Assessment of pattern grading practices in large-scale clothing industries in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

Good clothing fit is essential to customer satisfaction as it enhances the customer’s comfort and confidence in wearing it. The main purpose of the study was to explore the effectiveness of pattern grading in large-scale clothing industries in Ghana. With an aim of establishing the effectiveness of pattern grading methods used in achieving garment fit in large-scale production. The study specifically adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey. The study focused on garment-producing industries in Tema, Accra (Adjabeng enclave), and the North Industrial Area at Kaneshie within the Greater Accra Region. The target population included managers and employees, such as pattern graders and cutters, across Ghana's garment industry, totalling 1,500 employees. A sample of 36 employees, 10 graders, 20 cutters, and 10 managers, was selected. The method adopted for the study was a quantitative research design where closed-ended and self-administered questionnaires were used. The sampling technique used was the non-random sampling technique, which was precisely convenient and purposive. The research found that drafted patterns and graded are the various types of patterns used for production in the large-scale garment industries in the Greater Accra Region. The study also concluded that pattern graders in large-scale garment production industries in the Greater Accra Region possess excellent drafting skills and manual grading skills; while a significant number of them possess a good freehand skill. The study recommends that managements should consider adequate provision of these types of patterns to ensure that there is no shortage which will affects their production there is a need for management of garment production firms to put measures in place that enhances the skills of pattern graders in other areas such as computing grading and draping skills