Garment Industry In Bangladesh Research Articles

Unleashing the Potential of the TQM and Industry 4.0 to Achieve Sustainability Performance in the Context of a Developing Country

Business organizations may be able to improve their Sustainability Performance (SP) by adopting Total Quality Management (TQM) concepts combined with Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies. This research has developed a model to investigate the influence of TQM and I4.0 on SP. It also analyzes the mediating role of TQM in the relationship between I4.0 and SP. A survey was conducted among 240 respondents employed in ready-made garment (RMG) industries in Bangladesh. A Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique was used to analyze the collected data. Research findings show that both TQM and I4.0 technologies have a significant impact on the sustainable growth of the Bangladeshi RMG sector. Moreover, it is observed that TQM mediates the relationship between I4.0 and SP. The findings show that TQM helps to explain the relationship between I4.0 and sustainable performance. This study will provide a guideline for industrial executives on securing sustainability through the adoption of TQM concepts and I4.0 technologies. We are not aware of any additional studies that look at the possible link between TQM, I4.0, and SP, as well as the mediating role of TQM between I4.0 and SP.

STRUCTURAL CHANGES OF THE TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRIES IN BANGLADESH

This study considers the sourcing, production and distribution channels of the textile and garment industry in Bangladesh to address structural changes over time. Mass use of traditional garments, dependency on tailoring system and increase in demand of cheap garment products generate less change in the down-stream section’s structure of the domestic sector. However, closure/privatization of state owned textile firms and entrance of new private-owned firms contribute to change the up-stream section’s structure of the domestic sector. The export sector of the industry has been experiencing more changes in its structure compared to domestic counterpart over the time period. The price cutting trend of garment products in international markets, elimination of the export quota system and compliance issue are creating pressures on the export sector. Bangladeshi firms have been responding by forming formal/informal groups, initiating linkage expansion and increasing inter and intra-industry coordination to face the challenges. This study finds the initiation of external demand driven positive moves in the industry structure. Degree of backward linkage expansion, openness to Foreign Direct Investment, business environment, initiatives for risk management and market expansion will determine the future structure of the industry.

Employer safety obligations, safety climate, and safety behaviors in the ready-made garment context in Bangladesh

Purpose: The impact of employer safety obligations on safety climate and safety outcomes has become an important area of research in organizational and safety sciences. Evidence shows that employer safety obligations positively impact safety outcomes, including safety climate and safety behaviors. However, these relationships have not been thoroughly explored within the garment settings. This study is one of the first known studies to examine the relationships between employer safety obligations, safety climate, and safety behavior outcomes in a sample of garment employees. Methods: Two-wave time-lagged data were collected from 347 garment employees and their supervisors in Bangladesh. Hierarchical regression analysis was applied to examine hypothesized relationships using AMOS a SPSS. Results: Employer safety obligations positively influenced safety climate perceptions among garment employees. Safety climate perceptions are positively and significantly associated with safety behaviors, including safety compliance behaviors, prosocial safety behaviors, and proactive safety behaviors. Moreover, the safety climate mediates the influence of employer safety obligations on safety behaviors. Conclusions: These findings provide important evidence of the relationships between employer safety obligations, safety climate, and safety behaviors in the garment industry of Bangladesh. Practical Applications: Ultimately, these findings guide the government, garment manufacturers, and managers to bolster garment employees’ safety outcomes.

Applying fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to identify pathways for improving occupational health and safety performance

Under pressure from international buyers and local government, garment suppliers in Bangladesh have intensified their efforts to improve work conditions in their factories. Available studies have identified a range of interdependent organizational factors leading to improved OHS outcomes using large-N statistical studies and estimating average effect sizes. Yet, with such interdependence among organizational factors, no study has yet identified and compared combinations of organizational factors or pathways across a set of cases examining OHS outcomes. In this paper, we use small-N fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to identify combinations of organizational factors leading to improved OHS performance in the garment industry of Bangladesh. Fourteen cases were selected through purposeful sampling aiming to maximize the variations in causal conditions and output, which facilitates the identification of pathways among the selected garment suppliers. Based on the available studies, we identified and coded five organizational factors (causal conditions) to examine their influence on OHS performance. Results reveal two distinct pathways leading to improved OHS performance. Common to the two pathways are three causal conditions: Accountability, Auditing, and Training. In addition, to the three common causal conditions, pathway 1 and pathway 2 include respectively Leadership and Buyers, revealing two distinct approaches to improve OHS performance among garment suppliers. Contrary to the expectations in the literature, our study indicates that long-term relationships and partnerships with international buyers is the main driver for improved OHS performance in pathway 2, thus compensating for the absence of active leadership and management commitment.

Occupational stress and health risk of employees working in the garments sector of Bangladesh: An empirical study.

The present study was conducted with a view to examining the impact of occupational stress on employees' health risk. A total number of 350 garment employees (114 supervisors and 236 workers) were selected from 25 readymade garment factories of Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur industrial areas of Bangladesh on a random sampling basis. Occupational stress was estimated using an ERIs modified questionnaire; when self-reported health problems, work related information and socio-demographic information were obtained using face-to-face interviews using a pre-formed questionnaire. The survey was conducted for 2 years from January 2020 to December 2021 in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur districts where most of the garment industries in Bangladesh are located. All data were processed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Decision Analyst Stats, Version 2.0. For analyzing data, suitable statistical tools such as two-way ANOVA, z-test, chi-square test, Pearson's product-moment correlation, stepwise multiple regressions, and descriptive statistics were used. The results of the present study reveal that the occupational stress had a significant positive influence on health risk. The findings also reveal that both the male and female employees perceived garment job highly stressful and risky for their health causes many dies and sickness, but it was higher among the female employees than their counterparts. Study suggests that due to major illness and diseases garments' employees are lacks of sound health that have to consider remedying for reducing occupational stress and health risk.

Scenario of E-Accounting Practice in Ready-made Garments (RMG) Industry of Bangladesh

E--accounting is referred as the internet based accounting software usage in performing accounting functions. Responding to the evidence that Bangladesh’s top business sector, Ready-made Garments (RMG) factories largely using e-accounting, the study is aimed to explore the scenario of the practice in those factories. To achieve these objectives, the study deploys mixed research strategy constructed with interview and survey. Based on the prevailed e-accounting literature, and interview with user RMG factories authority and vendors, structured questionnaire was formed for the survey. This firm level study considers 3552 listed RMG factories as the population. Using G-power 3.1 sample size calculating software, considering smaller effect size f2=0.04, the study has taken 300 sampled factories both of woven, knit, composite and sweater. The study conducted interview using semi-structured interview schedule at convenient way. Also using convenience sampling technique, a survey on sampled factories was executed with the use of structured questionnaire. Survey respondents were the policy level personnel of RMG factory such as owners, managing directors, executive director, factory manager, and or chief accountants. IBM SPSS 20.0 has been used to analyze survey data. Using descriptive statistics, the collected data was presented and analyzed. The study reveals that about 86% RMG factories are using internet based accounting solution for performing accounting, inventory and payroll functions. The study also results that ERP usage is more than that of stand-alone accounting software modules and private cloud usage is more popular in RMG sector than that of public, hybrid or community cloud. This study also finds that knit sector remains ahead in using e-accounting and sweater factories is slightly back in e-accounting implementation. The study bears the significance to the RMG factories and other cloud applications users. Keywords: E-Accounting, Online accounting solution usage, Ready-made Garments Industry, Bangladesh

Emerging small-scale textile industries in residential areas of Mirpur, Dhaka City, Bangladesh: an assessment of the discharged wastewater quality and potential impacts.

The textile industries in Bangladesh are establishing remarkable opportunities for the financial growth of Bangladesh but the rapid and unplanned expansion of small-scale textile industries in residential areas has resulted in alarming environmental concerns. To examine the current pollution scenario in Dhaka City, Bangladesh generated from small-scale textile industries in residential areas, a study was conducted in Dhaka North City Corporation, particularly in Mirpur Sect.7 and the Mirpur Shialbari area. Wastewater samples were collected from eight textile wet processing industries to assess the physio-chemical parameters of the samples. The investigation discovered that just two companies' wastewater samples (Industry 1 and 3) met the national standard set by the Department of Environment (DoE), Bangladesh as only these two sectors have Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) while the wastewater quality in the other industries (Industry 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) was unsatisfactory, indicating serious violations of the law. The results of the study will aid government policymakers in developing serious implementation strategies to prevent the discharge of untreated wastewater from small-scale companies in residential areas.

Level of Women Empowerment in Ready Made Garments Industry of Bangladesh: Reasons and Consequences

Ready Made Garment industry is an emerging industry in Bangladesh, which made it the second largest RMG exporting country in the world. At present, the scope of employment in this sector is over 4 million people the majority of which are women. However, the majority of people involved in this sector are women but the level of women empowerment in this sector has been barely seemed satisfactory. This paper is aimed to identify the level of women empowerment in Bangladesh RMG industry and its reasons and consequences. In this paper, data has been collected by conducting a survey by using a questionnaire. This research is a descriptive research where qualitative and quantitative both types of analysis have been used. This study has validated some facts as women are more preferred as a worker but downcast in the managerial position, by default abolition of women from mid-level management, lack of empathy in management decision because of male-dominated management.

Modelling the causes of boiler accidents: implications for economic and social sustainability at the workplace

This study aims to examine the causes of boiler accidents in the context of the ready-made garment (RMG) industry of Bangladesh as an emerging economy. On the basis of a comprehensive review of the existing literature, previous accident reports, and technical discussion with relevant personnel in the industries and regulating authorities, a total of 14 causes of boiler accidents were identified. This study merged neutrosophic (N) theory with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing the causes of boiler accidents. Finally, to examine the reliability of the results, a robustness analysis was performed. The findings reveal that the lack of standard legislation, non-standard boiler operation, use of expired, non-registered, and non-certified boilers, faulty design of boilers, and the shortage of skilled boiler operators are the top five notable causes of boiler accidents in the RMG industry. The findings provide valuable insights for industrial managers and policymakers to formulate strategies to reduce boiler accidents.

Prioritization of Environmental Uncertainty and Manufacturing Flexibility for Labor-Intensive Industry: A Case Study on Ready-Made Garment Industries in Bangladesh

Manufacturing flexibility is a widely accepted manufacturing strategy for mitigating the negative impacts of environmental uncertainty on firm performance and is also a required strategic attribute to acclimatize mass customization and agile manufacturing. Manufacturing flexibility has been adequately studied for technology-intensive industries but remains inadequately addressed for labor-intensive industries. In this study, a framework is proposed for sorting the relevant manufacturing flexibility types for the relevant environmental uncertainty types as an initial step towards implementing manufacturing flexibility in labor-intensive industries. This study considered the RMG (ready-made garment) industries in Bangladesh, which are mostly labor-intensive, as a case. Different types of manufacturing flexibility and environmental uncertainty were identified through a deductive approach from the existing literature and theory. Then, final sorting was conducted through a focus group discussion using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) techniques. This study revealed that demand, competitor, supplier, and technology uncertainty were ranked sequentially from first to fourth. This study also revealed that demand and competitor uncertainty would be the first-line focus, and supplier uncertainty the second-line focus, of decision makers. Similarly, new product, volume, workforce, and modification flexibility were ranked sequentially from first to fourth, and these would be considered first-line focuses by decision makers. This study also showed that all types of environmental uncertainties had an internal effect (one type affects another type within the types of environmental uncertainty). Internal effects among the different types of manufacturing flexibility were also identified. This study contributes to the theory of manufacturing flexibility for labor-intensive industries and will help decision makers gradually implement manufacturing flexibility based on their capacity and goal.

Fabric Defect Detection using Image Processing

Fabric defect is one of the most important and serious matters of quality control in textile industry in Bangladesh. This task takes a lot of time and money. For this reason we have introduced a simple process to find defects on fabric based on edge detection. This process is mainly focused on image processing which can be integrated with fabric defect detection automation system. In this paper we have tried a new approach using the filter method with edge detection and found good results. Our algorithm can detect defected fabric area successfully. It can be also used in real-time defect detection considering light intensity, zoom, fabric width, camera resolution etc. As our algorithm mainly works on the principle of edge detection, it cannot detect defect on multicoloured or patterned fabric. It works well on single coloured fabric without any fold or edge.

The Mediating Effect of Customer Satisfaction on the Relationship between Service Recovery Performance Factors and Business Growth among Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers

As of late, business growth is sensed as one of the greatest challenges for Bangladesh garment industry in order to gain competitive advantage because many garment factories have been shutting down since last few years. However, the owners of garment factories are deeming intensely regarding the impact of service recovery phenomenon on the most topical and imperative issue- company business growth. The purpose of this opportune study is twofold; firstly to examine the relationship between influential factors of service recovery performance (SRP) and company business growth, secondly to examine the mediating effect of customer satisfaction on relationship between SRP factors and business growth in context of Bangladesh garment industry. Based on literature review, a conceptual model has been developed for a cross-sectional sample survey study. Primary data were collected following simple random sampling method from 354 different garment factories in Bangladesh. The partial least squares path modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used by Smart PLS 3.2 software for data analysis and necessary hypothesis inferences. The results revealed that top management commitment, organizational & technical support, training, role ambiguity, job satisfaction and customer’s characteristics directly influence company business growth. Also, customer satisfaction plays mediating role on relationship between following SRP factors and business growth; top management commitment, role ambiguity, job satisfaction and customer’s characteristics. The findings of this research contribute by presenting an integrative new conceptual model encompassing influential SRP variables and business growth. The results append the knowledge how garment factories can formulate new strategy and management practice to ensure sustained business growth. Keywords: Service recovery performance (SRP), customer satisfaction, business growth. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-8-07 Publication date: April 30 th 2022

The Garment Industry in Bangladesh, Corporate Social Responsibility of Multinational Corporations, and The Impact of COVID-19

AbstractThis article investigates the Bangladeshi garment industry that supplies ready-made garments for global brands and the corporate social responsibilities (CSRs) of the brands/multinational corporations (MNCs) towards their supply chains. Although outsourcing and global trade have boosted the living standards of many people in the Bangladeshi garment industry, there are some significant concerns regarding the working conditions and treatment of workers in these supply chains. This, in turn, cannot, and should not, be detached from the legal relationship between the Bangladeshi supply chains and the MNCs contracting with them. This article examines the impact of COVID-19, which has exposed the fragility and the pre-existing flaws in the relationship between the MNCs and their suppliers more clearly than at any other time in history. There is a huge governance gap between MNCs and supply chains that needs to be addressed urgently. This article assesses the legality of the cancellation of orders by the brands that invoked the force majeure clause. In doing so, this paper briefly deals with the responses of three American retail companies, namely Sears, Kohl’s, and the Arcadia Group, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It illustrates that the power asymmetry between the MNCs and their suppliers has put the supply chains in an unreasonably disadvantageous position, creating unfair and even unconscionable conduct by several MNCs. This article also looks at solutions for the existing problems, focusing, inter alia, on non-financial reporting requirements in the US and the EU to implement CSR in supply chains. However, disappointingly, the authors had to conclude that MNCs typically have the propensity to disregard CSR, whenever it is convenient for them and use CSR for mere “greenwashing” purposes for their strategic benefit only. It is a problem that requires constant attention and continuing research to find long-term solutions. The article employs doctrinal methodology and, by conducting a meta-analysis of literature and case-studies, it provides a comprehensive understanding of how the industry works.

Practices of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Readymade Garment Industry during COVID-19: A Study on Bangladesh Garment Industry

The Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry has performed the concentrated fundamental role for the economic development of Bangladesh. To obtain the finale result, this exertions-in complexity industry wishes to experience after COVID0-19 for sustainable practices with the adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in its Garment production chain. CSR, being a fast-developing phenomenon in industrial arena, is drawing the concern of world-renowned clothing customers working with Bangladesh. To flatten the coronavirus spread curve, the authorities declared kingdom-huge vacations up to twenty-five April 2020 and enterprise and industrial activities have come to a grinding halt except emergency offerings. Many global customers are cancelling or postponing showed procurement orders as their shops are substantially closed in Europe, North America, Asia and some other place. According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), worldwide buyers have both cancelled or suspended $3.16 billion really worth of shipments related to 1,142 factories affecting 2.26 million people as of 18 April 2020.7 Millions of workers stare at joblessness as new orders dried up given the disintegrate in international call for apparels. This scenario is being changed after COVID-19 considering that a vast variety of Bangladeshi garment manufacturers have followed CSR practices spending a huge sum of money. This study will find out the current reputation of sustainable financial enchantment through the implementation of CSR practices inside the RMG enterprise after COVID -19 of Bangladesh. Keywords : Corporate Social Responsibility, Ready-Made Garments, COVID-19 DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-5-07 Publication date: March 31 st 2022

Buyer–Supplier Role in Improving Ergonomics in Garment Supplier Factories: Empirical Evidence from the Garment Industry of Bangladesh

Ergonomics is a key concern of garment suppliers to improve their workers’ well-being and efficiency. However, suppliers’ isolated initiatives are not sufficient to improve ergonomics conditions. Thus, buyers’ cooperation and collaboration with suppliers are necessary to make the ergonomic initiatives successful and sustainable. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of buyer-assisted ergonomics intervention on suppliers’ performance and the role of buyers’ assistance and suppliers’ initiatives for improving ergonomics conditions in garment supplier factories. Following a qualitative research approach and multiple embedded case study method, this study intervened in supplier factories and collected qualitative and quantitative data from one Danish buyer and their four key suppliers on ergonomics and the role of buyers and suppliers in improving ergonomics conditions. Collected data were analysed by employing both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques. This study demonstrates that buyer-assisted ergonomics intervention on the shop floor can improve ergonomics conditions in garment supplier factories. This study also shows that improving ergonomics in supplier factories need joint efforts of buyers and suppliers. The findings of this study will enrich the literature on ergonomics, sustainability, and buyer–supplier relationships by demonstrating how garment suppliers in developing countries can improve ergonomics to meet the expectations of lead buyers and their workers. This is a unique research attempt to understand ergonomics from a buyer–supplier relationship perspective and its impact on the social sustainability of garment suppliers.

The Scenario of Fire Safety through Accord in Bangladeshi Garments Industry

The Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector is one of the industries that drive the economy of Bangladesh towards growth. The risk management of this sector has always been a major concern. Several incidents in this sector increased this concern of several related parties. Different codes of conduct and policies have been introduced in different times to improve the overall scenario. After two massive fire incidents in Tazreen Fashion and building collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, an accord program has been built to ensure the fire and safety in 2013. The purpose of this study is to explore whether the accord has improved fire safety condition in the Bangladeshi garments industry or not. Therefore, the study initially focuses on looking into the existing literature on history and risk management issues of Bangladeshi garment industry. This study is a descriptive study, based on primary and secondary data. Primary data has been collected through semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews from several respondents from several garment factories. The result of this study illustrates, after the legally binding agreement of Accord 2013, Bangladeshi garments and textile industries had started to focus on worker safety issues. However, in order to prevent fire hazard and ensure a better workplace for the garment workers, they have taken all the necessary steps by ensuring a proper checklist for the fire gadgets and implementing training session for the workers. The findings should make substantial empirical contribution to show the real influence of the codes. However, the study was limited to only Bangladeshi garment industry and due to Covid-19 pandemic, the accessibility to various respondents of this industry has been restricted. Therefore, it may also affect the sample size. Overall, the study may provide an idea about the implication of the accord in garment factories and the result may help the policy makers to develop/modify policies for this sector in a more effective way.

Evaluation of Causes and Effects of Fire and Other Safety Incidents in Readymade Garment Industry of Bangladesh

The readymade garment industry in Bangladesh is one of the foremost significant export-oriented industries, but it faces issues in ensuring worker safety. Industrial accidents threaten workplace safety, which is additionally amongst the foremost critical challenges in the world's industries. The objectives of this paper are to explore the numerous lethal incidents in the industry in Bangladesh and also explore the causes for these lethal incidents with the effect of those incidents. This paper aims to present a case study of the working conditions of readymade garment industries in Bangladesh and the case study presented past and running unsafe working conditions in the industry of violations of human rights and the high prevalence of injuries on duty by the workers. Differing kinds of causation in the recent decade have made the Bangladeshi garment industry ambiguous. Among 4,560 garment industries, 237 lethal incidents happened and that ratio was 5.2% during the last 31 years (1990-2020). Almost 237 lethal incidents, 94.09% incidents occurred by fire and only 1.27% incidents were caused by building collapse and 3.38% incidents were caused by boiler burst and another 1.27% by other different incidents. The total number of harmed people was 6,870 of which 1,689 people were injured and 5,181 people died, also the highest incident happened from 2011 to 2015 when 3,800 people were injured and 1,287 people died. This paper will investigate around for the causes of the various incidents and can expose the precautionary measure for those problems in the fashion industry which affected their sustainability and profitability.

Scope of Injury Minimization in Garments Industry: An Analysis

Injury and accidents have a lot of negative impacts in an organization, especially in a manufacturing industry. Injury is a hindrance to productivity as it harms the lead time of the production. Additionally, reputation and development of an industry get destroyed as it directly related to manpower and product or service. Previously in garments industry of Bangladesh, a lot of injury happened almost every year due to infrastructural problem as well as various hazards in the production floor. The number of these accidents has been reduced to a great extent at present. The injury must be minimized to provide safe working environment, to ensure compliance issues and to retain the orders in Readymade Garments (RMG) industry. In our paper, it was attempted to minimize the injury in some selective sections of a garments industry. The total number of injuries occurred in those sections for a specific month was collected. After analyzing the collected data, the major causes of accidents and injuries faced by the workers in those sections were pointed out. The possible causes were then solved by taking proper actions and the data against same criteria was analyzed for the consecutive month. Finally, after achieving positive results, related preventive recommendations were framed out and given to the industry for injury minimization in future.

Creating a Long-Term Safe Workplace in Garment Industry of Bangladesh: A Review

Creating a Long-Term Safe Workplace in Garment Industry of Bangladesh: A Review

The Impact of Corporate Governance on Stock Performance: Evidence from Bangladesh

Purpose: This explanatory study aims to examine the compliance status of corporate governance mechanisms and their effect on stock performance of textile industry in Bangladesh. Methodology: Fifty annual reports of listed textile companies for the year 2019 have been taken as the sample to find the empirical result of this study. The statistics for description and interpretation of cross-sectional data have been used to explore and examine the causal relationship among variables under study. Findings: From the statistical analysis of governance variables, it is seen that 30% of the sample company have a minimum (5) member in the Board, whereas only 2% companies have more than 10 directors. Moreover, five companies having negative and low return on asset (ROA) do not comply with the governance code provision regarding independent directors. In addition to these, 18% companies have no female director on the Board and are violating the Board diversity policy of corporate governance. This study shows a significant and positive association between the gender diversity and the stock performance, which supports the lens of stakeholder and resource dependency theories and proves that the presence of female directors is an effective mechanism to protect the interest of outside resource providers and. But it infers that the presence of the independent director negatively affects the dependent variable, stock performance that is also statistically significant. Originality: The main value of the study is that it is the first paper in Bangladesh, which has considered the stock price change as proxy for stock performance as per author best knowledge. Practical Implications: The outcome of the paper is most likely to benefit the top managements and directors in formulating a suitable Board dimension, and policy makers in regulating the capital market in Bangladesh for making more informative decisions towards improving their surveillance and monitory systems and ensuring the compliance level of issuer. Research Limitations: This is cross-sectional study, which is limited to textile companies and does not consider primary data.