The words you'll hear in your first week at work: a one-sentence definition and how each is used on the job. Pick your department, tap a term.
Acceptable quality limit: a method based on the ISO 2859-1 tables that lets you decide from a sample instead of the whole lot.
QualityLet's agree on the AQL level in writing before production, not haggle over it on shipment day.
Position that uses this term mostQuality control coordinator
The sequence of code and bars that lets a product option be read by machine at the checkout, in the warehouse and during stock counts.
Sales associateThe barcode won't scan, so I'm entering the product by hand with its stock code.
Position that uses this term mostStore sales associate
The list of all materials needed to make a product, with quantity, unit, supplier and price.
Costing specialistIf you changed the BOM, update the costing too, or the margin will quietly slip.
Position that uses this term mostProduct development specialist
Cut, make, trim: a way of working in which the workshop takes on cutting, sewing and finishing, while the fabric and materials usually come from the party placing the order.
Production follow-upThe order is CMT and we're sending the fabric; confirm the ship date with sourcing.
Position that uses this term mostProduction follow-up coordinator
A chain of linked tasks where any delay directly pushes back the launch.
MerchandiserThis fabric approval is on the critical path; if it doesn't go out today, the launch slips.
Position that uses this term mostCollection manager
Keeping the names and descriptions on the same product card in more than one language, in separate fields.
DesignerI wrote the English style description myself; e-commerce shouldn't rewrite it.
Position that uses this term mostE-commerce specialist
The system that keeps product images, videos and files in one place, with folders, tags and product links.
StylistThe shoot is done; I uploaded the images to the season folder in DAM under the product code.
The position that uses this term mostStylist
The delivery term under which the seller delivers the goods to the buyer's address with taxes and customs costs already paid.
SourcingThe two quotes can't be compared; one is FOB, the other is DDP.
Position that uses this term mostSourcing / purchasing specialist
A structure that links a product's identity, material, care and end-of-life information to a digital record opened by a QR code on the product.
Sustainability specialistWe don't put any value in the passport without proof.
Position that uses this term mostSustainability specialist
Releasing a collection for sale in parts on set dates, rather than all at once.
E-commerce: The second drop opens Friday morning; the product cards have to be ready by Thursday.
Position that uses this term mostE-commerce specialist
The PIM screen that shows all variants of a product in one list, with status, season, image and channel actions.
E-commerce: In the cockpit, filter the variants with no cover image and add them to the shoot list.
Position that uses this term mostE-commerce specialist
Enterprise resource planning: the system that records the company's operations such as stock, sales, purchasing and accounting.
E-commerce: The stock on the site doesn't match the stock in the ERP; which one is right?
Position that uses this term mostE-commerce specialist
A brand having work such as cutting, sewing or pressing and packing done by outside workshops.
Production follow-upThere's work at four subcontractor workshops this week; I'll visit two of them in person.
Position that uses this term mostProduction follow-up coordinator
The last inspection, made on a sample drawn from the lot after pressing and packing are complete, that gives an accept or reject decision.
QualityFinal inspection found two major defects; we're within the limit, so it's accepted.
Position that uses this term mostQuality control coordinator
The sample on which the garment's fit and measurements are checked on a mannequin or a live fit model.
Sample coordinatorThe 2nd fit sample goes on the fit model tomorrow morning; the session is at ten.
Position that uses this term mostPattern maker
The written list of corrections from a fit session, tied to measurement point and round.
Product developmentDon't write 'sleeve too long'; write 'shorten sleeve length by 1 cm, photo attached'.
Position that uses this term mostProduct development specialist
The delivery term under which the seller is responsible until the goods are loaded onto the ship at the port of loading, and the buyer takes over after that.
Costing specialistThis price is FOB; we need to add freight and customs to the costing separately.
Position that uses this term mostCosting specialist
The upper limit a product's cost must not exceed, calculated backward from the target selling price and target margin.
Costing specialistThe target cost is exceeded, but it works if we change the metal button.
Position that uses this term mostCosting specialist
The target a brand aims for, expressed as the difference between selling price and cost divided by the selling price.
MerchandiserIf we can't hit the target margin in this category, let's cut the number of styles.
Position that uses this term mostMerchandiser
The quality check made at regular intervals while sewing is under way, starting with the first pieces, that catches a defect before it repeats across bulk.
QualityStitch density is low on the first fifty pieces; let's stop the line and get it adjusted.
Position that uses this term mostQuality control coordinator
A small collection of a few pieces built around a specific theme or collaboration.
DesignerOn top of the main collection, we're proposing an eight-piece summer capsule.
The position that uses this term mostFashion designer
The ratio of the difference between selling price and cost to the cost; not to be confused with margin.
Costing specialistYou said a 150% mark-up; as a margin, that's 60%. We're talking about the same product.
Position that uses this term mostCosting specialist
Information showing which fibers a fabric or product is made of, and in what proportions.
Product developmentIt's in the BOM; take it from there.
Position that uses this term mostSustainability specialist
A small color trial the dyehouse prepares in the lab to hit the target color.
DesignerOption B is closest to the target; I'm approving that one.
Position that uses this term mostProduct development specialist
The collection plan showing, for each category of a season, how many styles, which price band, how many colors and what quantity will go out.
MerchandiserThe line plan has six slots for knitwear; four are filled.
Position that uses this term mostMerchandiser
The meeting where styles are evaluated together with their samples, costing and sales expectations, and the decision to continue, revise or drop is made.
Collection managerStyles that exceed the target should come to the line review with a simplification option.
Position that uses this term mostCollection manager
Lowering the price of a product whose sales fall below expectations.
MerchandiserThis color hasn't sold for four weeks; before marking it down, let's try shifting it to another channel.
Position that uses this term mostMerchandiser
Information showing the country where a product was made.
Customer serviceThe customer is asking where it was made; the passport says the origin is Turkey.
Position that uses this term mostSustainability specialist
The work of planning for the right product to go on sale at the right price, in the right quantity and at the right time.
Collection managerThe design is ready; merchandising is closing the quantities this week.
Position that uses this term mostMerchandiser
The lowest order quantity a supplier accepts for an item, often per color.
SourcingWe're below the MOQ in this color; either we pay a surcharge or we combine the color with another style.
Position that uses this term mostSourcing / purchasing specialist
Each sample stage in which a style is sewn again with corrections: 1st round, 2nd round and so on.
Collection managerThis style is going to a third round; will the approval date slip?
Position that uses this term mostSample coordinator
The sequence of stages a product goes through from design to bulk, and the approval at each stage.
Collection managerThis product still shows as 'in costing'; who is the approval waiting on?
Position that uses this term mostCollection manager
A chart showing the target value of each measurement point of a style, size by size.
QualitySkirt length is 72 on the chart, but the product measures 74. What's the tolerance?
Position that uses this term mostPattern maker
A field value that describes a product and is used in search, filters and reports: season, product group, style, tag and so on.
E-commerce: The 'stitch detail' tag was left empty, so the product doesn't show up in that filter.
Position that uses this term mostE-commerce specialist
The cutting plan in which pattern pieces are laid on the fabric in the most efficient way; the fabric consumption per unit comes from it.
Costing specialistWhen the marker plan comes in, I'll replace the estimated consumption with the actual value.
Position that uses this term mostPattern maker
Product information management: the system that gathers the information, images and multilingual content a product needs for sale in one hub and sends it to the channels.
E-commerce: Fix the description in PIM, not in the marketplace panel, so the same version goes to every channel.
Position that uses this term mostE-commerce specialist
The layout plan showing which product stands on which shelf, rail or table in the store and the window, and in which outfit.
Visual merchandiserThe new season planogram reaches the stores on Friday; the right wall is set aside for the capsule collection.
The position that uses this term mostVisual merchandiser (VM)
Product lifecycle management: the system that keeps a product's development information, from its calendar, design, tech pack and bill of materials to its samples and costing, in a single record.
Product developmentShare the tech pack from PLM, not by e-mail, so versions don't get mixed up.
Position that uses this term mostProduct development specialist
The last approval sample before bulk production, sewn with the fabric and trims that will be used in production.
QualityDon't start cutting until the PP approval comes in.
Position that uses this term mostProduct development specialist
The first sample, where the design is put into fabric for the first time, sewn to see proportions and the overall look.
DesignerThe proto is in; the proportions are good, but the collar looks heavy.
Pattern makerI'll slim down the collar before the fit round.
Position that uses this term mostSample coordinator
The new version of a style, tech pack or costing after a change.
Product developmentWhich revision is valid? Main or REV-01?
Position that uses this term mostProduct development specialist
The ratio of units sold in a period to units offered for sale in the same period.
MerchandiserSell-through is high, but the medium size sold out in the first week; real demand is higher.
Position that uses this term mostMerchandiser
Grouping collections by selling period: Spring/Summer (SS) and Autumn/Winter (AW).
DesignerThe SS27 sketches are almost done; we're moving on to the AW27 moodboard.
Position that uses this term mostCollection manager
The code that uniquely identifies each product option held in stock.
Customer serviceThe SKU the customer ordered and the product that came back as a return are not the same.
Position that uses this term mostE-commerce specialist
The sample prepared for the showroom, catalog, sales presentations and photo shoots.
MerchandiserIf the SMS samples don't make it to the shoot, the product goes live on the site late.
Position that uses this term mostSample coordinator
Supplier relationship management: the system that runs supplier cards, orders, production follow-up and quality inspections in a shared record between brand and supplier.
Production follow-upIf the workshop updates its status in SRM, I won't need to call and ask.
Position that uses this term mostProduction follow-up coordinator
An evaluation that measures a supplier's on-time delivery, quality and communication performance.
SourcingThe price is low, but they missed the delivery date on the last three orders. I won't place an order without checking their score.
Position that uses this term mostSourcing / purchasing specialist
The production package that gathers a style's technical drawing, measurement chart, materials, stitching details and instructions in one document.
WorkshopThe tech pack we have shows the pocket without a flap.
Product developmentThat's the old version; I'm sending the new one now.
Position that uses this term mostProduct development specialist
The date by which a task, material or order must be delivered.
SourcingThe fabric's delivery date is November 10; if it slips by a day, cutting slips too.
Position that uses this term mostProduction follow-up coordinator
Each sellable option of the same style, distinguished by attributes such as color and size.
E-commerce: The beige variant's image is linked to the ecru variant, so the customer sees the wrong color.
Position that uses this term mostE-commerce specialist
The work of planning how the product will be displayed in the store and the window, the shelf layout and the mannequin setup.
Sales associateNew window display instructions came in; we're changing the section at closing tonight.
Position that uses this term mostStore sales associate
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First the required reading, then the cards for 20 positions: you learn how a fashion company works.
Certificate 1 · Pimland Basic Certificate
Reading is open to everyone; the part questions and the certificate require an Academy account.
The shared language of the fashion world: PLM, PIM and SRM, with Pimland's real screens.
Certificate 2 · Pimland PLM · PIM · SRM Certificate
Reading is open to everyone; the part questions and the certificate require an Academy account.
Separate application, for selected candidates.
Certificate 3 · Pimland PRO Certificate
Reading is open to everyone; the part questions and the certificate require an Academy account.
· Pimland Academy team