Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to calculate cost estimates for fashion products.
The unit of competency applies to cost estimating for products developed for the fashion industry, including sample production.
Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Determine job requirements from specifications, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Prepare to calculate cost estimates | 2.1 | Identify factors and market forces to consider when costing fashion products |
2.2 | Identify hidden costs in sample production | ||
2.3 | Identify and compare different methods of utilising labour in the fashion industry | ||
2.4 | Identify differences in costs for sample and bulk production garments | ||
3 | Calculate costs involved in producing fashion products | 3.1 | Compare fabric and trim of similar garments from different price points within fashion industry and identify any production differences |
3.2 | Estimate costs of selected fabric and trims for sample garments and bulk production | ||
3.3 | Consider quality standards and desired garment finish to determine labour source | ||
3.4 | Calculate labour costs to produce sample garment and for bulk production | ||
3.5 | Review and adjust chosen fabric, trims and labour, if necessary, and calculate revised costs | ||
4 | Develop costing sheets to industry standards | 4.1 | Identify components of costing sheets to meet fashion industry standards |
4.2 | Complete a costing sheet for a sample garment | ||
4.3 | Develop a quotation for bulk production |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include:
reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safe work practices
applying relevant standards
estimating costs of selected fabric and trims for sample garments and bulk production
calculating labour costs to produce sample garment and for bulk production
completing a costing sheet with relevant details, including costings of all relevant components, for a sample garment to industry standard
developing a quotation for a fashion product with details of all relevant costings of all relevant components for bulk production.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
work instructions, SOPs and safe work practices
relevant Australian Standards
industry standards for costing specifications
factors and market forces to consider when costing fashion products:
market demand for fashion labels
known versus unknown designer
trends
price range
hidden costs:
sample garments not being included in costing of bulk garments
wastage of fabric and materials
transport and delivery
time delay in client response or payment
range of typical garment fabrics, including weight and other characteristics
different methods of utilising labour in the fashion industry
designers
machinists
sample machinists
cutters
marker makers
patternmakers
quality controllers
pressers
packaging
marketing and sales
transportation
components of a costing sheet, including:
date
style/design number
size
fabrics/linings
trims
extras (e.g. pleating and embroidery)
labour/cut make and trim (CMT)
freight/shipping
packaging
overheads
labels
fabric swatch
flat trade sketch.
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator
have vocational competency in costing fashion products, at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.
Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | |
Workplace procedures include one or more of the following: | requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment SOPs work instructions oral, written and visual communication quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output housekeeping tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling WHS practices |
Australian Standards include: | the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken |
Factors to consider when costing include one or more of the following: | variable costs (e.g. fabric and labour) fixed costs (e.g. overheads) single or small runs bulk production profit margin |
Costs include the following: | fabrics trims and accessories materials time labour overheads |
Different methods of utilising labour include one or more of the following: | cut, make and trim (CMT) subcontractors offshore production |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Fashion design and technology