Smart Manufacturing for Fashion Firms

Industries in many parts of the world today have evolved as a result of rapid advancement in information and manufacturing technologies. In Ghana, the product manufacturing subsector, of which the fashion industry is a part, has also continued to evolve just as the technological advancement progresses. As a result, companies (fashion houses) are consistently looking for innovative ways to adapt to the evergrowing demands of consumer’s trendy wear. In view of the fact that the world is experiencing low growth in the global economy, the fashion industry, realizing this, has adopted smart manufacturing to enable it to maintain its relevance in the global economy. Thus, smartening up factories is crucial in this era of industrial revolutions. The traditional methods of operation by the fashion industry continue to fade as ecommerce booms. There is a need for the fashion industry to evolve by adopting smart manufacturing, which may help the textile and garment industries become more environmentally responsible and efficient, as well as boost business output and efficiency by equipping “smart factories” with automated processes and technological advancements. The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature on key areas of smart manufacturing for fashion firms. It has been revealed in the chapter that the projected advantages of the fourth industrial revolution are being fulfilled by smart manufacturing projects. By integrating digital technologies with traditional automated manufacturing processes, the manufacturing industry is projected to see a new growth trajectory. More so, the smart factory can actively participate in the transition of industries by utilizing the internet, data analytics, and sensors. This will eventually lead to technological advancement at all stages of the manufacturing process. However, not every firm will be able to balance the benefits of upgrading technology, installing security systems, and retraining workers against the associated costs. Making a factory smart requires input from many departments within a firm, but ultimately, the decision must be taken on an accurate assessment of its financial viability for the facility or business model in question. 

Keywords: Augmented reality, Artificial intelligence, Fashion firms, IoT, Virtual reality, Smart manufacturing.