5 Essential Features of a 'SMART' Manufacturing Company

A smart factory combines physical production processes and operations with digital technology, computing, and big data to create a system for companies that is focused on manufacturing and supply chain management. A smart factory relies upon automated systems to improve production speed and efficiency.

In this article, we discuss five indispensable features of a 'smart' manufacturing company.

Components Of A Smart Factory 

Basic components which differentiate a smart factory from a regular one are:

• Automation in production
• Maximum use of technology, including robotics, artificial Intelligence (AI), AR/VR, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and analytics.
• Use of data for improving production mechanisms. 

Can such smart procedures be introduced in apparel manufacturing? The answer is yes! Especially in pre-sewing areas, the scope for such improvisation is largely prevalent. Examples include automatic pattern making, on-screen digitizer, accessory dispensing system (which reduces time wastage),and others.

Advantages of a Smart Garment Factory

In the opinions of experts, the advantages of a smart garment factory are as follow:

• There is reduced need for manpower given the dependence on automation
• Smart factories can track sewing machine operations in real-time using cloud-based systems.
• Easy prediction of defects in the material

Technology Level Found in a Smart Garment Factory

A system enabling faster data entry systems, easy IT access, modular flexible systems, and people mentality impacted towards better smart manufacturing is necessary. 

Smart data management, group & line board are using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications. AR/VR helps them in employee training, machine maintenance to understand the critical operation of manufacturing particular apparel. Active digital assistants help them in data retrieval and stocking of information.

Completion of Robotic process automation enables them to eliminate non-value-added items and reduces unnecessary human interventions. They have introduced AI to detect quality defects with fabric consumption estimation and improvement in the cutting section of garment manufacturing as well as an advisory warning signal generator in each segment. 

The smart fashion industries have enhanced their made to measure in the manufacture of blazers and jackets for fabric quality, cutting, sewing, inventory departments in fabric quality. The bar-code system also tracks the fabric inventory, raw material, order state, pressing of blazers. A bar-code system is quite easy for tracking its vast manufacturing system in a more synchronized mode. For the betterment of the labor, they have introduced gas chutes for trims issues and automated fabric inspections too. Virtual sampling auditory activity as well as virtual shipment procedure and tracking of inventory through virtual systems.