Optimizing SME-Scale Garment Production: A Business Process Automation Framework for Made-to-Order Workflow
M. Dzikron, Djamaludin, Nita P.A. Hidayat, Anis Septiani

Universitas Islam Bandung

Abstract

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the garment industry frequently encounter inefficiencies within their Made-to-Order (MTO) production systems, which are predominantly manual. This reliance results in operational bottlenecks, a high susceptibility to human error, and a lack of real-time visibility across the workflow. This research addresses these challenges by proposing a comprehensive Business Process Automation (BPA) framework tailored for garment production SMEs. The methodology involves a detailed analysis of the current ^As-Is^ workflow, utilizing Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) to identify inefficiencies and repetitive tasks suitable for automation. Subsequently, a streamlined ^To-Be^ process is designed, leveraging the no-code integration platform Make.com to orchestrate the workflow. The proposed framework automates the end-to-end MTO process, encompassing order intake and validation, payment confirmation, production planning, real-time progress tracking, quality control logging, and automated customer notifications for shipment. By integrating readily available tools such as Google Forms, Google Sheets, and Trello, this framework is projected to significantly reduce administrative overhead, minimize data entry errors, and shorten production lead times. The result is a practical, scalable, and cost-effective solution that enhances operational efficiency, offering a clear pathway for digital transformation in the MTO garment sector.

Keywords: Business Process Automation (BPA), Made-to-Order (MTO), SME Garment Industry, Workflow Optimization

Topic: Industry Engineering