MerchandiserOS

ERP guide/Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO

ERP implementation guide · textile & apparel

How to Implement Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO for Garment & Apparel Business (2026 Guide)

Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO are strong general manufacturing ERPs with no apparel edition. This guide shows what that means for a garment business: parts per size and colour, lots as dye lots, subcontract operations, landed cost, testing, go-live and the APIs. It covers brands and buying agents too, and explains how an operations layer completes either ERP.

As of Epicor Kinetic (REST API v2) and SYSPRO 8 (2024 to 2026 R1 help) Last checked 26 Sep 2026 Published by MerchandiserOS
Who wrote this. This guide is published by MerchandiserOS, an operations platform for garment factories, brands and buying agents that connects to ERPs through a public API. It is independent implementation advice. We are not an Epicor or SYSPRO partner and do not resell either product. Product claims link to the vendors' own documentation or product pages; where a statement comes from implementation practice or from a third party, the text says so. Where we could not verify something, the text says "check" or "not found". Sources · Report a correction

Part 1Before you start

1Who Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO fit in apparel

Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO fit mid-market manufacturers that make more than garments, or that make textiles or technical products where lots, routings, subcontract operations and job costing matter more than a size and colour matrix. Neither vendor offers an apparel edition that we could find, and neither documents a native style, colour and size matrix, so a garment business must model each size and colour as its own part or stock code, or extend the product.

Epicor Kinetic is Epicor's manufacturing ERP for make-to-order and mixed-mode manufacturers. SYSPRO is an ERP for mid-market discrete and process manufacturers and distributors. Epicor also sells Prophet 21, a distribution ERP for wholesalers and distributors, which is outside the scope of this chapter.

Works wellMulti-level BOMs, routings and jobs, lot tracking, subcontract operations, landed cost, inspection on receipt, job costing, APIs.
Needs design careParts per size and colour, BOM upkeep across sizes, kg-to-metre per roll, matrix order entry, shade control at cutting.
Usually outside the ERPTech packs, sampling rounds, T&A, line-level floor capture, ISO 2859-1 AQL, garment quotation costing. See section 33.

When these ERPs make sense for a textile or garment business

  • A multi-product manufacturer also makes textiles or garments: workwear, technical textiles, home textiles, uniforms, medical textiles.
  • A textile mill or finishing plant needs lots, process routings and job costing more than a size grid.
  • The company already runs Epicor or SYSPRO in another division and wants one ledger.
  • Style counts are small and size ranges are narrow (uniform programmes, fixed catalogues).

When to look elsewhere

  • Fashion ranges with hundreds of styles per season, many colours and wide size runs; see Infor CloudSuite Fashion or apparel-specific ERPs.
  • Buyers who order by size grid every day and expect matrix entry on every document.
  • A brand whose main work is development and vendor follow-up (section 32).

2Why no ERP fits apparel on its own

No general ERP fits apparel out of the box, because an ERP is built around a known item with one bill of materials, while a garment order starts as a style that is quoted, sampled and approved before any item exists. Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO go one step further from apparel than most, because their item is a part or stock code with no parent style, so even the style itself has no home. The same wall applies to brands and buying agents: their development, sampling and follow-up across many factories happen before any purchase order exists.

What an ERP is built for
What an apparel order needs
An item that exists before it is sold
A style that is quoted, sampled and approved weeks before any item exists
One bill of materials per item
Fabric use that changes by size, trims that change by colour, a spec revised three times
Units that convert by a fixed factor
Fabric bought by kilogram and cut by metre, where the factor changes with every roll
Stock that is interchangeable
Dye lots that must never be mixed in one garment, and rolls with their own width and weight
Approvals of money: a PO, a payment
Approvals of product: lab dips, strike-offs, fit and PP samples, given by the buyer, round by round
Work inside one company
Work across mills, dye houses, printers, washers, CMT units, inspection agencies and forwarders
A daily or monthly close
A floor where the answer changes every hour

Forcing an ERP to do all of this means heavy customisation in the one system that most needs to stay standard. The durable answer is to give the ERP the books and give the operations to a system built for them (section 3, and in full section 33).

Example 1

One polo order in a general manufacturing ERP

StepWhat happensHome in Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO?
Tech pack arrivesMeasurements, construction, artwork, trimsNo. There is no part yet
Costing and quoteMarker consumption, minutes, quote at USD 4.26 FOBPartly. Quotes exist; the garment cost build does not
Lab dips, strike-off, fit sampleThree lab dip roundsNo
Order confirmed300 / 750 / 900 / 750 / 300Yes, as five sales order lines, one per part
Fabric and trims bought925 kg jersey and trimsYes
Fabric receivedThree dye lots, rolls of different widthYes for lots; roll conversion needs design
Cutting and sewingCut by lot, 18 minutes per poloJobs, yes; line and hour capture, no
Embroidery outsidePanels out and backYes: subcontract operation
Final AQLSample of 125 at level IIInspection, yes; ISO 2859-1 tables, not found
Shipping and invoiceCartons, packing list, invoiceYes

The transactional middle is well covered. The start (style, quote, approvals) and the floor are not.

3The recommended architecture, in short

Let Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO keep the books and the stock value, and run apparel operations from the style to the shipment in a system built for them. For these two ERPs the case is stronger than for fashion ERPs, because the style itself has no home in the ERP.

AreaOwned byWhy there
Style, tech pack, samples, approvals, quotation costingOperations layerNo style object in the ERP; this work comes before any part exists
Buyer orders by size and colour, procurement planning, production planning, shop floor, quality, logisticsOperations layerNeeds the size grid, dye lots, minutes, inspections and dates together
Accounts, payables and receivables, invoicing, payments, stock value, tax and e-invoicingEpicor Kinetic or SYSPROThe legal and financial record

MerchandiserOS runs style and tech pack, quotations and costing, buyer orders, procurement, planning, production, the shop floor (on its own floor screens or through its Garment.io integration), quality and logistics. The ERP keeps accounts, payables and receivables, invoicing, payments, stock value, tax and e-invoicing.

4Business types, and what each needs from Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO

The business type decides who owns the material, what is invoiced and how much of the ERP carries weight. Settle it first, because a company often runs two types at once.

TypeWhat it doesWhat it needs from the ERPWhere it struggles
CMT (cut, make, trim)Sews buyer-supplied fabricBuyer stock held apart, service invoicing, job costing of labourParts per size just to count output
Full-package (FOB) factoryBuys materials, makes, shipsParts, BOMs, purchasing, lots, landed cost, subcontractingPart counts, BOM upkeep, matrix entry, sampling
Multi-product manufacturer with a textile lineMakes garments or textiles beside other productsOne ledger and one manufacturing model across divisionsThe textile line is the odd one out
Textile mill or finisherYarn to fabric, dyeing, finishingLots, process routings, weight units, job costingDye recipes and shade judgement
Brand or wholesalerDesigns and sells; factories make for itVendor POs, landed cost, wholesale ordersNo style, no matrix, vendor follow-up (section 32)
Buying agentSources on commission; no stockAccounts and commission invoicingA manufacturing ERP is far more than it needs
Own-label retailerDevelops its own label, buys from factoriesVendor POs, landed costThese ERPs do not target retail
Example 2

The same order as CMT and as full package

QuestionFull packageCMT
Who buys the fabricThe factory, on a purchase orderThe buyer; no purchase order
How it enters the ERPReceipt raising stock value and a payableHeld apart from stock value; design with finance
Invoice3,000 × 4.26 = USD 12,780.003,000 × 1.60 = USD 4,800.00 (illustrative CM)
ReconciliationFabric used against the BOMs2,880 m received, 2,856 m used, 24 m returned or accounted for

Part 2Discovery

5Who should be on the project team?

Name one decision owner for every design question, and put the part-numbering decision with the merchandising head, not with IT, because it decides how every garment is counted for years. The partner configures; the business decides.

RoleDecides
SponsorScope, modules, budget, go-live window, what stays outside the ERP
Merchandising headPart numbering per style, colour and size; order entry; T&A ownership
Production manager and IEJob level, operations, minutes, subcontract steps, floor capture
CAD leadConsumption per size, marker efficiency
Stores headUnits, lots, what is measured at receipt
Quality managerInspection points, sampling plans, release rights
Finance headCosting method, landed cost, currencies, advances, chargebacks, tax
Partner consultantsHow each decision is set up in Epicor or SYSPRO; what needs an extension

6What should discovery workshops cover for a garment line on Epicor or SYSPRO?

Walk a real, recent order through each department and map every finding to a fit-gap line; spend extra time on how many parts the range will create and who will keep their BOMs. The full question sets are on the methodology page; these are the ones that decide an Epicor or SYSPRO design.

  • How many styles, colours and sizes per season, and how many of those combinations actually sell?
  • Do buyers order by grid, by ratio pack or line by line?
  • Which materials are bought in kg and used in metres, and what is measured per roll?
  • Which attributes must travel with a lot: shade group, GSM, width, shrinkage?
  • Which processes go outside, and how are pieces counted out and back?
  • Which inspections run, and which buyers set their own AQL?
  • Which import charges must reach material cost, and which e-invoicing rules apply?
Example 3

Output of the merchandising workshop

#FindingFit-gap lineDecision neededOwner
M1Orders arrive as size grids; the ERP takes one line per part41Where the grid is entered and how lines are createdMerchandising head
M2The range is about 800 style-colour-size combinations a season1Part per SKU, attributes, or an operations layerSponsor
M3Lab dips tracked in email10Where approval rounds liveDevelopment lead
M4BOMs for new sizes were copied from M on a past order12Where size consumption is calculatedCAD lead

7The apparel fit-gap checklist for Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO: 52 lines

This fit-gap records, line by line, whether Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO meet each apparel requirement as standard, with configuration, with custom work, or better outside the ERP. It is our assessment for a typical full-package garment factory, based on the vendors' documentation where we found it; where the two products differ, the note says so. Confirm every line with your partner before signing a scope.

Key: Standard documented as delivered · Configure settings or setup work · Custom build an extension or third-party tool · Operations layer better run in an apparel operations system and passed to the ERP

#RequirementAnswerNotes
Product
1Style master with a colour-size matrixCustom buildNo native style or matrix found; part per SKU, Epicor attributes, or an operations layer (section 11)
2Size scales per product familyConfigurePart-numbering convention per family
3Season or collectionConfigureUser fields or part classes
4Carry-over styles with a new price or BOMConfigureRevisions per part; multiplied by the part count
5Prepacks and ratio packsConfigureA pack part with a kit BOM
6Pairs and multi-packsConfigureAlternate units or a pack part
7Buyer's own style and colour codesConfigureCustomer part cross-references or user fields
8Tech-pack revision linked to the orderOperations layerNo tech-pack object
9Points of measure with tolerance per sizeOperations layerNo measurement-spec object
10Sample rounds with buyer approvalOperations layerNot found
BOM and costing
11BOM lines that apply by colour or sizeConfigureEach size-colour part has its own BOM, so it holds by design
12Size-graded fabric consumptionConfigureA quantity per size part; generate BOMs from a table (section 14)
13Wastage and shrinkage held separatelyCustom buildCheck scrap factors per material line
14Trims that change by colourwayConfigureIn each colour's part BOMs; maintenance multiplies (Example 6)
15Pre-costing before the style existsOperations layerNo garment cost build
16Standard against actual cost per orderStandardJob costing covers labour, material, subcontract and overhead
17Labour cost from operation minutesStandardOperations with times and rates
18Landed cost on receiptsStandardEpicor landed cost; SYSPRO Landed Cost Tracking module
19Quote versions and approvalOperations layerERP quotes price existing parts
Materials
20Purchase, stock and issue units with per-lot conversionCustom buildFactors per stock code; Epicor Advanced UOM to test (section 12)
21GSM and width per lot or rollConfigureLot user fields, or Epicor dynamic attributes
22Roll trackingConfigureLot or serial per roll
23Dye lot and shadeConfigureLot as dye lot; shade in a field or attribute
24Four-point fabric inspectionCustom buildInspection records exist; defect points per roll need design
25Quality hold and quarantineStandardSYSPRO receipt into inspection; Epicor inspection processing
26Buyer-supplied (consigned) stockConfigureDesign with finance
27Reserved against free stockStandardAllocation to jobs and orders
28Leftovers and stock-lot disposalConfigurePart class and sales flow
Production
29Work orders per style-colour or deliveryConfigureJobs per part; one job per size multiplies jobs
30Cut orders, lay plans, marker efficiencyCustom buildCAD plus a cutting tool
31Bundles and bundle ticketsCustom buildA shop-floor system
32WIP by stage and lineOperations layerJob operations are not line and bundle WIP
33Graded outputOperations layerProduced is not shippable
34Subcontract out and back with lossStandardEpicor subcontract operations and shipments; SYSPRO WIP subcontract dispatch
35Capacity by line from minutesConfigureResource capacity; seasonal line loading is design work
36T&A with a critical pathOperations layerNot found
Quality
37Inline and end-of-line captureOperations layerOperator-level capture belongs on the floor
38Final AQL to ISO 2859-1Custom buildISO tables not found in either product's documentation
39Logged override of a failed inspectionStandardEpicor nonconformance and DMR; SYSPRO non-conformance reports
40Lab tests and certificatesConfigureAttachments or inspection results
Sales and shipping
41Grid order entry by colour and sizeCustom buildNot found; a line per part
42Several deliveries per orderConfigureReleases or lines per date
43Over and under-shipment toleranceCustom buildCheck your version
44Carton packing and labelsConfigureEpicor lists master packs in Kinetic Warehouse; buyer labels are design work
45EDI 850, 855, 856, 810ConfigureCheck the EDI option with the vendor
46Buyer label and ASN rulesCustom buildPer buyer
Finance
47Multi-currency and exchange differencesStandardExpected in both; confirm revaluation rules
48Letter of credit termsCustom buildNo LC object found
49Advances and down paymentsConfigureCheck deposit handling in your version
50Reason-coded chargebacksConfigureReason codes on deductions
51Profitability per orderConfigureJob costing plus order reporting
52E-invoicing per countryConfigureCheck your country (section 22)

Counted from this table, 8 of the 52 lines are standard, 24 need configuration, 11 need custom work and 9 are better run outside the ERP. This is our assessment, not a survey. The pattern is clear: these ERPs are strong on the manufacturing and costing lines and weak on the product lines a fashion ERP covers natively.

Example 4

Five fit-gap rows, scored for the polo factory

#RequirementEvidenceDecisionOwner
1Style matrixAbout 800 combinations a seasonStyle lives in the operations layer; the ERP gets one part per sold SKUSponsor
12Size consumptionCopied BOMs ran short (Example 10)BOMs generated from the CAD tableCAD lead
23Dye lotShade complaint last seasonLot per dye lot, mandatory on receipt and issueStores head
34SubcontractEmbroidery outsideStandard subcontract operationProduction manager
38Final AQLBuyer manual: level II, AQL 2.5Outside the ERP; the pass releases the shipmentQA manager

8Which modules and licences does a garment project need?

License the manufacturing core and only the modules the fit-gap needs; for apparel the ones to check first are lot tracking, landed cost, quality and, in Epicor, Advanced Unit of Measure. We do not quote prices or deployment options, because both vendors sell through partners and the terms change; confirm cloud or on-premise and the module list in writing.

NeedEpicor Kinetic (vendor naming)SYSPRO (vendor naming)
Dye lotsLot and serial trackingLot Traceability module
Import costsLanded cost in Kinetic supply chain managementLanded Cost Tracking module
Outside processingSubcontract operations, subcontract parts trackingWIP Subcontract Operations Management
QualityInspection processing, nonconformance, DMR; Epicor QMS for CAPAPurchase Order Inspection, Quality Management (Inspection Engine, non-conformance)
Units and attributesAdvanced Unit of Measure with dynamic attributesStocking, alternate and other units per stock code
Configured productsCheck configurator licensingProduct Configurator

9Epicor Kinetic vs SYSPRO vs Acumatica for a garment line

For apparel the three are close on manufacturing depth; the difference is how each holds size and colour. Acumatica has template and matrix items (one SKU per combination), Epicor Kinetic has attribute-based inventory through Advanced Unit of Measure, and SYSPRO has neither, so it relies on stock codes per combination or its Product Configurator.

AspectEpicor KineticSYSPROAcumatica Manufacturing
Size and colourNo matrix found; part per SKU, or dynamic attributes under one part number (Advanced UOM)No matrix found; stock code per SKU, or Product ConfiguratorTemplate items with matrix items
LotsLot and serial with barcode scanningLot Traceability moduleLot and serial; lot assigned at receipt
SubcontractingSubcontract POs tied to job operationsWIP subcontract dispatch with lot and serialOutside processing (CMT fit to check)
Landed costAllocated to received materialsLanded Cost Tracking moduleLanded cost documents across vendors
APIREST v2 on OData v4, API key plus Basic or bearere.net business objects (REST and SOAP via WCF); read-only ODataContract-based REST, OData, webhooks

If a size grid is central to the business, read the Acumatica chapter before choosing. If one ledger across several divisions matters more, Epicor or SYSPRO plus an operations layer is a sound design.

Part 3Design, area by area

10How should parts and materials be classified for apparel?

Classify parts by how they are bought, stocked, costed and tracked: fabric, yarn, trims, packaging, subcontract services and finished garments each get their own class or product group, with lot tracking on fabric and yarn. In a part-per-SKU design, add a class or user field that links each garment part back to its style and colour, because the ERP has no parent to do it.

MaterialBought inUsed inTrack at receipt
Knit fabrickgmGSM, width, shade and dye lot
Woven fabricmmWidth, shade and dye lot, shrinkage
YarnkgkgCount, shade
TrimsGross (144), piecesPiecesColour per colourway
Buyer-supplied materialReceivedAs aboveHeld apart from stock value
ATMA
Learn the materials properly. ATMA, the merchandising academy from the MerchandiserOS team, has courses on fibres, yarns and fabrics, from GSM and yarn counts to shade and shrinkage. atma.courses

Buttons: 3 per polo is 9,000 pieces; with a 5% allowance 9,450, which is 9,450 ÷ 144 = 65.6 gross, so the PO says 66 gross (9,504 pieces). Gross to pieces is a fixed factor, so an alternate unit handles it in either ERP.

11How do you handle sizes and colours in Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO without a matrix?

Neither Epicor Kinetic nor SYSPRO documents a native style, colour and size matrix that we could find, so the usual design is one part (Epicor) or stock code (SYSPRO) per style, colour and size, with a numbering convention and a field that links it back to the style. A style/colour/size matrix is a grid with colours on one axis and sizes on the other, used to enter or show quantities for each combination.

There are three ways to hold size and colour:

DesignHow it worksTrade-off
Part per SKUOne part or stock code per style-colour-size, e.g. P2041-NVY-LSimple and exact for stock, jobs and costs; many parts and BOMs to maintain
Epicor dynamic attributesOne part per style or style-colour; attributes captured on quote, sales order, PO and receipt entry (Advanced Unit of Measure)Fewer parts; whether BOM quantities and jobs can differ by size attribute was not documented, so demo it
SYSPRO Product ConfiguratorA configuration of options creates a stocked parent with its BOM, routing and stock code from a quotationBuilt for configured products; suits made-to-order programmes more than fashion ranges

Epicor describes Advanced Unit of Measure as letting a business track inventory by attribute under a single part number and plan inventory at the attribute level. Epicor's own examples are engineering attributes such as hardness, strength and density; partners describe using it for size and colour, so test it on a real polo range before relying on it.

Example 5

The polo as five parts

Part / stock codeStyle (user field)ColourSizeSales order line
P2041-NVY-SP-2041NVYS300
P2041-NVY-MP-2041NVYM750
P2041-NVY-LP-2041NVYL900
P2041-NVY-XLP-2041NVYXL750
P2041-NVY-XXLP-2041NVYXXL300
5 parts3,000

The sales order has five lines, one per part, totalling 3,000 and USD 12,780.00. Merchandisers who think in grids will want the grid somewhere else and the lines created from it.

Example 6

A season of polos as parts, and one trim change

40 styles × 4 colours × 5 sizes = 800 finished parts, each with its own BOM
At about 8 BOM lines each: 800 × 8 = 6,400 BOM lines
Change the navy button supplier across the range: 40 styles × 5 sizes = 200 BOMs to edit

A fashion ERP with style-level structures makes that change once per style-colour. In a part-per-SKU design, a mass-update tool or a generated BOM load is not optional; plan it in the build (section 24).

Example 7

Jeans as parts: the part count

3 washes × 7 waists (28 to 40, even) × 3 inseams (30, 32, 34) = 63 parts per style
40 styles = 40 × 63 = 2,520 parts

Create parts only for combinations that are ordered. The operations layer can hold the full style and grid and ask the ERP for a part only when a combination is first bought, made or sold.

With operations on top: styles, colourways and size breakdowns live in the operations layer, and the ERP holds only the parts that are actually stocked and invoiced.

12How do you convert kilograms to metres for fabric in Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO?

SYSPRO converts between a stocking unit and an alternate or other unit with a conversion factor per stock code, and Epicor offers the same kind of factor plus Advanced Unit of Measure, whose dynamic attributes Epicor says help convert, for example, pounds or grams to feet or metres. A fixed factor is wrong for knit fabric, because the real factor changes with every roll's GSM and width.

GSM means grams per square metre: the weight of one square metre of fabric.

metres per kg = 1000 ÷ (GSM × width in m)
180 GSM jersey, 1.80 m width → 1000 ÷ (180 × 1.80) = 3.086 m per kg

SYSPRO's help notes that changing a conversion factor does not change outstanding sales or purchase orders already entered in the alternate unit, so a factor corrected mid-season leaves old orders on the old factor. In Epicor, stock status can show availability by attribute in both units; whether the conversion can be driven by a measured GSM and width per receipt is the question to demo.

Example 8

Four rolls of "180 GSM" jersey against one conversion factor

RollkgGSMWidth (m)m per kgMetres
R-10125.01761.823.12278.0
R-10224.61841.783.05375.1
R-10325.31811.803.06977.7
R-10424.81881.763.02275.0
Total99.7305.8
Fixed factor: 99.7 × 3.086 = 307.7 m · measured 305.8 m → 1.9 m short (0.6%)
On 925 kg: 925 × 3.086 = 2,855 m nominal, about 17 m less in reality ≈ 18 size-L polos (17 ÷ 0.95)

With operations on top: a measured lot record per receipt (GSM, width, shrinkage) drives consumption in the operations layer, and the ERP can stay in kilograms for stock value and payables.

13Can Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO track fabric by dye lot?

Yes. Both track lots: Epicor lists serial and lot processing with barcode scanning at every stage, and SYSPRO's Lot Traceability module tracks materials by lot from receipt through manufacture, inspection and distribution. Use each lot as one dye lot and make it mandatory on receipt and on every issue to cutting. A dye lot is a batch of fabric dyed together; two lots can differ in shade and must not meet in one garment.

Shade group, GSM and width per lot need a user field or, in Epicor, a dynamic attribute. Neither product documents a shade band or a rule that stops one cut from mixing lots, so that control belongs in an extension or the operations layer.

Example 9

Three dye lots as lots, and the cut plan

The mill ships 933 kg (8 kg over the 925 kg ordered) as 2,880 m in three lots. The order needs 2,856 m.

LotMetresCut from itUsedLeft
A1,210XXL 300 · XL 750 · M 23 · S 871,186.623.4
B1,030L 900 · S 2131,029.70.3
C640M 727639.80.2
Total2,8803,000 pieces2,85624
A: 330 + 765 + 20.24 + 71.34 = 1,186.58 · B: 855 + 174.66 = 1,029.66 · C: 727 × 0.88 = 639.76

In a part-per-SKU design, sizes S and M each draw from two lots, so the issues to their jobs must name the lot every time.

14How do you handle size-dependent fabric consumption in Epicor or SYSPRO BOMs?

In a part-per-SKU design, size consumption is simple: each size part has its own BOM with its own fabric quantity. The risk moves from the model to the maintenance, because new sizes are usually created by copying an existing BOM, and a copied fabric quantity is wrong for every other size. Generate BOMs from a consumption table instead.

Marker efficiency is the share of fabric in a marker that ends up in garment pieces; shrinkage is fabric lost in washing or finishing. Keep them apart in the source table.

Example 10

Five BOMs for five sizes, and the copied-BOM trap

Part BOMFabric per piecePiecesMetres
P2041-NVY-S0.82300246
P2041-NVY-M0.88750660
P2041-NVY-L0.95900855
P2041-NVY-XL1.02750765
P2041-NVY-XXL1.10300330
Correct BOMs3,0002,856
All copied from M0.883,0002,640

Copying M's BOM to every size under-buys by 216 m (7.6%), about 227 size-L polos (216 ÷ 0.95), found at the cutting table weeks before shipment.

With operations on top: the consumption engine (marker efficiency, shrinkage, woven construction) and MRP net-to-buy across the order book run in the operations layer, which passes purchase quantities to the ERP.

15How do you model cutting, sewing and finishing as operations?

Model cutting, sewing, finishing and packing as operations on the part's routing, with times and labour rates; both ERPs then cost labour on the job. Neither is documented as a sewing-line balancing or hourly output tool.

Example 11

The polo's operations, minutes and line capacity

OperationMinutes
Cutting: spread, cut, number, bundle1.20
Sewing line: shoulder to buttons13.50
Finishing: trim, inspect, press, fold, bag3.30
Total18.00
25 operators × 480 min × 60% = 7,200 min a day → 7,200 ÷ 13.50 = 533 polos a day
3,000 ÷ 533.3 = 5.6 line-days · CM 18 × USD 0.07 = USD 1.26 · 3,000 × 1.26 = USD 3,780

With one job per size part, the same routing is repeated on five jobs. Some teams group sizes on one job for the floor; decide it with production and finance.

With operations on top: the 52-week heat-map of lines and subcontractors, production orders with job cards per department and the WIP board run in the operations layer.

16Where do sampling, approvals and the T&A calendar live?

Neither ERP has an object for garment sample rounds, buyer verdicts or a T&A calendar that we could find, so they live in an extension or an operations layer. A PP (pre-production) sample is a garment in bulk fabric and trims that the buyer approves as the reference for production. A T&A calendar lists an order's milestones with planned dates worked back from ex-factory.

ATMA
Sampling, step by step. ATMA's courses walk through the sampling sequence, lab dips and PP meetings the way a merchandiser runs them. atma.courses
Example 12

The polo order's approval calendar, worked back from ex-factory

DateMilestoneBlocks
17 OctLab dip approvedBulk dyeing
14 NovPP sample approvedCutting
17 NovCutting starts
12 DecFinal AQLShipment
15 DecEx-factory

From lab dip approval to ex-factory is 59 days (14 in October after the 17th, 30 in November, 15 in December). Every slip in an approval eats into that window, and none of it is visible in a job.

With operations on top: dev approvals (lab dip, strike-off, sample, shipping mark) with rounds, courier details and buyer verdicts, the T&A with its critical path, and the PP approval that locks the style version for the order live in the operations layer.

17How do Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO handle subcontracting for CMT, embroidery or washing?

Both handle subcontracted operations as standard. In Epicor Kinetic, subcontract purchase orders are tied to job operations and shipments to the supplier are recorded against the subcontract operation. In SYSPRO, WIP Subcontract Operations Management records a dispatch when job-issued material is sent to a subcontract supplier, with quantity, lot and serial details for traceability and reconciliation.

CMT means cut, make and trim: in subcontracting, a unit that sews cut panels for the factory and charges for the labour.

Example 13

Embroidery as a subcontract operation

StepEpicor KineticSYSPROPieces
Embroidery operation on the jobSubcontract operation with its POSubcontract operation on the WIP job3,000
Fronts sent with 1% allowanceSubcontract shipmentDispatch with lot3,030
Good fronts backReceipt to the jobReceipt against the operation3,004
Rejects with reasonScrap or nonconformanceScrap or non-conformance26
Balance at the embroiderer0
3,000 × 1% = 30 allowance → 3,030 sent · 3,004 + 26 = 3,030 · 26 ≤ 30

With five size parts, the embroidery runs on five jobs unless sizes are grouped. Count the subcontract POs this creates before go-live.

With operations on top: subcontract steps sit on the production order in the operations layer, with subcontractors on the planning heat-map. The ERP receives the subcontract PO and the payable.

18How do you cost a garment and its imported fabric in Epicor or SYSPRO?

Job costing in both ERPs collects material, labour, subcontract and overhead per job, and both handle landed cost on imports: Epicor allocates additional costs to received materials, and SYSPRO's Landed Cost Tracking module tracks freight, duties, insurance and handling per shipment. The quotation cost build comes before any part exists, so it usually lives outside the ERP.

A landed cost is every cost of bringing goods to the factory beyond the supplier's price: freight, insurance, duty, clearing and bank charges.

ATMA
Costing a garment. ATMA, the merchandising academy from the MerchandiserOS team, teaches garment costing from fabric consumption and minutes to FOB and landed cost. atma.courses
Example 14

A quotation cost build for the polo (illustrative, USD per piece)

LineBasisUSD
Body fabric0.31 kg × 4.20, plus 6% loss1.38
Collar and cuffs1 set0.25
TrimsButtons, thread, labels, polybag0.32
EmbroiderySubcontractor price0.18
CM18 min × 0.071.26
Testing0.10
Overhead12% of CM0.15
Freight to port, documents0.12
Finance cost3%0.11
Margin10%0.39
FOB4.26
Example 15

Landed cost on the imported fabric

Jersey 925 kg at USD 3,885.00 and rib sets 3,060 at USD 765.00 (76.5 kg) arrive together under temporary admission, so duty is zero. Figures are illustrative.

ChargeUSDSpread byJerseyRib sets
Sea freight420.00Weight387.9232.08
Clearing and port180.00Value150.3929.61
LC bank charges95.00Value79.3715.63
Total695.00617.6877.32
420 × 925 ÷ 1,001.5 = 387.92 · value share 3,885 ÷ 4,650 = 83.55%
Jersey landed = 3,885.00 + 617.68 = 4,502.68 → ÷ 925 = USD 4.87 per kg
Fabric line at landed cost: 0.31 × 4.87 × 1.06 = USD 1.60, +0.22 a polo, +USD 660 on the order

Which allocation methods each ERP offers (weight, value, quantity) is a setup question; confirm the options in your version.

With operations on top: the cost engine to FOB with landed cost and dated FX, the standard cost sheet and quotations with approval gates run in the operations layer. The ERP holds the landed cost that actually hit the receipts.

19Can Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO run AQL inspection for garments?

Both run inspections, but we did not find ISO 2859-1 AQL tables in either product's documentation, so AQL sample sizes and acceptance numbers need an extension or a separate system. Epicor Kinetic has an Inspection Workbench where failed parts go to discrepant material report (DMR) processing, nonconformance records, and Epicor QMS for CAPA. SYSPRO receives inspection-flagged items into inspection first, then accepts, rejects or scraps them in Purchase Order Inspection, and its Quality Management module adds an Inspection Engine and non-conformance reports.

AQL (acceptance quality limit) inspection checks a random sample from a lot and accepts or rejects the lot on the defects found.

Example 16

The final inspection sample for 3,000 polos

StepISO 2859-1, normal, singleResult
Lot size band1,201–3,2003,000 falls here
Code letter at level IIK
Sample sizeK125
Major, AQL 2.5Accept 7, reject 8
Minor, AQL 4.0Accept 10, reject 11

125 ÷ 3,000 = 4.17% of the lot. The ERP can hold the result; the sample size must come from the tables at the buyer's level.

ATMA
Quality in a garment factory. ATMA covers inspection stages, AQL and how to read a buyer's quality manual. atma.courses

With operations on top: typed inspections, the AQL engine on ISO 2859-1 at the buyer's level, CAPA, needle and metal control and quality grades run in the operations layer.

20How do you handle cartons and shipping documents?

Shipping and packing run in the ERP (Epicor lists master packs in Kinetic Warehouse), while buyer carton rules, labels and packing-list layouts need design per buyer.

Example 17

Packing 3,000 polos into cartons, one dye lot per carton

Size and lotPiecesFull cartons of 10Part carton
S, lot A8781 of 7
S, lot B213211 of 3
M, lot A2321 of 3
M, lot C727721 of 7
L, lot B90090none
XL, lot A75075none
XXL, lot A30030none
Total3,0002984 (20 pieces)

302 cartons, not 300. Agree part cartons with the buyer before packing.

21How do these ERPs handle currencies, letters of credit, advances and chargebacks?

Multi-currency is expected in both ERPs, but we did not verify deposit invoicing, letter-of-credit handling or chargeback reason codes in the vendors' documentation for this guide; confirm each with the partner and test it (section 27). A letter of credit is a bank's promise to pay when documents matching its terms are presented; under UCP 600 they are presented within 21 days after shipment unless the credit says otherwise.

Example 18

Down payment, letter of credit and exchange difference

Order = 3,000 × 4.26 = USD 12,780.00 · 30% down payment = USD 3,834.00 · balance USD 8,946.00
Invoiced at 48.80 = EGP 436,564.80 · paid at 49.10 = EGP 439,248.60
Exchange gain = 8,946.00 × 0.30 = EGP 2,683.80
On open account less a USD 100.00 label claim and 1% late ASN (89.46): received 8,946.00 − 189.46 = USD 8,756.54

A chargeback is an amount a buyer deducts for a claimed failure; post each deduction to its own reason.

22Do Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO support e-invoicing in garment-exporting countries?

We did not verify either vendor's localisation for garment-exporting countries in this guide, so check your country with the vendor and the partner before signing. Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and Morocco each have their own e-invoicing and VAT rules, and free-zone factories often report material import and re-export in a local format. Test an e-invoice end to end before go-live.

Part 4Build

23In what order should Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO be configured for a garment line?

Configure from the ledger outward: company, currencies and accounts; units and conversion factors; part classes and numbering; lot tracking; landed cost; work centers, operations and subcontract setup; quality; and only then the parts and BOMs, loaded from a generated file. The screen names below are those used in the vendors' documentation; menu locations vary by version, so find them through search in your version.

#ConfigureEpicor KineticSYSPRO
1Company, accounts, currenciesPer partner setupPer partner setup
2Units and factorsUnit classes; Advanced UOM attribute sets if licensedStock Code Maintenance (stocking, alternate, other units)
3Part numbering and style linkPart classes, user fieldsProduct classes, custom form fields
4Lot tracking on fabric and yarnLot-tracked partsLot Traceability
5Landed costLanded cost setupLanded Cost Tracking
6Work centers and subcontract operationsResources and subcontract operationsWork centers and WIP subcontract setup
7InspectionInspection setup, nonconformanceInspection on receipt, Inspection Engine
8Parts and BOMsGenerated loadGenerated load

24Which extensions does an apparel project on Epicor or SYSPRO usually need?

Expect extensions for a style layer (grid entry and part generation), BOM generation and mass change, per-lot fabric conversion, cut control, AQL and quantity tolerance, unless those move to an operations layer. Epicor Kinetic offers Epicor Functions and BPM for business logic, reachable through its REST API; SYSPRO extends through e.net business objects. The list below is from implementation practice.

ExtensionPurposeFit-gap linesNeeded with operations on top?
Style and grid layerGrid entry that creates part lines; parts created on first use1, 41No
BOM generator and mass changeBOMs per size from a consumption table; trim changes across parts12, 14No
Fabric conversion per lotkg to metres from GSM and width20No
Cut controlOne lot per cut; cut orders, bundles23, 30, 31No
Sampling and T&ARounds, verdicts, milestones10, 36No
AQL and toleranceISO 2859-1 sampling; shipment tolerance38, 43No
Letters of creditTerms and document checks48Yes

25Which systems does the ERP integrate with in a garment business?

A garment business on Epicor or SYSPRO typically connects a style or PLM tool, a floor system, EDI with retailers, banks and an operations layer. Keep one writer per field, link on the ERP's own keys, show disagreements to a person on a review list, and make every receiver safe to call twice.

RecordSource of truthGoes to the ERP as
Style, spec, gridOperations layerParts, created when first needed
Buyer orderOperations layer or EDISales order lines per part
Material requirementsOperations layerPurchase requests that become POs
Receipts and lotsERP, with measurements from the operations layerReceipts
Floor outputOperations layer or floor systemSummarised job reporting
Invoices, paymentsERPNative

Part 5Data migration

26How do you migrate apparel data into Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO?

Migrate only open and active data, in dependency order, with generated part and BOM files rather than hand-keyed ones, and have each owner sign the loaded totals. Epicor users widely load data with Epicor's Data Management Tool (DMT) per the Epicor user community; confirm it is in your licence. SYSPRO offers import programs (for example Purchase Order Receipts Import, which posts through the PORTOR business object) and e.net business objects for loads.

#ObjectScope
1Units, classes, numberingFinal design
2Customers and suppliersActive in two seasons
3MaterialsIn active styles or stock
4Garment partsOnly combinations with open orders or stock
5BOMs and routingsGenerated from the consumption table
6Stock by lotCounted at cut-off
7Open POs, sales orders, receivables, payablesOpen quantities and invoices only

A cut-off rule states the exact moment after which every transaction is entered in the new ERP. For the polo order, the check is simple: 1,278 + 3,195 + 3,834 + 3,195 + 1,278 = 12,780.00 = 3,000 × 4.26, across five part lines.

Part 6Testing

27How should you test a garment implementation end to end?

Test with end-to-end scenarios that follow one real order from the buyer's PO to cash, run by key users on migrated data, with expected results written first. The 13 scenarios are the same for every ERP in this guide.

#ScenarioExpected result
T1FOB order to paymentEverything reconciles (Example 19)
T2CMT with buyer fabricBuyer fabric outside stock value
T3Prepack orderPacks, pieces, cartons agree
T4Shade splitNo cut mixes lots (Example 20)
T5Subcontract with lossOut, back, rejects balance (Example 13)
T6Short shipment in toleranceInvoiced on shipped quantity
T7Over-shipmentBlocked or approved by name
T8Seconds saleSeconds valued and sold apart
T9LC discrepancyFlagged before presentation
T10ChargebackPosted by reason
T11Spec revision mid-seasonOpen jobs keep the approved BOM revision
T12Cancelled orderCommitted fabric and open POs listed
T13FX at month-endDifferences posted
Example 19

Test script: the polo order from sales order to cash

StepActionExpected result
1Enter the sales order: five part lines S 300, M 750, L 900, XL 750, XXL 300 at 4.263,000 pieces, USD 12,780.00
2Record the 30% advance as finance designedUSD 3,834.00
3Raise the PO for 925 kg jerseyOpen PO
4Receive 933 kg in lots A, B, C into inspectionRefused without a lot; held until accepted
5Accept in inspection; apply landed costJersey at USD 4.87 per kg
6Release jobs for the five parts; the embroidery subcontract PO appearsFive jobs; subcontract PO for the operation
7Complete the jobs; ship 3,000 in 302 cartonsShipment for 3,000
8Invoice the balance12,780.00 − 3,834.00 = USD 8,946.00 due
9Register payment at another rate; review job costsExchange difference posted; job cost against the quote
Example 20

Test script: shade split at cutting

StepActionExpected result
1Issue lot A to the XXL, XL, part-M and part-S jobs1,186.6 m issued, lot A named on each issue
2Try to issue lot B to the XL jobRefused, naming both lots
3Issue lot B to L and part-S; lot C to part-M1,029.7 m and 639.8 m
4Return leftovers per lotA 23.4 m, B 0.3 m, C 0.2 m

Step 2 needs cut control (section 24) or an operations layer.

Test script: short shipment within tolerance

StepActionExpected result
1Ship 2,940 of 3,000 (±3% allowed)2.0% short, accepted
2Close the 60 without a backorderNo open quantity
3Invoice2,940 × 4.26 = USD 12,524.40, less 3,834.00 = 8,690.40
4Repeat with 2,9003.3% short; blocked or approved by name

Part 7Training, go-live and hypercare

28How should training, cut-over and hypercare run?

Train each role on its own screens and scenarios using the factory's own parts, rehearse the cut-over once in full, go live between seasons, and keep the partner close until the first month-end close is done. Hypercare is the period after go-live when the project team fixes issues daily.

  • Merchandisers learn to enter the polo as five part lines, or the grid in the operations layer that creates them.
  • Stores learn receipts into inspection with lots, and issues that always name the lot.
  • Planners learn jobs, subcontract operations and the embroidery PO.
  • Quality learns inspection, nonconformance and release.
  • Finance learns landed cost, job costing, advances and currency.

Practitioners commonly plan four to eight weeks of hypercare; that is judgement, not a standard. Nobody leaves before the first month-end close.

Part 8Risks

29What are the most common mistakes when using Epicor or SYSPRO for apparel?

The most common mistakes are part explosion, BOMs copied from one size, no link from part to style, one conversion factor per fabric, and expecting a manufacturing ERP to do a merchandiser's job. The list comes from implementation practice and from the general failure modes in the methodology.

  1. Part explosion.Every possible combination created up front (Examples 6 and 7).
  2. BOMs copied from size M.Large sizes run short (Example 10).
  3. No style link.Reports cannot add up a style across its parts.
  4. One conversion factor.Stock says metres the cutting table does not have (Example 8).
  5. Lots optional at issue.Shade mixing found at final inspection.
  6. Attributes assumed to drive BOMs.Epicor dynamic attributes chosen without a demo of size-dependent consumption.
  7. A job per size per order without thought.Five times the jobs and subcontract POs for every order.
  8. Grid-thinking users on line-entry screens.Merchandisers keep their spreadsheets.

30What must be decided before go-live?

Decide the part model, the numbering, the style link, the fabric unit design, the lot rules, the job level and which system owns style, sampling, T&A, floor capture and AQL, because each is expensive to change once transactions exist.

  • Part per SKU, Epicor dynamic attributes, SYSPRO configurator, or an operations layer.
  • Part numbering and when a part is created.
  • How BOMs are generated and mass-changed.
  • Fabric units and kg-to-metre conversion.
  • Lot as dye lot; which lot fields are mandatory.
  • Job per size, per style-colour or per delivery.
  • Landed cost allocation methods.
  • Where sampling, T&A, floor capture and AQL live.
  • How buyer-supplied fabric stays out of stock value.
  • Which API the integration uses and which service account it logs in with.

Part 9Integration and API

31Which API should an integration use with Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO?

Use the Epicor Kinetic REST API v2, built on OData v4, where every request carries an API key plus Basic authentication or a bearer token. For SYSPRO, write through e.net business objects, which run on WCF services with HTTP REST and SOAP endpoints, and read through the SYSPRO OData service, which is read-only.

Epicor Kinetic

  • Endpoint. Services sit under https://<server>/<instance>/api/v2/odata/<company>/, with business objects, BAQs (Epicor's saved queries) and Epicor Functions exposed as services, per Epicor and third-party documentation. Kinetic's built-in REST help lets you browse services and try calls.
  • Auth. An API key on every request, plus Basic credentials or a bearer token. REST v2 appeared in Epicor 10.2.700, per third-party documentation; check your version.
  • Identifiers. Link on the company plus the PO number Epicor assigns, never on a reference a user types.

SYSPRO

  • e.net business objects carry SYSPRO's own business logic for queries and postings; for example, PORTOR posts purchase order receipts. Calls run under a SYSPRO operator; check the e.net guide for your release.
  • SYSPRO OData is a standalone OData 4.0 service that exposes SYSPRO tables for reading only, with Basic authentication using SQL credentials; SYSPRO lists it from SYSPRO 8 2021 R2.
  • SYSPRO Harmony API queries and posts to the Harmony database; it is not the route for ERP transactions.

We found no documented webhooks for either ERP in what we reviewed, so polling for changes is the baseline. Make the receiving side safe to call twice.

Example 21

One purchase request, from MerchandiserOS to Epicor Kinetic and back

  1. In MerchandiserOS, request PR-1042 for 925 kg of navy jersey is approved.
  2. The Epicor-side integration collects it: GET /api/v1/erp/documents.
  3. It creates the purchase order through the Kinetic REST API in company MAIN; Epicor assigns PO number 10457, and the buyer approves it in Epicor.
  4. The integration sends the answer back:
POST /api/v1/erp/po-status
Idempotency-Key: epicor-MAIN-10457-approved

{"rows": [{"request_ref": "PR-1042",
           "erp_po_id": "MAIN/10457",
           "erp_po_number": "10457",
           "status": "approved",
           "date": "2026-10-21"}]}
  1. A person in MerchandiserOS approves it on the ERP review list; the request shows "Epicor PO 10457, approved".
  2. The integration reads the decision from GET /api/v1/erp/proposals/{id}.

On SYSPRO the same flow creates the PO through an e.net business object and reads its status through e.net or the read-only OData service; the id is the SYSPRO purchase order number. No price travels. Without programming, the file exchange carries the same rows as a file, approved on the same review list.

Part 10If you don't manufacture

32Are Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO good for a clothing brand, buying agent or own-label retailer?

Usually not as a first choice. Both are built for manufacturers, and a clothing brand, a buying house or an own-label retailer uses little of their manufacturing depth while missing the style, matrix and retail features a fashion or distribution ERP offers. They can work when a brand sits inside a group that already runs Epicor or SYSPRO for its factories.

Who they are

  • A brand or wholesaler designs and sells, while factories make for it on FOB or CMT terms.
  • A buying agent or buying house sources for buyers on commission and holds no stock.
  • An own-label retailer develops its own label and buys it through private label sourcing.

What they need, and what to skip

NeedBrand or retailerBuying agentIn Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO
Purchase orders to factories (FOB or CMT)YesNoStandard POs; CMT as subcontract operations
Landed cost and dutyYesNoEpicor landed cost; SYSPRO Landed Cost Tracking
Vendor payments and LCsYesNoPayables; LC terms need design
Wholesale sales ordersYesNoStandard, one line per part
EDI 850, 856, 810 and chargebacksWhen selling to retailersNoCheck the EDI option
Commission accountingPays itA commission invoice to the buyer; no stock, no goods payables or receivablesA service invoice; check commission features
Multi-currencyYesYesExpected in both

Skip the manufacturing modules: jobs, routings, work centers, MRP for production and shop-floor tools. As buying house ERP or sourcing agent software, a manufacturing ERP is more system than the work needs; as an ERP for clothing brands, it lacks the style and grid. Compare with NetSuite and Dynamics 365 Business Central.

What these ERPs handle poorly for them

  • Development and sampling with many factories.
  • T&A across factories.
  • Following production that happens outside.
  • Inspections at the vendor with AQL.
  • One status per order across many factories and buyers.

The MerchandiserOS model for brands and agents

MerchandiserOS runs development, samples and approvals, the T&A, the orders placed with factories, sourcing, the planning view across subcontracted factories, quality inspections and shipping follow-up. The ERP keeps the books. Its workspace set-ups include "Brand" and "Buying agent". Retail back-office work (stores, POS, allocation, open-to-buy) is outside MerchandiserOS's scope.

Example 22

The polo seen from the brand and the buying agent

The brand buys 3,000 polos at USD 4.26 FOB through an agent paid an illustrative 5% of FOB. Freight, duty and clearing are illustrative.

LineBasisUSD
FOB value3,000 × 4.2612,780.00
Agent commission12,780.00 × 5%639.00
Freight and insuranceIllustrative540.00
Duty12% of FOB (illustrative)1,533.60
Clearing and deliveryIllustrative210.00
Landed in the brand's warehouse15,702.60
15,702.60 ÷ 3,000 = USD 5.23 a polo · 15,702.60 ÷ 12,780.00 = 1.229, about 23% above FOB

In the brand's ERP the factory PO carries 12,780.00 and the other lines are landed costs on the receipt. The agent invoices 639.00 as a service with no stock. Whether a buying commission is dutiable is a customs question; check with your broker.

Part 11The recommended model

33The operations layer: what runs on top of Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO

With a general manufacturing ERP, an operations layer does more than save customisation: it gives the style, the size grid and the approvals a home the ERP never had. Let Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO keep the books and run operations from style to shipment in a system built for apparel.

Example 23

The polo order with operations on top

StepIn MerchandiserOSWhat the ERP sees
Tech pack and quoteStyle P-2041 with graded measurements; cost build at 4.26 FOBNothing
SamplesLab dips, strike-off, PP approved 14 Nov and locked to the style versionNothing
OrderOne grid of 3,000 by size, T&A to 15 DecFive part lines for invoicing
ProcurementNet-to-buy 925 kg, receipts measured per lotPOs, receipts, payables
Production and floorCut by dye lot, job cards, output per hourMaterial issues for stock value
Quality and logisticsAQL 125 pieces, 302 cartons, ship clearanceShipment and invoice

Who does what

AreaRuns in MerchandiserOSRecorded in the ERP
StyleVersions and frozen snapshots, tech pack sections, graded POM with tolerances, colourways and lab dips, a classified two-level BOM, the consumption engine, make-type awareParts, when first needed
Costing and approvalsCost engine to FOB with landed cost and dated FX, standard cost sheet, quotations, approval gates with thresholdsNothing until an order exists
OrdersBuyer POs as parent records, size×colour breakdown, tolerance band, provisional→confirmed quantity, per-shipment deliveries, ratio packs; an approved PP round locks the style versionSales order lines per part
Development approvalsLab dip, strike-off, sample and shipping mark with rounds, parcel and courier details, buyer verdict and T&A wiringNothing
Sourcing and materialsSuppliers with qualification, materials master, purchase requests → POs → GRN → issue and return, MRP net-to-buy, shade bands, measured lot record, incoming inspection with the dye lotFinancial POs, payables, stock value
Planning and production52-week heat-map, production orders, job cards, floor capture, WIP board, T&A with critical pathMaterial movements
QualityTyped inspections, AQL on ISO 2859-1 at the buyer's level, CAPA, needle and metal control, quality gradesNothing
LogisticsPer-delivery shipments, packing and cartonisation, ship clearanceShipment and invoice

What the ERP project no longer needs to build

  • A style and grid layer, and part generation for every combination.
  • BOM generators and mass-change tools across size parts.
  • Per-lot fabric conversion and cut control.
  • Sampling, approvals, T&A, AQL and tolerance checks.

What stays in the ERP project: finance, landed cost, LCs, chargebacks, local reports, e-invoicing and the connection.

How they connect

  • ERP ↔ MerchandiserOS. The MerchandiserOS ERP API (an integration login, a review list where a person approves every inbound change, an approver per kind of change, a "what changed" feed) or a file exchange with no programming. Money amounts stay in the ERP.
  • Shop floor. MerchandiserOS floor screens, or Garment.io: MerchandiserOS integrates with Garment.io, sending orders and styles and reading output and actual minutes back.
ATMA
Go deeper. For the merchandising behind all of this, from fibres and costing to sampling, quality and shipping, see the courses at ATMA, the academy from the MerchandiserOS team. atma.courses

·Frequently asked questions about Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO for apparel

Each answer stands on its own.

Does Epicor Kinetic have an apparel or fashion edition?

We could not find one. Epicor Kinetic is a manufacturing ERP for make-to-order and mixed-mode manufacturers, and Epicor's Prophet 21 is a distribution ERP. A garment business on Epicor Kinetic models sizes and colours as parts or as Advanced Unit of Measure attributes, and usually adds an operations layer for styles, sampling and the floor.

Does SYSPRO have a size and colour matrix for clothing?

We did not find a native size and colour matrix or an apparel vertical in SYSPRO's documentation. The usual design is one stock code per style, colour and size, or the SYSPRO Product Configurator for configured products, with grid entry and styles handled in an extension or an operations layer.

How do you manage sizes and colours in Epicor Kinetic?

Either create one part per style, colour and size with a numbering convention, or test Advanced Unit of Measure, which lets Epicor track inventory by dynamic attributes under a single part number, with attribute sets on quote, sales order, PO and receipt entry. Epicor's own examples are engineering attributes, so demo size-dependent BOMs before choosing it.

What does part-per-SKU mean for a garment factory?

Part-per-SKU means every style-colour-size combination is its own part with its own BOM. Stock, jobs and costs are exact per size, and size-graded fabric is easy to hold, but a range of 40 styles in 4 colours and 5 sizes creates 800 parts, and one trim change on navy can touch 200 BOMs.

Can Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO track fabric dye lots?

Yes. Epicor supports lot and serial tracking with barcode scanning, and SYSPRO's Lot Traceability module tracks lots from receipt through manufacture and distribution. Use each lot as a dye lot and make it mandatory on receipt and issue; shade, GSM and width need fields or attributes, and preventing mixed lots on a cut needs extra control.

How do you convert kilograms to metres for fabric in SYSPRO or Epicor?

SYSPRO converts through alternate and other units with a factor per stock code, and Epicor offers factors plus Advanced Unit of Measure for conversions such as grams to metres. Because the true factor, 1000 ÷ (GSM × width in metres), changes per roll, measure each roll and convert per lot, or keep stock in kilograms.

Do Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO support subcontracting for CMT or embroidery?

Yes. Epicor Kinetic ties subcontract purchase orders to job operations and records shipments to the subcontractor. SYSPRO's WIP Subcontract Operations Management records dispatches of job-issued material to a subcontract supplier with quantity, lot and serial details for reconciliation.

Do Epicor Kinetic and SYSPRO handle landed cost on imported fabric?

Yes. Epicor allocates additional costs such as freight and duty to received materials, and SYSPRO's Landed Cost Tracking module tracks freight, duties, insurance and handling per shipment. Confirm the allocation methods in your version and price quotes on landed material cost.

Can Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO run AQL inspections?

Both run inspections: Epicor with inspection processing, nonconformance and DMR, and SYSPRO with inspection on receipt, an Inspection Engine and non-conformance reports. We did not find ISO 2859-1 AQL tables in either, so sample sizes and acceptance numbers at the buyer's level need an extension or a separate quality system.

What API does Epicor Kinetic offer for integration?

Epicor Kinetic offers a REST API v2 built on OData v4. Every request carries an API key plus Basic authentication or a bearer token, and business objects, BAQs and Epicor Functions are exposed as services with built-in REST help for testing calls.

How do you integrate with SYSPRO: e.net, OData or Harmony?

Use e.net business objects to post and query ERP transactions, because they carry SYSPRO's business logic over WCF with REST and SOAP endpoints. The SYSPRO OData service is read-only and exposes tables, which suits reporting and polling. The Harmony API works on the Harmony database, not on ERP transactions.

Is Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO good for a clothing brand that outsources production?

Usually not as a first choice. A brand needs purchase orders to factories, landed cost, vendor payments and wholesale orders, which both handle, but it uses little of their manufacturing depth and misses a style and size grid. They make sense when the brand belongs to a group already running Epicor or SYSPRO.

Can Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO handle a buying agent's commission?

A buying agent needs a commission invoice to the buyer with no stock and no goods payables or receivables, which either ERP can raise as a service invoice; we did not verify dedicated commission features, so check your version. For a buying house, a manufacturing ERP is more system than the work needs.

Epicor Kinetic, SYSPRO or Acumatica for a garment line?

They are close on manufacturing. Acumatica has template and matrix items, Epicor Kinetic has attribute-based inventory through Advanced Unit of Measure, and SYSPRO relies on stock codes per combination or its Product Configurator. Choose Acumatica if the size grid is central; choose Epicor or SYSPRO if one ledger across several product divisions matters more.

·Glossary of apparel, Epicor and SYSPRO terms

Short definitions of the terms used here. The full list is on the guide glossary.

Advanced Unit of Measure
Epicor Kinetic functionality for tracking inventory by dynamic attributes under one part number, with conversions between units.
AQL
Acceptance quality limit: a sampling inspection that accepts or rejects a lot on the defects found, using ISO 2859-1 tables.
BAQ
Business Activity Query: a saved query in Epicor, callable through the REST API.
CMT
Cut, make and trim: a factory model where the buyer supplies fabric and the factory charges for making.
DMR
Discrepant material report: Epicor's record for failed material awaiting a decision.
Dye lot
A batch of fabric dyed together; lots can differ in shade and must not be mixed in one garment.
e.net business object
A SYSPRO service that queries or posts a transaction using SYSPRO's own business logic.
FOB
Free on board: the price of goods loaded at the port of shipment, the usual garment quote.
GSM
Grams per square metre: the weight of fabric.
Landed cost
Every cost of bringing goods in beyond the supplier's price: freight, insurance, duty, clearing, bank charges.
Part-per-SKU
A design where each style-colour-size combination is its own part or stock code.
PP sample
Pre-production sample in bulk fabric and trims that the buyer approves as the reference for production.
Stock code
SYSPRO's identifier for an inventory item.
Style/colour/size matrix
A grid of colours by sizes used to enter or show quantities for each combination.
Subcontract operation
A routing step done by an outside supplier, bought on a purchase order tied to the job.
T&A calendar
Time and action calendar: an order's milestones with planned dates worked back from ex-factory, actual dates and owners.

·Checklists: Epicor Kinetic or SYSPRO for apparel on one page

FREE
Download the Apparel ERP Implementation Checklist (Excel). The 52-point fit-gap, 17 decisions before go-live, 13 test scenarios and a 30-item go-live list, ready to take into your first workshop. Free to use and share. Download the checklist

Discovery and design

  • Business type settled: CMT, full package, multi-product, mill, brand, agent or own label.
  • Range size counted: styles × colours × sizes actually sold.
  • Part model chosen and demonstrated on a real range.
  • BOM generation and mass change planned.
  • Fabric unit design, lots as dye lots, lot fields mandatory.
  • Where style, sampling, T&A, floor capture and AQL live.

Build, data, testing and go-live

  • Modules licensed: lots, landed cost, quality, units.
  • Integration on Epicor REST v2 or SYSPRO e.net, linked on ERP keys.
  • Parts and BOMs loaded from generated files; totals signed.
  • All 13 scenarios passed by key users; cut-over rehearsed.
  • Go-live between seasons; hypercare to the first month-end close.

·Sources

Pages were checked on 26 September 2026. Some epicor.com pages refuse automated fetches; for those, claims rest on the page as indexed by search engines and are marked as vendor pages.

  1. Epicor, Kinetic Open REST API (vendor page) · epicor.com
  2. Epicor Kinetic REST API v2: API key plus Basic or bearer, OData v4, endpoints (third party) · knowledgelib.io
  3. Epicor, Advanced Unit of Measure (vendor page) · epicor.com · ebook · epicor.com
  4. Epicor, Kinetic Supply Chain Management (landed cost, container tracking, lot and serial) · epicor.com · Kinetic Warehouse · epicor.com
  5. Epicor, Kinetic Production Management and Epicor QMS · epicor.com · epicor.com
  6. Epicor Prophet 21 (distribution ERP) · epicor.com
  7. Epicor user community on DMT loads · epiusers.help
  8. SYSPRO e.net Solutions · developer.syspro.com
  9. SYSPRO OData service (read-only, OData 4.0, Basic with SQL credentials) · help.syspro.com
  10. SYSPRO 8 Harmony API Service · help.syspro.com
  11. SYSPRO PORTOR business object · help.syspro.com
  12. SYSPRO Stock Code Maintenance (units and factors) · help.syspro.com
  13. SYSPRO Product Configurator · help.syspro.com
  14. SYSPRO WIP Subcontract Operations Management (2026 R1 guide) · help.syspro.com
  15. SYSPRO Landed Cost Tracking · syspro.com · Lot Traceability · syspro.com
  16. SYSPRO Purchase Order Inspection, Non Conformance Report Maintenance, Inspection Engine · help.syspro.com · help.syspro.com · help.syspro.com
  17. SYSPRO overview (third party) · erpresearch.com
  18. Acumatica matrix items and landed cost (see the Acumatica chapter) · acumatica.com
  19. ISO 2859-1 · iso.org · AQL tables · qima.com · UCP 600 · tradefinanceglobal.com

Corrections. Both vendors release often, and module names, API versions and options change. If a statement here contradicts your version, report a correction with the version and the page you checked; we correct the chapter and note the change and its date here. We re-check these facts at least once a year.

Epicor, Epicor Kinetic and Prophet 21 are trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation. SYSPRO is a trademark of SYSPRO. Acumatica is a trademark of Acumatica, Inc. Names are used only to identify the products; this guide is not endorsed by any of them. Garment.io is named because MerchandiserOS integrates with it; this guide is not endorsed by Garment.io.