Jeans manufacturer JD United has rolled out new technology as it seeks to optimise production efficiency, improve garment costing, and standardise garment production processes to boost customer service.

Established in 2005, JD United (JDU Manufacturing Co. Ltd.) is currently a subsidiary of the Taiwan-headquartered textile company Roohsing Group.

Developed in collaboration with SaaS solutions specialist GSDCost, the new tech platform aims to provide accurate, detailed and scientific improvements to the Standard Minute Value (SMV) calculation of garment.

Standard Minute Value (SMV) is a measure used in the garment manufacturing industry to determine the time required for a skilled worker to complete a specific task while working consistently and efficiently.

With the move, the manufacturer aims to bolster the accuracy of SMV calculations to boost productivity and efficiency in its garment production.

JD United added that the system aims to support a more collaborative, transparent and sustainable supply chain, in which brands and manufacturers “establish and optimise international standard time benchmarks using standard motion codes and predetermined times.”

“This use of a common language and standards supports accurate garment cost prediction, fact-based negotiation, and a more efficient garment manufacturing process, while concurrently delivering on Common Standard Reporting (CSR) commitments,” JD United said.

The new system has been implemented in three of JD United's 31 international manufacturing plants, with plans to expand to further locations across its network in China, Tanzania, Myanmar and Cambodia later this year.

Jesse Chen, business director at JD United emphasised the importance of deploying accurate, scientific methods across its costing and capacity planning operations to offer reliable order quotes to customers and boost sewing methods and production line balancing at the same time.

It added the software is part of its mission to advance its digital transformation strategy in the coming months.

“Without standardised methods across our manufacturing units, our costings relied on inaccurate historical data and inconsistent time studies which often resulted in complex cost-to-make (CM) negotiations with customers,” she said.

Headquartered in Changzhou and with over 30,000 people employees, JD United specialises in all aspects of jeans production, including the production of woven jackets, knitted pyjamas, shirts and trousers for a number of well-known brands including Levis, Gap, GU, Primark, C&A, TCP and Gymboree. 

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