Aptean Apparel Shop Floor Control
Propper International Leading U.S. military and law enforcement apparel supplier leverages Aptean Apparel Shop Floor Control to boost productivity with real-time visibility. Industry Uniform Garment Manufacturing
Challenges
» Even with half a century of experience,
Propper found itself facing a plateau in plant efficiency
» Operators spent about 15 minutes per day
managing the bundle tickets and gum sheets
» Even with multiple stations across its
factories, inevitably lines would form, and the average associate might spend five minutes or more waiting for their turn at the clock
Benefits
» Gained access to actionable information faster, eliminating unproductive time
» Enhanced managerial visibility into WIP across multiple sewing lines
» Streamlined time tracking with QR code badges for operators and supervisors allowing them to “clock in” right at their workstation tablet
Propper International was founded in 1967 by William S. Propper and landed its first government contract with the U.S. Navy, manufacturing the iconic white sailor caps known as “Dixie cups.” As one of the largest official suppliers to the United States armed forces, Propper International has manufactured over 60 million garments for the U.S. Department of Defense – Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Special Forces. Propper also manufactures apparel for the commercial military, tactical, law enforcement, and public safety markets and sells through both retailer channels and online through e-commerce. If you can name a sewn product used by a military service member, chances are Propper makes it. Across six plants in Puerto Rico, the company produces boots, tops, bottoms, body armor, bags, pouches, accessories and sleep systems. Many products are engineered with special performance features for the modern soldier who is a tactical athlete. The St. Louis, MO-based company also operates factories in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Leveraging a Shop Floor Control Solution to Boost Productivity and Gain Greater Visibility One of Propper’s latest achievements has been the successful implementation of innovative Aptean Apparel Shop Floor Control technology. The new software has led to double-digit efficiency gains and brought heightened operational visibility to both managers and production workers. “The system has really paid for itself and is helping us be more responsive to our customers,” says Anderson Ward, Propper SVP Global Supply Chain Operations.