Production template

Production Planning Sheet

A simple line loading plan: orders with quantity and SMV, total minutes, line, operators and planned efficiency, then daily output, days needed and planned end date against the ship date.

What this template does#

The planning sheet loads orders onto lines. For each order, it converts quantity into standard minutes, calculates daily output from the line's operators and planned efficiency, and works out the number of days needed. From a start date, it gives a planned end date, which you compare with the ship date.

The method is described in production planning basics.

When to use it#

  • When accepting new orders, to check whether they fit.
  • Weekly, to update the loading of each line.
  • When an order is delayed, to see the effect on the orders after it.

How to complete it#

  1. Set working minutes per day in the header.
  2. Enter each order with quantity and SMV.
  3. Choose the line and enter the operators and the efficiency you expect for that style on that line.
  4. Enter the start date. The planned end date is calculated in working days.
  5. Enter the ship date and compare. Leave time for finishing, packing and inspection between the planned end and the ship date.

Notes#

  • The WORKDAY function skips Saturdays and Sundays. If your factory works a different week, change the formula to WORKDAY.INTL with your weekend pattern, and add a holiday list.
  • The sheet uses one efficiency for the whole order. For new styles with a learning curve, split the order into rows (for example, the first week at a lower efficiency).

Common mistakes#

  • Planning at target efficiency rather than achieved efficiency.
  • Ignoring material readiness: a start date before fabric arrives is not realistic.
  • Loading two orders on the same line with overlapping dates.

Download formats#

The Excel workbook contains the formulas. The CSV contains headings and an example row only.

Field guide

FieldWhat to enter
Working minutes per dayHeader parameter used for all daily output calculations.
Order, style, quantity and SMVOne row per order or per order split.
Total minutesCalculated: quantity × SMV. Useful for comparing loads across styles.
Line, operators and planned efficiencyWhere the order will run, with how many operators and at what efficiency.
Daily output and days neededCalculated from operators, minutes, efficiency and SMV.
Start date, planned end and ship datePlanned end is calculated with the WORKDAY function from the start date and days needed. Compare it with the ship date.

Related guides

Garment ProductionGuide3 min read

Production Planning Basics for Garment Factories

How garment production planning works: capacity in minutes, loading orders onto lines, learning curves, material readiness and critical path, with a simple example and the checks that keep a plan realistic.

Industrial EngineeringHow-to3 min read

Garment Factory Capacity Calculation: Minutes, Pieces and Lines

How to calculate sewing capacity in available minutes and in pieces, for a line or a whole factory, and how to use it to check whether an order fits. Includes efficiency, absenteeism, working days and a full worked example.

Industrial EngineeringHow-to3 min read

Production Target Calculation for Sewing Lines

How to set an hourly and daily production target from SMV, manpower, working minutes and planned efficiency. Worked examples for new and running styles, learning curve targets and why a target at 100% efficiency is not a real target.

Merchandising & CostingHow-to3 min read

Time and Action Plan (TNA) for Garment Orders

A time and action plan lists every task from order confirmation to shipment with planned and actual dates. How to build a TNA backwards from the ship date, typical activities and lead times to fill in from your own data, and how to use it to spot delays early.

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