SAM (Standard Allowed Minute)

• What Is SAM in Garment Manufacturing?

SAM stands for "Standard Allowed Minutes," which is a measurement used in the garment industry to estimate the time required to produce a garment. It is commonly used to calculate production costs and plan manufacturing processes. To calculate SAM for a shirt or jeans, you need to consider various elements involved in the production process.

Here's a step-by-step example of how you can calculate SAM for a shirt:

1. Break down the shirt into its components: Identify the different components of the shirt, such as the front and back panels, collar, cuffs, sleeves, buttons, buttonholes, pockets, et
2. Determine the operations: For each component, list the operations required to assemble them. Operations could include cutting fabric, sewing seams, attaching buttons, hemming, etc. Make a comprehensive list of all the operations involved.
3. Assign time values to operations: Estimate the time required to complete each operation. This estimation is usually based on historical data or predetermined time values for specific operations. For instance, sewing a shoulder seam may take 1 minute, attaching a button could take 0.5 minutes, and so on. You can also consult industry-standard reference books or use time study techniques to obtain accurate time values.
4. Calculate the total time: Sum up the time values for all the operations to get the total time required to produce the shirt. This total represents the SAM for the shirt.

Let's calculate the SAM for a shirt using a simplified example. We'll assume the shirt has the following components: front panel, back panel, collar, cuffs, sleeves, buttons, and buttonholes. Here's a breakdown of the operations involved:

• Front and back panels: Sewing the shoulder seams, side seams, and attaching the collar. Let's assume these operations take a total of 10 minutes.
• Collar: Sewing the collar and attaching it to the neck opening. Let's estimate this operation to take 3 minutes.
• Cuffs: Sewing the cuffs and attaching them to the sleeve ends. Let's assume this operation takes 2 minutes.
• Sleeves: Sewing the sleeves to the armholes. Let's estimate this operation to take 5 minutes.
• Buttons and buttonholes: Attaching buttons and sewing buttonholes. Let's estimate this operation to take 4 minutes.

 Now, let's calculate the total SAM for the shirt:

Total SAM = Time for front and back panels + Time for collar + Time for cuffs + Time for sleeves + Time for buttons and buttonholes

Total SAM = 10 minutes + 3 minutes + 2 minutes + 5 minutes + 4 minutes

Total SAM = 24 minutes

In this example, the estimated total time required to produce the shirt is 24 minutes, which represents the Standard Allowed Minutes (SAM) for the shirt. Remember that this is a simplified example, and actual production processes may involve additional operations and different time values.

Similarly, you can follow the above steps to calculate the SAM for jeans. Break down the jeans into components like front panel, back panel, waistband, pockets, belt loops, zipper, etc. Identify the operations involved, assign time values, and calculate the total time to determine the SAM for jeans.

It's important to note that SAM values can vary depending on factors like the complexity of the design, fabric type, production method, worker skill level, and machinery used. Therefore, it's essential to update your SAM values regularly based on actual production data to ensure accuracy in your cost calculations and production planning.

• Use of SAM in Garment Industry:

The use of the SAM in the garment industry is widespread and has many applications, including:

1. Cost calculations: The SAM value is essential for cost calculations and production planning. It allows companies to determine costs accurately and to plan for efficient production schedules.

2. Time management: With SAM, you can manage the time required for your product, estimate the number of workers needed, and plan your production based on your capacity.

3. Productivity improvements: SAM helps to improve productivity by setting clear goals and enabling companies to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. It also helps to identify opportunities for process improvement and optimization.

4. Quality control: SAM can be used to ensure product quality by measuring the amount of time required to produce a product accurately.

In Conclusion:

In the garment manufacturing industry, SAM is a crucial tool used to estimate production times, manage costs, and plan production schedules. It involves breaking down garments into individual operations, estimating the time required for each operation, and adding allowances for other factors. The use of SAM provides many benefits, such as cost savings, productivity improvements, and quality control. Companies that use SAM can effectively plan their production schedules, manage their costs, and improve their overall efficiency in the garment manufacturing industry.