Fashion teams today are juggling tight deadlines, fast trend cycles, global supply chains, and growing pressure to deliver sustainable products. Designing great styles is just one part of the process. Getting measurement details right, from fit specs to grade rules, is what keeps fashion production running smoothly.

That’s where specification management software makes a difference. It keeps all your product info in one place, helps reduce mistakes, and gives everyone, like designers, developers, and vendors, access to the same up-to-date details.

In this guide, we’ll break down what specification management means, how it supports your fashion production workflow, and why the right software can help your team save time, avoid stress, and work more efficiently from start to finish.

What Is Specification Management in Fashion?

In fashion, specification management means clearly documenting and managing garment measurements to ensure accurate fit and consistent sizing. This detailed process is central to technical design, guiding factories through sample creation and final production.

Specification management includes:

• Points of Measure (PoMs) - Specific garment measurements such as chest width, sleeve length, or neckline depth.

• Size charts - Measurements listed by size (XS–XXL).

• Fit tolerances - Acceptable variations in measurements (e.g., chest width ±0.5”).

• Grade rules - How measurements scale across sizes.

• How-to-measure guides - Visual instructions detailing precisely how and where each measurement is taken (e.g., chest width measured 1” below armhole).

Typically, specifications appear as tables, with PoMs vertically and sizes horizontally. Factories reference these measurements and guides to ensure prototypes match specifications. If a sample falls outside tolerance, revisions are required.

Specifications form a critical part of the broader tech pack, which includes additional separate documents like Bill of Materials (BOM) for fabrics and trims, construction notes, and packaging and compliance guidelines. Together, these ensure fashion products meet brand quality standards consistently from concept through production.

How Specification Management Software Helps Fashion Brands

Specification management software helps fashion teams manage fit-related data with greater speed, accuracy, and control. Instead of working from static spreadsheets, teams can build, update, and share measurement specs in one real-time platform.

The software supports the entire sample development process. Teams can log points of measure, update size charts, apply tolerances, and upload how-to-measure visuals, all in one place. When changes are made, everyone sees the latest version immediately. This reduces miscommunication between technical designers, developers, and factories and helps maintain consistency across samples and production runs.

Version control is another important feature. Teams can track edits, compare changes, and revert to previous specs if needed. This is especially useful across multiple fit rounds or vendor submissions.

While focused on measurement data, a specification management system often connects to tools that handle BOMs, construction notes, and packaging requirements. This integration supports a more connected development process while ensuring measurement accuracy remains a central focus.

Onbrand: Specification Management Software Built for Modern Fashion Teams

Fashion production moves fast, and outdated PLMs slow you down. Onbrand is modern specification management software built for today’s growing fashion brands. It replaces spreadsheets, static tech packs, and clunky legacy tools with one easy-to-use platform your whole team will actually enjoy using.

Onbrand lets you manage every product detail, such as fabrics, trims, fit notes, packaging, and compliance, in one place. Live tech packs function like Google Docs, so updates are instant, and everyone always sees the latest version. Brands using Onbrand have cut tech pack creation time by over 55% and reduced development timelines by up to 4 weeks.

You also get built-in project management, real-time vendor collaboration, and fast, flexible onboarding. While legacy PLMs can take 6 to 24 months to implement, Onbrand customers are fully live in just 2 to 4 weeks, including AI-powered data migration, full setup, and team training.

Unlike legacy tools that charge for upgrades and support, Onbrand is true SaaS. Updates roll out automatically to all customers, and there are no hidden service fees. It's faster, more intuitive, and costs less than half of most legacy platforms.

Top Benefits of Specification Management Software for Fashion

Specification management software helps fashion teams stay organized, move faster, and reduce common production mistakes. Here’s how it supports your daily work.

Helps Teams Work Better Together

Fashion projects involve a lot of people, from designers and product developers to vendors and production managers. With all specs in one place, everyone has access to the same up-to-date information. This makes collaboration easier and cuts down on back-and-forth emails.

When teams use a shared platform, there’s less confusion about changes, updates, or approvals. Everyone stays aligned, no matter where they’re working from.

Improves Product Quality

Good specs lead to good products. When technical specs like PoMs, grade rules, and fit tolerances are documented clearly, teams can create more accurate samples and reduce costly errors during production.

The software helps your team catch problems early, reduce errors, and keep every version of the product on track. That means fewer returns and higher quality products, enhancing customer satisfaction and protecting your brand reputation.

Makes Compliance Easier

When measurement tolerances are clearly documented, it's easier to evaluate whether samples meet brand standards for fit. Specification software gives teams clarity and consistency, reducing the chances of off-spec garments reaching production.

Instead of chasing paperwork later, your team has what they need during the development process. This makes it easier to meet compliance requirements and avoid delays or penalties.

Supports Sustainable Choices

Many fashion brands want to use better materials, reduce waste, or track sourcing. Specification management software gives teams a clear view of what’s being used and where it’s coming from.

That kind of visibility helps with more sustainable decisions. It also supports supply chain transparency by making data easy to review and share.

Speeds Up the Process

Without a proper system, teams spend too much time searching for files or fixing issues that could’ve been avoided. This software keeps everything clear and easy to update.

When specs are organized and accessible, your team can work faster, improving efficiency at every stage of development.

How Fashion Teams Use Specification Management Software

Specification management software can help fashion teams across several important areas. Here are some practical examples of how different teams use it every day:

Product Specification Management

This software helps teams manage measurement specifications like Points of Measure, size charts, grade rules, and fit tolerances. When these are documented clearly, factories can deliver accurate samples, and fewer revisions are needed.

With product specifications clearly recorded, teams can avoid misunderstandings and ensure the final garment matches the original design.

Tech Pack Integration: BOM and Compliance Data

While BOMs and compliance data are managed separately from specifications, many platforms allow teams to connect these systems. This supports a more unified product development workflow without overloading the specification tool itself.

Measurement and Fit Management

Specification software gives technical designers a structured place to define every Point of Measure. Teams can create detailed spec tables that include size charts across XS to XXL, clear measuring instructions for each point, and the acceptable tolerance range. 

For example, chest width might be measured 1 inch below the armhole with a tolerance of plus or minus 0.5 inch.

When measurement charts and visual guides are included in the tech pack, factories know exactly how each sample should be checked. This helps reduce miscommunication, shorten development cycles, and improve accuracy on the first sample.

Manage Your Fashion Production in One Place With Onbrand

Clear, well-managed specifications are the backbone of fashion production. When your team has easy access to up-to-date spec data, it’s easier to move fast, maintain product quality, and meet regulatory compliance standards as they evolve.

Onbrand gives fashion brands a simple way to manage the entire product development process. With one connected platform, you can organize specification data, track updates, reduce errors, and keep everyone, from design to production, on the same page.

If you're ready to save time, reduce rework, and make your production process smoother from start to finish, Onbrand is built to support your team at every stage.

Book your personalized demo today!

FAQs About Specification Management Software

What is the meaning of specification management?

Specification management is the process of documenting garment measurements such as Points of Measure (PoMs), size charts, fit tolerances, grade rules, and how-to-measure guides. These specs ensure consistent sizing and accurate fit across all product sizes. While other documents like BOMs, construction notes, and packaging guidelines are managed separately, they come together with specifications to form the complete tech pack.

What is specification management in SAP PLM?

In SAP PLM, specification management refers to tracking and maintaining product-related data within a larger management platform. It helps brands manage related documents, enforce quality control, and stay compliant with various regulatory requirements. While SAP is often used in large enterprise settings, fashion-specific PLM tools like Onbrand offer a more flexible, cloud-based platform designed specifically for creative teams and fast-paced production.

What is a specification manager?

A specification manager keeps product details accurate, organized, and ready for production. In fashion, that means helping teams share specs, avoid manual work, and stay aligned with quality standards, industry standards, and regulatory compliance. It’s a hands-on role that supports smooth project execution and cuts down on quality issues and communication breakdowns.

How does specification management support quality and sustainability goals?

Great specs lead to better products. With the right system, teams can manage fit consistency and measurement accuracy in one place. This leads to higher quality samples and fewer revisions, helping reduce waste and support broader sustainability goals.

Why do fashion brands need a centralized specification platform?

A single source of truth saves time and stress. Centralizing all the data gives teams quick access to everything they need, no more email threads or file-hunting. It also improves document sharing, supports enhanced collaboration, and lowers risk. Fashion brands that want to deliver high-quality finished goods and scale their business need the ability to manage specs according to necessary standards, especially in fast-moving markets.