compromise overall performance.
For instance, a company may achieve high levels of production but with low productivity. This often results in waste, excessive costs, and reduced profit margins. On the other hand, a business may operate with strong productivity yet fail if production volume is too low.
The answer is: look for balance. When they work in harmony, companies can boost competitiveness, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
Learn more: Enhance productivity in sectors of the textile industry with technology
Combine production and productivity in your apparel business with Audaces
Audaces Cutting Room
Audaces brings you cutting-edge technology designed to transform your textile manufacturing!
Our Audaces Cutting Room equipment prioritizes precision, delivering zero-gap cutting and exceptional accuracy across a wide range of fabrics.
We understand that reliability is paramount. This is why we build our machines with high-quality components for maximum durability and minimal maintenance.
Beyond our hardware, Audaces Cutting Room is powered by intelligent software to streamline your workflow.
Audaces ICF
An intelligent technology that connects people and cutting room equipment with high security.
It’s fully digital and focused on data security. It provides the best tools for planning and managing spreading and cutting processes.
In addition to streamlining your workflow, the online platform ensures access for all stakeholders. All information is available in real time via smartphone.
Managers can effortlessly schedule cut orders, specifying details like spreads, layers, cuts, and fabric quantities.
Moreover, Audaces ICF monitors and alerts about differences between planned and actual results, with automatic correction suggestions.
Did you find this article helpful? Let us know what you think in the comments!
FAQ
Production refers to the process of transforming raw materials into finished goods.Productivity measures how efficiently you use those resources.
Production shows how much you’re making, while productivity shows how well you’re using resources.
Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, Getting Things Done by David Allen, and Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.
