Question 1

What is PLM software for apparel brands?

Accepted Answer

PLM (product lifecycle management) software for apparel is the system that holds everything about a style from first sketch to production handoff: techpacks, bills of material, colorways, size runs, vendor quotes, sample rounds, fit comments, costing, and approvals. In apparel specifically, PLM has to handle a matrix product — one style existing across many colors and sizes — plus seasonal calendars and offshore vendor communication. Ai2000 (formerly A2000 Software) builds PLM directly into the ERP, so the style you develop is the same record that gets costed, purchased, produced, sold, and shipped.

Question 2

How does Ai2000 PLM connect to production and purchasing?

Accepted Answer

The bill of material created during development becomes the source for material requirements planning. When a style is approved, Ai2000 explodes the BOM into raw material needs, nets them against on-hand and on-order inventory, and generates purchase orders to fabric and trim vendors. Cut tickets and work orders inherit the same BOM, so factory consumption, WIP, and yields are tracked against the original spec. Landed cost — duty, freight, agent commission — flows back to the style, so the margin you see is the real one, not the pre-production estimate.

Question 3

Can Ai2000 PLM manage techpacks and samples?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Techpacks are built and versioned inside Ai2000 with construction details, measurement specs, graded size charts, artwork, and trim callouts attached to the style record. Sample rounds — proto, fit, PP, TOP — are tracked with request dates, received dates, vendor, and fit comments, so merchandising and technical design can see exactly where each sample sits in the calendar and which styles are blocking the production release.

Question 4

Does Ai2000 handle style, color, and size matrix costing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Costing in Ai2000 is maintained at the style level with variance by colorway where materials differ, and roll-ups include materials, trims, CMT, freight, duty, and overhead. Target margin and actual margin are compared side by side, and cost changes from vendor quotes update the style so merchandisers can re-evaluate a line sheet price before the season is committed.

Question 5

How does Ai2000 track work-in-progress with overseas factories?

Accepted Answer

Each cut ticket or production order carries milestone dates — fabric in, cut, sew, finish, inspection, ex-factory — that vendors and internal production teams update as the order moves. Ai2000 shows WIP by factory, by style, and by delivery window, and flags orders trending late against the customer's ship window so production can reallocate or air-freight before it becomes a chargeback.

Question 6

Is Ai2000 PLM separate software from the ERP?

Accepted Answer

No. PLM is a module inside the same Ai2000 database as orders, inventory, warehouse, EDI, and financials. There is no integration layer to maintain and no duplicated style master, which is the usual failure point when brands run a standalone PLM alongside an ERP.

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