ABS provides cutting edge technology to the oldest textile school in America

Philadelphia University founded in 1884 is one of the oldest textile schools in the United States. While this may be an "old school" they are using cutting edge technology for the student's educational experience.

Philadelphia University students are getting some real world lessons on enterprise resource planning systems via software and labs provided by Apparel Business Systems, LLC. Added to the curriculum in fall 2008, the students participate in 6 labs per semester that teach them how companies use the software to manage the business life cycle. The labs include; Pre Production Routing Guides, Open to Buy Budgets and Plant Loading, Material Requirements Planning, Determining Selling Margins, Style Operations and Time Analysis, Bills of Material and Style Costing.

President of ABS, Jean Kopan, explained "This was a great way to expose the students to enterprise resource planning and IT systems that drive the apparel, footwear and sewn products industries. It also allows our company to get a fresh perspective on what is needed in our package by listening to the students and watching how well they do on the labs and the concepts - it is a win for everyone involved".

Nioka Watts, Assistant Professor of Fashion Management stated "Students benefit because it offers a holistic view of the entire process - mostly they learn the front end in the standard curriculum; designing and selling the product. Now they can visualize the entire back end of the process; supply chain management, plant loading and production. Any time we can offer the students an opportunity for hands on active learning, in a real world situation, it is a major win for everyone."

Jill Clemens, a fashion merchandising major, is currently taking the labs in her Survey of the Apparel Industry class. Jill described her experience as follows, "It is so easy to see why companies use the software, it is obvious when items are due in and the tracking capabilities make it so easy to see any issues. Learning this software has been a great opportunity for us to increase our marketability to future employers. I am hoping additional labs will be available to us to learn more about ERP systems."