Retaining customers in any industry is one of the biggest challenges today, and more so in the fashion industry, where competition is very high and customer loyalty very fickle, which has to be earned not just by the look of the garment but also through quality. Therefore, it is imperative that apparel brands world over follow strict quality guidelines right from product designing to quality of inputs to sewing and packaging the product. This critical journey even involves managing the quality of the machines on which the product is made to the way the after-sales services are carried out. Effectively managing quality of all the above materials and processes is a major challenge, mainly for the reason that the complete cycle requires human intervention and humans make mistakes. This book is an honest endeavour to comprehensively cover implementation of all the possible tools, techniques and methodologies which encompass the concept of ‘quality’ for the apparel industry such as quality control, quality assurance and total quality management system. All the concepts have been fortified by case studies on the implementation process with detailed discussion and final outcome. These would not only enable the industry to move forth on the path of consistent improvement but would also support it to remain in sync with the rapidly evolving technological world of today.

The never-ending global search for a country with a low labour wage is almost bottoming out. The so-called labor-oriented apparel manufacturing industry is poised to change. Due to fierce global pressure on reducing price and lead time, the textiles and apparel producers will have to banish all waste from their supply chain. Lean manufacturing which removes waste and smoothens the process flow is gaining popularity among textiles and apparel producers and will be a key element for the survival of the industry in the years ahead. - An overview of various lean tools with a balanced mix of conceptual knowledge and practical applications in the context of apparel manufacturing - Valuable industry information which managers and engineers can follow themselves without the need to hire outside consultants - Case studies and examples from apparel manufacturing demonstrating how lean tools are being used successfully by leading organizations; an academician's delight - Possible use cases of several lean tools having potential use in the apparel manufacturing scenario

Zero Waste: Management Practices for Environmental Sustainability presents approaches for resource management centered on reducing waste and reusing and recycling materials. It aims to save energy by reducing energy consumption associated with extracting, processing, and transporting raw materials and waste, and also to reduce and eventually eliminate the need for landfills and incinerators. This book presents the various principles, methods, and tools that can be used to address different issues in the areas of industrial waste reduction and sustainability. It examines how to eliminate waste at the source and at all points of a supply chain, and how to shift from the current one-way linear resource model to a sustainable "closed-loop" system. Proposes strategies for businesses to reduce and reuse waste with a goal of reaching a zero waste status. Focuses on how mitigating waste and promoting recycling can save vast amounts of energy. Explains how the zero waste approach would be a key measure to ensure environmental sustainability and help to offset global climate change.

This book, divided in two volumes, originates from Techno-Societal 2020: the 3rd International Conference on Advanced Technologies for Societal Applications, Maharashtra, India, that brings together faculty members of various engineering colleges to solve Indian regional relevant problems under the guidance of eminent researchers from various reputed organizations. The focus of this volume is on technologies that help develop and improve society, in particular on issues such as advanced and sustainable technologies for manufacturing processes, environment, livelihood, rural employment, agriculture, energy, transport, sanitation, water, education. This conference aims to help innovators to share their best practices or products developed to solve specific local problems which in turn may help the other researchers to take inspiration to solve problems in their region. On the other hand, technologies proposed by expert researchers may find applications in different regions. This offers a multidisciplinary platform for researchers from a broad range of disciplines of Science, Engineering and Technology for reporting innovations at different levels.

Performance measurement is a process for collecting and reporting information regarding the performance of an individual, group or organisations. The fundamental purpose behind this measure is to improve performance. Key Performance Indicators, often abbreviated as KPIs, help an organisation define and measure progress towards organisational goals. These KPIs are quantifiable measurements, agreed to beforehand, that reflect the critical success factors of an organisation. By using KPIs, a company can establish baseline figures against a number of important areas. They can be considered like a health check on a company or a diagnosis as to where a company can improve its performance. Different KPIs are there for different fields of operations such as merchandising, quality, production planning, cutting room, human resources management and inventory management for enhancing both the operational and financial performances of a business. Each of these metrics have been explained in terms of their measurement formula, benchmarks wherever available, and elaborated with examples to ensure that they are correctly interpreted and applied.

While there is pressure (from buyers), inclination (within self to do better) and a heightened aspiration among apparel manufacturers to use Industrial Engineering (IE) like other more industrialized sectors, there is no specific book as such dealing with IE in relation to apparel manufacturing. The existing books that are already written on IE possess academic rigour and generic functions applicable across industries, thus making it difficult for the practitioners to refer and clear discrete doubts related to apparel manufacturing. Undoubtedly, work study is the centrepiece of Industrial Engineering; however apart from work study, industrial engineers in apparel industry are also supposed to perform various other functions like preparing operation breakdown and operation flow chart, selecting machine type and attachment and workaids, planning machine layout for maximizing unidirectional material movement, optimising inventory and storage space and maintaining workplace health and safety. These are some of the areas that often lack significant attention. This practitioner’s handbook is an amalgamation of theory and practices, including steps of implementation and common mistakes. A balanced approached is taken to make it equally meaningful and useful for the academics as well as the industry. A unique section titled “industry practices” is incorporated at the end of each chapter which shares the typical practices, constraints and benefits accrued by the industry, which will give meaningful insight to the readers and help them relate theory with actual practice.

This book highlights the concepts of lean manufacturing that help to achieve the objectives of sustainability in a global competitive atmosphere. Lean can help to lower the manufacturing cost in the rising labour and material cost market. Lean is based on various fundamental concepts such as Kaizen, Kanban, Zidoka, 5S and Six Sigma, which aim at reducing process waste for efficiency and productivity that are discussed in this book. In addition, the technological changes such as introduction of Internet technologies and Industry 4.0 are taken care by the lean concepts, which are also addressed in this book.

A hot-button societal issue, sustainability has become a frequently heard term in every industrial segment. Sustainability in apparel production is a vast topic and it has many facets. Handbook of Sustainable Apparel Production covers all aspects of sustainable apparel production including the raw materials employed, sustainable manufacturing proce

The Civil Engineering department of Cochin University of Science and Technology organized an International Conference on Recent Advances in Civil Engineering (ICRACE) to disseminate the know-how and challenges in this area among technocrats, practicing civil engineers, researchers etc. This conference has been conducted biennially since 2004. The conference holds an interactive platform to find solution for various problems in construction field.

This book introduces the reader to the business of clothes, with flashbacks into the past, business models of today, and ideas for a sustainable future. Historical perspectives discuss the cotton industry in India, Bangladesh, Greece, and Central Asia, which help trace the evolution of the clothing industry during the 20th century. Chapters also discuss fashion marketing, greenwashing, blockchain in the fashion supply chain, social media, sustainability issues, and sensory models. Several business models are explained; topics covered include blue ocean strategy, the unstitched market, the luxury sector, access-based consumption, and ethics. Among other topics explored are the future retail experience, consumer value creation, technology, and the impact of virtual atmospheres. The book also includes helpful case studies in understanding the country and culture-specific nuances of the clothing business.