91 or via a scanner not shown thus tags containing bar coded information concerning the size of the garments and the finish to be applied can accompany the batch and be scanned in by an operator using a hand held scanner to provide the information to the computer prior to loading the garments in the batch onto fixtures the computer 90 can then track each garment in the batch as it passes through the system preferably using identification sensors 74 which are electronically linked to the computer 90 and which can be located at various desired locations along the conveyor 10 for example an identification sensor 74 could be placed along conveyor 10 upstream of branch 16 to read the identification elements 66 on a passing fixture 40 and provide a signal to enable the computer to identify the fixture 40 and determine whether it should be allowed to pass on towards branch 16 39 or should be shuttled off onto branch 16 if the identification elements 66 are magnetic the identification sensors 74 are preferably magnetic proximity switches it is preferred that there be one identification sensor 74 for each identification element 66 and that the sensors 74 be positioned along the conveyor 10 so that the identification elements 66 will be horizontally aligned with the sensors 74 and within vertical sensing distance so that the identification number for each fixture can be read preferably the sensors 74 are located beneath the conveyor 10 or are mounted.