Detecting/preventing shortages in garments

Sufficient availability of garments for all employees is necessary for conducting business operations. An adequate stock of each item and in every size is necessary to prevent employees from taking the wrong garments. This may be even more important for personalised garments. If the right garments are not available, some employees will not be able to get to work (on time).

Taking the wrong garments 

The garments inventory (total amount per item and size) is based on the number of employees who wear these garments. This is often a snapshot. Over time, employee turnover can lead to a higher demand for size M and lower demand for size L, disrupting the balance between the inventory and the number of people wearing that size. The chance of taking the wrong item or size is then increasingly likely. 

Sufficient stock, but never too much

Shortages can be prevented by having a large stock. However, this is costly and inefficient with regard to procurement and because it requires a lot of space to store the stock. Too many garments is undesirable, since a part of the garments range (usually the bottom of the pile) remains unused and is not in circulation. This creates large differences in the status of the garments. Having a good balance in the right number of garments in circulation is therefore important.

Transparency / insight in shortages

A balanced range of garments and efficient deployment of these garments requires insight in the population and the speed with which the various items and sizes circulate. In case of a wardrobe-shelf system or a freely accessible storage room, the administrator or facility manager is often present to observe. Keeping track of what is taken with the naked eye and based on (years of) experience is often the only way to get an insight in the circulation of garments. If one item always runs out, extra items in that size are ordered, with the accompanying risk that these items remain unused.

Determining garments stock based on data

To avoid having to rely on visual estimation (how many garments are left on the shelf) and snapshots, using data is an interesting alternative. A software package for garments registration (potentially complemented with a garments distribution system), registers the circulation of the garments at one point or at multiple points in the garments process. Based on this data, the system gives an overview of the circulation. More importantly, these smart solutions can suggest an ideal balance, based on the data collected over an extended period of time. Structural shortages can therefore be detected at an early stage and timely adjustments can be made.

LCT is your partner in the distribution of garments. LCT provides a suitable distribution and collection system for every sector or situation. Food sector, hospitality, healthcare or industry:  we offer various solutions to improve efficiency with regard to costs, process and necessary space for every sector.

Software and Hardware solutions LCT-Textilligence

LCT-Textilligence offers various solutions for garments management, both software solutions and garments distribution systems, or a combination of the two. Customised solutions for any organisation, regardless of size, sector and garments type. Our solutions offer you various benefits:

  • Hygiene
  • Transparency: insight in the garments use*
  • Cost efficiency 
  • 24/7 availability
  • Space efficiency
  • RFID

* addressed in this article

For more information, please get in contact with us. You can also consult our website for information about the possibilities.