PP Meeting and Pilot Run Process in Apparel Industry

PPM and pilot run are sampling processes in garment manufacturing, a preparation process for bulk production to also bring garment measurements up to be marked and check the factory’s ability to produce smooth garments.PP meetings are an important part of the apparel manufacturing factory. Explain to the factory how to conduct the fabric shrinkage test and control the garment measurement before the bulk production. Here I present the PP Meeting and Pilot Run Process in the Apparel Industry, PP meetings, and the pilot process flow chart in the following.

PP Meeting:

PP Meeting is the first sampling process for a lot/ PO before bulk production. It is also known as the size set sampling process. PP meetings or size set meetings are being done for every pcs of 3-5 pcs.

Pilot Run Meeting:

Pilot runs are being done after the PP meeting process. Here is a bigger trial run to do. For example, if PP samples are 20 pieces, a pilot run is done for 100- 150 pieces of garments.

PP Meeting and Pilot run process flow chart in Apparel Industry
All necessary Raw materials In-house
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Quality inspection of Fabrics and accessories
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Getting QC File, approve the sample, order chart, and Size breakdown
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Cutting PP Sample( Size Set)
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Sewing, washing, and Finishing of PP sample
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Checking and Measuring PP Sample
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Fill up checklist and arrange necessary items
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Sending PP meeting request to buyer QC by merchandiser
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Submitting PP sample to buyer
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Submitting a quality report of Fabrics(shrinkage, shade, inspection), accessories, button pull test as per checklist
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Arrange PP meeting in inspection/ Conference Room
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Gathering related people in a meeting
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Fill up the PP meeting checklist
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Review the PP sample by GPQ and buyer QC
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Discussing garment construction and findings
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Pattern adjustment (Correction)
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Going for Pilot Run/Test Cut
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Same as PP meeting
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Passing Pilot Run
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Going for bulk cutting and bulk production

What is being done in the PP Meeting and Pilot Run Process in the Apparel Industry?

• Pick yardage from each roll for fabric shrinkage test; 100% for non-stretch & stretch fabric.
• If wash swatches are available, the maker can wash the fabric by any of the three washing methods (light or medium, or heavy wash). This selection is based on the color of approval standards.
• Fabric shrinkage test percent is calculated from step 2. Patterns are adjusted accordingly.
• Samples are made by using the adjusted patterns.
• If more than 1 set of patterns is created, the selected rolls must correspond to the shrinkage group.
• The rolls for pilot run must come from those rolls whose shades are the closest to the wash standard.
• Workmanship will be checked in all pilot run samples. Besides, please put some bulk stickers on the garments to see whether the sticker glue is satisfactory.
• Samples will be measured in critical Points of Measurement (POM).
• For bottoms (shirt item) -> They are waist, seat, thigh, inseam, and back rise.
• For tops (Pant item) -> They are shoulder, neck, chest, sweep, armhole, sleeve
  length, and body length. Line charts will be drawn by the maker for each critical POM.
• Ideally, the peak of the bell in the line chart should fall in the middle of the tolerance range. This is compulsory for waist, seat, and inseam of bottoms.
• When the pilot run result is satisfactory, the buyer QC will sign on the line chart. The factory can start bulk fabric cutting.