TNA

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TIME AND ACTION CALENDAR FORMAT FOR PRODUCTION MERCHANTS
Time and Action (TNA) calendar is one of the most important tools for managing a project. In
garment manufacturing each order is not less than a project to a merchant. Because, from order
receiving to order completion involve number of tasks of various duration and requirement of
resources. Few tasks come one after another and others move at the same time. Like number of
processes, lot of people are involved to accomplish an order. Secondly each order is unique in
terms of process and time demand. So, a detailed plan with well defined responsibility is must for
each orders to finish it before time or on time.
What is a Time and Action Calendar?
Normally merchants prepare a plan in a spreadsheet listing down key processes in one column
and planned date of action for each processes is noted in another. This planning sheet is called
time and action calendar. Once TNA calendar is made, merchant can easily list down her daily
'to do list' for the day and start doing work one by one. According to TNA schedule processes
are executed on daily basis to track whether an order is on track or getting delayed.
Now the question is "How to prepare a TNA calendar in a given format for an order and How
to maintain the same with less effort?"
How to prepare a Time and Action calendar?
In this article I have explained two formats used for time and action planning - one is for
detailed scheduling of orders with defined responsibility and another one is for quick follow up
of the multiple orders. It is not that you have to use both the formats at the same time. It
depends on individuals - you can use both or one out of two. The main purpose of preparing
and maintaining a TNA calendar in to improve performance in managing processes as per plan.
If each stage of an order is controlled then most of time you can finish an order on time. I have
briefly explained how to develop these TNA calendar formats and maintain the same.
In first TNA calendar format (Format 1) planning is made for single style with detailed tasks,
schedules, job responsibility and remarks. Steps to be followed during making TNA calendar are
listed below.

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Format 1: Time & Action Calendar (For Single Style/Order)
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1. Create an table as the above format (Format 1) in a spreadsheet in your
computer. Add header as per your need or just copy the above format.
2. Add details of the order like, style name, style description, order receiving date,
ex-factory date etc.
3. In the column "Key Processes" list down processes as per your style requirement.
Go through style detailing to identify all key processes to be involved. Few processes are
mentioned in tech pack and buyer comments and some processes to be understood from
the style (physical sample).
4. Do backward and forward planning for deciding planned date for the task. Take
advice from respective department heads for the capacity availability and time
requirement for the processes. Then add dates against the tasks. Where processes
required multiple days add planned completion date.
5. Note the name of the person or department who is responsible for the task.
6. Keep "Actual date of start and end" column blank during
TNA calendar preparation.

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7. Distribute printed or soft copy of final TNA calender to the all persons you have
mentioned in "responsibility column.
How to Maintain a Time and Action Calendar?"
From my real life experience, I found that it is easy to make a TNA calendar but maintaining the
same is very difficult task. But you have to maintain it on regular basis. Otherwise, there is no
use of a TNA calendar.
1. Take signature of responsible person when you distribute TNA calendar to them.
It is assumed that once they sign they agree on your plan. So that on later nobody shows
disagreement on your plan.
2. Take print out of each calendar, make a bunch and keep it on your desk for easy
access.
3. When you make days plan "To do lists" refer to the bunch of TNA calendars. At
the same time update each calendars by marking done or not done on printed copy. Fill
actual start and end date for the completed processes.
4. Where you find something is getting delayed notify the respective department or
the person and ask for the reason for delay. And check if the delay is manageable. If any
delayed process is not manageable (complete on due date), next processes will move
forward. In this case you may need to make a new plan for rest of tasks.
5. Update your new plan in original TNA calendar.
6. Update your spreadsheet (TNA calendars) at the end of the day. If daily update is
not possible then do it as per your convenience. But it must be done on regular interval.
Second Format
In second format (Format 2) scheduling of multiple styles is done in a single sheet. It helps you
to keep eye on each order quickly. All key processes is listed in the header row with columns for
start and end of the process. Against each style you have two rows for planned dates and actual
dates for the tasks. This format reduces no. of sheets when a merchant handles dozens of orders.
The difference is that you don't keep name of the responsible persons or departments.

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Format 2: Time & Action Calendar (Multiple styles per sheet)
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The time and action calendar preparation and maintaining it is same as the first format. This
TNA calendar format is more handy as you have carry less fewer sheet of printout than previous
one.
If you like to use both format then take print out of second one only. Do all update and
modifications on the this format manually. Later update TNA calendar on your computer
(Format 1) for easy maintaining.