Garment Manufacturing Research Articles

Examining the role of production and purchasing supply chain management using PLS-SEM approach in the UK textile industry

This study focuses on the specific types of supply chain strategies throughout the UK textile industry as extant literature has either emphasized on the fashion apparel industry or on sub-industry of fast fashion. Likewise, this study is quite beneficial for the fashion apparel industry to restructure its own purchasing departments for buying fabrics, materials, and garments. However, a third party is included in this production phase. Lastly, this study is significant for fashion apparel industry for the purchasing or producing of all the raw materials, which is important for the garment production as well as their own manufacturing facilities. The paper also used the idea of PLS-SEM to validate a production and purchasing supply chain management strategies framework proposed by the authors of this paper, which can be found in Komal and Saad [7].

Classification and analysis of fabric types for shirts: A comparison between virtual and real fabrics

The 3D virtual simulation technology is widely applied in the fashion industry tasks, including product planning such as 3D sample work, design development, marketing, and display, enabling styling of virtual models for differentiation. Achieving a digital representation of fabrics that closely resembles actual materials requires additional information obtained through experiments, beyond basic fabric characteristics like fiber content, weight, and thickness. However, research reflecting changes in fabric properties is relatively lacking. Therefore, this study aims to propose criteria for the physical characteristics of shirt fabrics and compare fit variations of virtual garments based on fabric properties to enhance the usability of virtual garment simulation. Thus, we compared and analyzed the characteristics and draping properties of shirt fabrics using two different fabric testing methods, KES-FB and CLO Fabric Kit, and investigated correlations based on each measurement device. Additionally, virtual clothing was performed based on various fabrics to compare clothing suitability. Consequently, we classified fabrics into three clusters for each measurement method and confirmed the characteristics of each cluster. Furthermore, by visually comparing the fit of shirts based on fabric properties, we observed changes in clothing pressure and deformation rate among clusters. Therefore, we believe that the results of this study can assist designers with low proficiency in 3D virtual garment production when applying virtual materials to designs. These findings are expected to be valuable for utilizing 3D virtual clothing simulations in the fashion industry for online sales and marketing, as well as in the gaming industry for avatar costume design.

Application of 3D Printing Technology in Customized Garment Production

Abstract In this paper, human body images are acquired by DSLR camera shooting, and the photos are grayscaled based on the HIS model. Then, the different operations weaken the similar parts between the images, and the other parts of the photos are highlighted. The image is separated from the background by image binarization. After the contour detection of the image, the pixel coordinates of the contour points in the image are deposited into a dynamic array by the size judgment of the pixel values. The subsequent size calculation is called to make a pad. According to the human body, clothing size automation measurement has been derived from the human body characteristics of the size, the use of three-dimensional printing technology to produce clothing to meet consumer demand, and three-dimensional printing technology to support the production of customized clothing under the experimental analysis. It is verified that the data difference between the actual size of the subject’s ready-made clothes and the size of the clothes produced based on 3D printing technology is kept within ±0.48cm. The virtual fitting pressure is less than the comfort threshold of women’s upper body pressure (2.75kpa), which indicates that the clothes produced by this research will not cause physiological discomfort to the human body and, at the same time, meet the consumer’s personalized clothing customization needs.

Garment Production Processes and their Health Challenges: A Case of Tailors and Dressmakers in the Small-Scale Clothing Industries in Sunyani Municipality

Garment Production Processes and their Health Challenges: A Case of Tailors and Dressmakers in the Small-Scale Clothing Industries in Sunyani Municipality

Supply chain strategy and supplier environment on competitive advantage: The moderating role of environmental uncertainty

As one of the garment producers in the world, Indonesia continues to strive to increase its competitive advantage in the current growth and development. Various factors can influence the improvement of competitive advantage in the garment sector. This study investigates the competitive advantage in the garment sector as influenced by supply chain strategy and supplier environment, moderated by environmental uncertainty in garment companies in West Java. The population of this study was 250 garment companies, and the sample was 152 respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using Partial Least Square (PLS). The findings of this study are (1) supply chain strategy is positively influenced by supplier environment; (2) competitive advantage is influenced by supplier environment and supply chain strategy; and (3) environmental uncertainty can moderate supplier environment and supply chain strategy in influencing competitive advantage.

Job satisfaction in a clothing manufacturing company

Considering job satisfaction as one of the most important elements in business life, the objective of this research was to determine the level of satisfaction of the employees of a garment manufacturing company, in the production area. It is conceptualized with respect to the subject, two dimensions were determined for the realization of the study; the one dimension Extrinsic variables that considering the following indicators: company policies, supervision, relationship with supervision, working conditions, salary and interpersonal relationships; and two dimension intrinsic variables considering the following indicators: personal self-realization, professional recognition, work itself as a positive stimulus, responsibility, and opportunities for growth and promotion. A survey with the Likert scale was applied to a population of 26 collaborators from the production area. It was found in terms of extrinsic satisfaction, that 38% indicate feeling indifferent, 35% indicate being dissatisfied, likewise, 19% indicate being satisfied, 7% feel totally dissatisfied and finally, only 3% indicate be fully satisfied. Regarding intrinsic satisfaction, it indicates that 35% are indifferent; 31% say they were dissatisfied, 22% said they were satisfied, 8% said they were totally dissatisfied and 4% said they were totally satisfied.

Globalisation and Its Impact on Operational Flexibility Drive and The Performance of Ghana’s Small and Medium-Scale Garment Enterprises

Purpose: This study aims to dissect the complex dynamics between globalisation, operational flexibility, and enterprise performance in Ghana's garment manufacturing sector.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: Employing a quantitative research design, the study analyses survey data collected from members of the Ghana National Dressmakers and Tailors Association (GNDTA) who are registered with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) database across major industrial cities: Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale. Two hundred and thirteen small and medium garment producers were sampled from the three ecological zones in Ghana by convenience and stratification.
 Findings: The findings of the study revealed that globalisation significantly influences enterprise performance. Hence, operational flexibility did not influence performance. Additionally, operational flexibility did not explain the relationship between globalisation and enterprise performance.
 It can be concluded that fashion industries do not need operations to improve their performance, but rather globalisation to boost their performance in the fashion industry. It is recommended that fashion firms should focus more on globalisation to enhance their performance in the fashion industry.
 Research limitation /Implication: This study focused on Globalisation, Operational flexibility, and Enterprise Performance.
 Practical implication: It was discovered that there are practical implications of globalisation for Small and medium-sized garment enterprise practitioners and other small garment enterprises in developing countries.
 Social implication: This study will assist policymakers in addressing globalisation's impact on Small and medium-sized garment enterprises considering that globalisation is a key factor in supporting the performance of enterprises' profitability and sustainability.
 Originality/ Value: The inclusion of operational flexibility as a central driving force sets this study apart. Examining how globalization influences the ability of garment enterprises to adapt and be flexible in their operations contributes novel insights into the mechanisms that drive competitiveness in the global market.

Design of Performance Characteristics on Laser Treated Denim Fabric

The current paper covers an experimental study, mathematical modelling, and design optimization of the laser treatment process of denim fabrics. Laser fading is used in the finishing phase of garment production, unfortunately, it decreases fabric durability. Denim fabric is known as a cotton fabric but nowadays it is blended with other fibres to improve fabric properties. For this reason, the main purpose of this study was to test multicomponent fabric longevity after laser treatment. The knowledge from this study is used by garment production company. The tear force, abrasion resistance, and colour difference are considered as performance characteristics of laser treated denim fabrics subjected to maximization. To achieve the goals, novel, mathematical models were developed. In the preliminary tests, the design space was determined. The full factorial design of experiments was utilized in the experimental study and the values of the performance characteristics are measured. Based on the results of the experimental study the artificial neural network and Haar wavelet based mathematical models were developed to predict the behaviour of the tear force, abrasion resistance, and colour difference. The artificial intelligence-based multicriteria design optimization procedure is developed.

Unveiling The Shadows: Exploring Money Laundering Mechanisms In Bangladesh's RMG Sector

This study examines the intricate web of money laundering in Bangladesh's Readymade Garments (RMG) sector, a vital industry for the nation's economy. Utilizing two ethically sound focus group discussions (FGDs) with various stakeholders, including RMG representatives, labour leaders, legal experts, and law enforcement officers, the study was conducted in Gazipur, a significant centre for garment manufacturing in Bangladesh. The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of prevalent money laundering strategies in the RMG industries. Notable techniques include trade-based money laundering, smurfing and structuring, false invoicing, shell companies, offshore accounts, cost manipulation, informal value transfer systems (IVTS), and real estate investments. This research sheds light on the concealed financial complexities of the RMG industry, highlighting the need for vigilant regulatory measures and industry-wide awareness.

POSSIBILITIES OF USING THE BRAND PORTFOLIO STRATEGIES OF SEWING AND KNITTING INDUSTRY ENTERPRISES

The article explores the scientific and theoretical aspects of the development of branding activities of enterprises and the use of brand strategies. It is based on the specifics of the brand portfolio formation mechanisms. The results of marketing research on the use of portfolio strategies of domestic and foreign brands of enterprises of the garment industry are presented. A brand portfolio matrix has been developed taking into account the competitiveness factors of local brands. Competitiveness management strategies based on the brand portfolio matrix of garment products are proposed

A New Fuzzy Stochastic Integrated Model for Evaluation and Selection of Suppliers

In light of the rapid rate of change and unforeseen occurrences seen in the realms of technology, market dynamics, and the wider business landscape, there is a growing need for the inclusion of uncertainty and risk factors in the realm of supply chain planning. Supplier evaluation and selection (SES) is a major strategic decision area where the impact of uncertainty and risk can be more proactively dealt with. A review of extant literature reveals that there is a strong need for developing practitioner-oriented and more comprehensive frameworks and models to mitigate both the capability- and performance-related risks, in the context of SES decisions. This paper presents an integrated model to support SES decisions involving quantity discounts and multiple planning periods under stochastic conditions. The proposed model employs the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), Fuzzy Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution EDAS (EDAS-F), and fuzzy stochastic goal programming (FSGP) to effectively address the above requirements. A case study from a garment manufacturing industry is used to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed model. The findings of the study provide confirmation that the suggested FSIM has the ability to provide substantial advantages in the context of making choices related to quantity discounts in SES. The proposed FSIM model incorporates the use of FAHP and EDAS-F techniques to effectively reduce the number of suppliers to a manageable level, taking into consideration capability-based risks. Additionally, fuzzy stochastic goal programming (FSGP) is employed to mitigate performance-based risks, enabling the selection of suppliers and the allocation of orders among them. The paper contributes to the literature by proposing a comprehensive framework to solve the SES problem, considering certain practical situations faced by organizations.

Contemporary Approach to Brand Consciousness and Development among Selected Garment Manufacturing Industries in Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana: Evidence from a Developing Country.

Purpose: Brand development is widely available and extensively used by various garment manufacturers. Many garment manufacturers spent a lot of money on brand development to enable their manufactured products to survive in the garment industry. This study, therefore, employed the Akers Model (2012), to explore to brand consciousness and development among Small and Medium Scale garment manufacturers in the Kumasi Metropolis.
 Methodology: The study employed a case study research design using a focus group discussion as a data collection tool. Data was analyzed using thematic content analyses technique to arrive at the findings.
 Findings: The results suggest that the small-scale garment manufacturers were conscious of their brands; hence, leveraged the advantage of social media to create awareness of their brands. Their brands represented, quality works, neat work, creativity, trustworthy unique, and stylish among others. The public knows their brands on their social media handles. Almost all of them leveraged the emergence of the COVID-19 last year to distribute nose masks to their communities as a way of brand development. Also, the garment manufacturers used logos to depict their identity, represented on social media, participated in fashion shows, and used mannequins. However, few of them had slogans, customized packaging bags, TV/Radio advertisements, and costumed celebrities with no websites. Some of the challenges they faced include financial challenges, inadequate trainees and no government support.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study recommends that the small-scale garment manufacturers should invest in continuous brand development strategies by implementing new generational abilities to inculcate new branding technologies to enable them survive in the global competitive environment.

Body circumference fitting model based on coupled linear regression and body type classification

Body circumference fitting model is a key technology for personalization in smart manufacturing by the apparel industry. First, the paper collected front and side images plus manual measurement data of 122 young men. Second, through contour recognition and feature point detection of the collected images, the width and thickness of each body part plus the height were estimated. Then, a correlation analysis of these known factors was conducted. The paper proposed that weight was included in initial regression model for circumferences as an additional independent variable along with width and thickness. Finally, according body type classification, a multivariate regression model was established. After validation, the values predicted by the multivariate regression model were within ±1.5 cm of the manual values for 90.9% of the individuals on average. The paper provides theoretical support for body circumference fitting and may also be beneficial to the development of the smart manufacturing of garments.

Unravelling the Challenges in Cotton Processing Industries: A Comprehensive Constraint Analysis

The textile industry is one of India's oldest industries and has been there for a long time. Cotton has a major economic influence in India, where it is mostly used in the textile sector. One of the most often produced and exported items from India is cotton yarn. The goal of the current study is to examine and record the challenges faced by the cotton processing units along the value chain of the crop. The study was conducted in Adilabad and Nalgonda districts of Telangana state. The required data was gathered from a sample size of 10 ginning mills, 10 spinning mills, 10 weaving mills, one dyeing and printing mill and one garment manufacturing unit, using well-structured and pretested schedule by personal interview method. To analyze the collected data Garrett ranking methodology was employed. The research found that, higher cost of machinery, higher rate of interest, exorbitant prices of raw material, underutilization of installed capacity, higher working capital requirement, shortage of electricity, lack of technical human resource, competition from the big and organized sector and lack of marketing cooperatives were the major problem faced by the different processing units of cotton. Therefore, the study suggests that the government provide subsidies for the purchase of machinery, at least for small-scale businesses, impart training to the youth and establishment of marketing cooperative at every successive stage of the cotton processing in order to make the processing units more competitive in business.

The Marketing Strategy for Small-Scale Garment Products on Post-Pandemic Era

The small-scale garment industry has gained significant influence in Indonesia. However, with the challenges posed by the pandemic era, the industry must adapt to ensure its long-term sustainability. The objective of this research is to analyze the marketing strategy of small-scale garment products, specifically examining the proportion of online and offline marketing strategies, as the success of these products in the market relies on the effective utilization of both strategies. The urgency of this research stems from the daily market demand for garment products and the crucial role played by dominating small-scale garment companies in contributing to the economy’s development. This research adopts a mixed-method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative approach involves conducting interviews with owners of small-scale garment businesses, commonly known as convection businesses. Meanwhile, the quantitative approach is used to analyze the proportion of online and offline marketing strategies. The qualitative analysis utilizes a Markov approach to provide insights into future marketing strategy proportions and possibilities. The research was conducted at a small-scale garment center located in Kutawaringin Village, West Bandung Regency. The results indicate that during the pandemic era, garment businesses have increasingly embraced online marketing strategies to enhance their marketing performance. Furthermore, businesses that have traditionally relied on offline marketing are also increasing their proportion of online marketing strategy implementation.
 Keywords: marketing strategy, small-scale garment business, online, offline

Research progress of automatic grasping methods for garment fabrics

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to gain an in-depth understanding into the research progress, hot spots and future trends in smart gripping technology in the field of apparel smart manufacturing.Design/methodology/approach This work scrutinised the current research status of the five automatic grasping methods for garment fabrics including the pneumatic suction grasping, the electrostatic grasping, the intrusive grasping and the dexterous grasping. Specifically, the principles, characteristics, main devices and the impact on garment production were discussed.Findings In particular, soft finger of the dexterous grasping method has good flexibility and adaptability in the process of fabric grasping, which provides a new solution for garment production automation. Up to now, the reviewed method in general exhibit good grasping speed, high grasping stability and flat grasping process. However, in the face of complex fabric materials which are thin and flexible and do not return their original shapes when deformed in practical applications, the gripper for automatic fabric grasping need new technological breakthroughs in the positioning accuracy, grab efficiency and flexible grasping.Originality/value The outcomes offered an overview of the research status and future trends of the automatic grasping methods for garment fabrics in the field of apparel intelligent manufacturing. It could not only provide scholars with convenience in identifying research hot spots and building potential cooperation in the follow-up research but also assist beginners in searching core scholars and literature of great significance.

Developing an AI-based automated fashion design system: reflecting the work process of fashion designers

With the recent expansion of the applicability of artificial intelligence into the creative realm, attempts are being made to use AI (artificial intelligence) in the garment development system in various ways, both in academia and the fashion business. Several IT companies have developed and possess AI-based garment design technologies that utilize StyleGAN2 for image transformation. However, they are not widely utilized in the fashion business. Since fashion brands need to create numerous designs to launch new garment products for at least two seasons per year, the adoption of AI-based garment design generation technology can be one way to increase work efficiency. Therefore, this research aims to collect and analyze existing cases of AI-based garment design tools in order to identify the similarities and differences between the garment development processes of human designers and the existing AI-based garment design tools. Based on this analysis, the research aims to develop an AI-based garment development system that takes into consideration the garment development process of human designers, incorporating fashion domain knowledge.

Systematic Insights into a Textile Industry: Reviewing Life Cycle Assessment and Eco-Design

The worldwide textile sector is one of the most polluting and consuming natural resource value chains. In recent years, trends have demonstrated a linear model driven by fast fashion, increasing the sustainability problems of this sector. The European market and industry are changing the paradigm and promoting some actions towards a sustainable value chain. This paper applies a systematic approach to reviewing scientific research, where Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is implemented as a tool to understand the impacts considering a holistic life cycle framework, from raw materials to the end-of-life of textile products. The methodology and criteria applied resulted in 73 articles used for qualitative analysis, of which 39 met the criteria for quantitative analysis. The quantitative results reported in the studies were organized and presented by phase of the garment production life cycle (production of fiber, yarn, fabric, manufacturing, and recovery/end of life). From a cradle-to-gate perspective, wool yarn production, by worsted processing, was the material with the highest values (95.70 kg CO2 eq/kg) for climate change/global warming potential, closely followed by silk fabric (80.90 kg CO2 eq/kg). Extending to a cradle-to-grave boundary, polyester had the highest values for the previously mentioned category, reaching a potential release of 40.28 kg CO2 eq per kilogram of polyester textile. When data was available, the user phase predominantly contributed to climate change/global warming potential. Additionally, there were significant differences in maximum and minimum values for some of the materials, which were related to methodological considerations, database inventory, and frequency of use and care considered by the different authors. The study also addresses the considerations and limitations of diverse LCA impact assessment tools.

Maximum slacks-based measure of efficiency in network data envelopment analysis: A case of garment manufacturing

The conventional slacks-based measure (SBM) model is widely applied to measure the relative efficiency of a set of decision making units (DMUs) because the measured efficiency is not affected by weakly efficient frontiers. This model seeks the target point on the production frontier that is farthest to the assessed DMU to calculate efficiency, which requires more effort for the DMU to reach to become efficient. This paper develops a model to calculate the maximum SBM efficiency for general network production systems. Different from the conventional minimum SBM efficiency that is always less than the radial efficiency for inefficient DMUs, the maximum SBM efficiency can be greater than the radial efficiency. The measured efficiency satisfies the monotonicity property. The efficiencies of the component divisions of the network system can also be calculated at the same time. A garment manufacturing company whose major operations comprise cutting and sewing is studied using the developed model. The results show that the average maximum SBM efficiency is 35 % higher than the average minimum SBM efficiency and the sewing operation contributes more to the system efficiency than the cutting operation does.

The Impacts of Supply Chain Capabilities, Visibility, Resilience on Supply Chain Performance and Firm Performance

This study explores the significance of two determinants: Supply Chain Capabilities and Supply Chain Visibility, in the intricate interplay among Supply Chain Resilience, Supply Chain Performance, and Firm Performance. A dataset comprising 221 participants from Vietnamese garment manufacturing firms was gathered and subjected to analysis using the PLS-SEM approach, revealing insights into the modeled complex relationships. The research findings reveal that visibility significantly influences supply chain resilience; while the hypotheses of a positive impact of supply chain visibility and supply chain resilience on firm performance have been rejected. Interestingly, these findings underscore the significant influence of indirect relationships mediated by factors, such as supply chain resilience and supply chain performance. Hence, this study bridges a gap in the existing body of literature and offers practical implications for supply chain management, particularly concerning performance measurement challenges in this sector. The article suggests that the Vietnamese garment supply chain could enhance supply chain and firm performance by focusing on supply chain capabilities and visibility.