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PLM & Approvals

Using the PLM Hub to track samples, approvals, and costs from first proto to production-ready style.

Updated January 8, 20266 min read

What the PLM Hub tracks

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) here means the working record between your team and a factory once a tech pack exists: sample rounds, approval status, cost sheets, and the timeline that connects them. It is intentionally lighter than an enterprise PLM suite — built for a brand running a handful of styles at a time, not a full retail catalogue.

Sample rounds

Sample stagePurpose
Proto sampleFirst physical build from the tech pack; checks construction is feasible
Fit sampleWorn or measured against the graded spec to confirm fit
Pre-production sample (PPS)Final check before bulk cutting, using approved fabric and trims

Each round is tracked with its own approval status (approved, revise, rejected) and comments, so a style's history — what changed between proto and PPS — stays attached to the project rather than living in email threads.

Cost tracking

The Cost Optimizer view rolls up material, labor, and freight estimates into a landed cost per unit, so a quote from a factory can be checked against your own bill of materials before you commit to a price.