SAM stands for standard allowed minute. SMV stands for standard minute value. In most garment factories and buyer offices they mean exactly the same thing: the standard time, in minutes, for a trained operator to complete a task at standard pace, including allowances.
The difference is mainly habit. Some companies and regions say SAM, others say SMV, and industrial engineers often switch between them in the same conversation.
Side by side#
| SAM | SMV | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Standard allowed minute | Standard minute value |
| Unit | Minutes | Minutes |
| Includes allowances | Yes | Yes |
| Typical users | Many buyers, sourcing offices, some factories | Many factories, IE departments, training material |
| Used for | Costing, capacity, efficiency, incentives | The same |
A garment with a SAM of 12.5 and a garment with an SMV of 12.5 represent the same work content, if both were calculated with the same scope and method.
When the numbers differ#
Confusion comes from scope and method, not from the name.
Different operation scope#
One figure may include cutting, sewing, finishing and packing; another may include sewing only. A buyer's SAM for a price negotiation may be sewing-only, while the factory's internal SMV includes trimming, checking and ironing.
Different measurement method#
A SAM from a predetermined time system (built from standard motion times) and an SMV from floor time study can differ by several percent for the same operation, especially if the floor method is different from the analysed method.
Different allowance policy#
A 12% allowance and an 18% allowance on the same basic time give standards about 5% apart.
Different stage of the style#
A SAM set at costing stage, before the sample is final, may not match the SMV measured once the style is in bulk with final construction and trims.
How to compare figures safely#
- Ask for the operation list behind the number. Compare line by line.
- Ask how it was measured: predetermined system, time study, or estimate from a similar style.
- Check the allowance included.
- Agree one number for costing and planning and write down its scope.
A quick example#
A buyer quotes a SAM of 10.2 for a polo shirt. The factory's SMV for the same style is 11.4. The difference is 1.2 minutes (about 12%).
After comparing lists, the factory finds that its SMV includes button sewing and buttonhole (0.6 min) and final trimming and checking (0.5 min), which the buyer's SAM leaves out. The remaining 0.1 min is a method difference in collar attaching. The two figures now reconcile, and both sides know which one to use for which purpose.
Summary#
- SAM and SMV normally mean the same thing.
- Differences come from scope, method, allowances and timing, not from the name.
- Always compare operation lists before comparing totals.
For how the value is built, see what is SMV and SMV calculation.
Related guides#
- Line efficiency: using standard minutes to measure line performance.
- Time study: measuring the standard time in the first place.
- CM cost: how standard minutes feed into the cost of making.
- Production target calculation: setting targets from SAM or SMV.