Pre-Production Submissions
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Pre means prior to or before: a pre-production sample, or pre-pro, is an example of what will be produced during manufacturing, submitted to the buyer before production. Pre-pros are produced in the facility that will manufacture the bulk order — not in a sample room or another factory — from actual bulk fabric, and they should be an exact representation of what will ship as final product, ideally with full trimming such as hangtags and price tickets so there is no room for misunderstanding.
Pre-Production Submissions by Apparel Search - Terms of Interest to the Fashion Industry
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"Pre" production means "prior" to production or "before" production...
Have you been requested to submit a pre-production sample? Also, referenced as a "pre-pro" or "pre-pros".
Pre-production Samples: After
completing the product
development process (or some
times "during" the product development process),
your buyer will most likely require your
company to provide pre-production samples.
Pre-production samples are essentially an
example of what will be produced during the
manufacturing process. The pre-production
samples are garments that are produced in the
facility that is planning to manufacture the
bulk order. They should not be made in a
sample room nor at another factory that is not
schedule to run your actual order. The pre-pros
should be an exact representation of what you
intend to ship as final product. The concept is
to present these garment examples to the buyer
"before" production. In summary, the pre-pro is
an example of what you will later produce in
bulk and ship to your buyer.
Purpose of Pre-production Garment Samples:
The pre-pros are submitted so that the buyers can review an example of what the clothing factory intends to produce. The buyer must view the pre-pro to determine if all standards have been met by the supplier. Buyers can check the sewing construction, body measurements, fabric colors, trim colors, trim quality and placement, etc. The pre production samples must be submitted PRIOR to clothing production so that the buyer has the opportunity to point out to the supplier if any errors or misunderstandings are discovered. For example, the buyer may notice that the brand label was sewn in the wrong location. Or possibly the factory accidentally used an entirely incorrect brand label in the garment. The factory should already understand the buyer requirements. However, issues are often over looked. It is very important that the buyer has a sample to review prior to full production.
The primary purpose of the pre-pro submission process is to identify problems as early as possible; so that corrective action can take place before production begins. Typically, manufacturers are expected to NOT begin production until the pre-production samples are reviewed and approved by the buyers. Make sure to check with the buyer regarding the number of garments they require and the clothing sizes that are required.
The pre-production submissions should be manufactured as an example of what you intend to produce. The samples should be made from actual bulk fabric (production run fabric). On occasion, buyers will allow you to submit pre-pros without all the final trimming such as hangtags and price tickets. However, the safest method for everyone involved is for the manufacturer to provide pre pros with full trimming so their is no room for mis-understanding.
Note: pre-production sample requirements are not only for clothing and fashion accessories. Pre-production review can be conducted on fabric, trimming, etc. For example, before mill move to produce fabric, they should review yarn colors, yarn construction etc.
Learn more about Clothing Quality Testing.
Learn more about Garment Factory Inspections.
Learn more about AQL Inspections.
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Finding Problems Early
The primary purpose of the submission is timing: identify problems as early as possible so corrective action can take place before production begins. The factory should already understand the buyer's requirements, but issues are often overlooked, and a physical sample in the buyer's hands is the check that documents cannot replace. A wrong label placement found on a pre-pro costs a conversation; the same error found on a bulk shipment costs a production run.
Part of the Development Sequence
Pre-production submissions follow the product development process — or run during it — and connect to fit samples, proto samples, counter samples and top of production samples in the glossary sequence, as well as to clothing quality testing, garment factory inspections and AQL inspections. This entry is signed ML91108.
Common Questions
What do buyers check on a pre-production sample?
Sewing construction, body measurements, fabric colors, trim colors, trim quality and placement, and details such as label location — a buyer may catch a brand label sewn in the wrong location, or an entirely incorrect brand label, while correction is still cheap.
Can production begin before pre-pro approval?
Typically, no. Manufacturers are expected not to begin production until the pre-production samples are reviewed and approved by the buyers, and the buyer should be asked how many garments and which sizes are required for the submission.
Does pre-production review apply beyond finished garments?
Yes. Pre-production review can be conducted on fabric and trimming as well — before a mill produces fabric, for example, yarn colors and yarn construction should be reviewed.