COP Planning for practice

Andrea Moore Design has a production schedule for each range which means juggling quite a few ranges at once as they go through their different stages. There is a long lead-time of almost a whole year for each range.

Take the 2003 Spring range, for garments to be in the shops ready to sell in August 2003, sample designs had to be finalised at the end of November 2002. The sample range has to be ready to sell by the end of March 2003. During April while the range is on the road all the fabric and trim swatches, the CMT cutters' cost sheets and specification sheets are prepared. By end of May all the wholesale orders come in from around the country as well as the two stores. The numbers are finalised and fabric ordered. All fabric must go out to cutters by end of June and production takes place during June and July with delivery date to our wholesnalers and i our stores in August 2003.

One of Andrea's goals is to spend a week exclusively on design for each range. At the moment design is fitted around other things 2 hours here and there. As design is their product more time needs to be spent on it with the process leading to a cohesive range. To do this effectively space and time are most important.

COP Outcome development and evaluation

Evaluation of the success of a range is also carried out. Analysis shows that if designs haven't sold then it's because of the fabric and fit. At the end of each season the weekly sales reports are interpreted which tell what sold and why, and what's not selling and why.