[TC]² Bi-Weekly Technology Communicator
[TC]² Seminar Offerings
July 11-12
Lean Manufacturing and the Importance of Cycle Time
Modular manufacturing systems reduce work-in-process, increase quality, and shorten lead times. You’ll find out how to achieve these benefits as well as understand the commitment modular requires at all levels of the organization. If you are thinking about transitioning to modular manufacturing, this seminar is a must.
Seminar Highlights: • Explore what it takes to create a modular manufacturing environment |
July 18-20
Pattern Development – One of our most well-attended courses
Learn introductory principles of fit, pattern development, and marker making. Hands-on activities include flat pattern manipulations, fabric critique, and garment investigation.
Seminar Highlights: • Learn basic pattern terminology |
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Seating is limited. To register for these seminars, click here.
Apparel Conference of the Americas
July 31 – August 2
The 5th Annual Apparel Conference of the Americas (ACA) will be held at the Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua, Guatemala July 31 to August 2. With an ambitious agenda to discuss the opportunities and challenges of today’s dynamic global sourcing landscape, the conference will feature well-known speakers on topics such as: CAFTA/China - A Direct, Objective Comparison; A Report Card on the Region; 'Green' Energy in the Region; Sourcing Strategies; a panel discussion on Market Opportunities; and more. To register for this event or to view full program descriptions, visit www.aapnetwork.net.
[TC]² along with AAFA, CCAA, NCTO and SPESA have endorsed this event, which is being coordinated by AAPN. For those of you that are doing business in the region, this is a conference that you will not want to miss.
SizeUSA User Group Meeting
By Kim Anderson, [TC]²
The third SizeUSA User Group meeting was held at [TC]² on June 28th in Cary, NC. Jim Lovejoy, Director of Industry Programs, opened the meeting with a brief overview of the topics discussed at the SizeUSA User Group meetings held in 2005 and 2006. The highlights of the 2007 User Group meeting will be detailed in this issue as well as upcoming issues of the [TC]² Bi-Weekly Technology Communicator.
Kim Munro, Manager of Product Development, introduced the SizeUSA Automatic Analysis Tool—a software recently developed by [TC]². The primary goal of the tool is to allow SizeUSA users to automatically identify the body measurements and shapes of their target customer. Munro used the seat measurement as the primary selection criteria to demonstrate how the software can be utilized to recommend size and shape specific body measurements. After designating a seat measurement range for a specific customer demographic, the software searched and extracted measurements from all the women scanned in the SizeUSA study that fell into the specified range. Munro showed how the software can then extract additional information such as the lower body shape and secondary body measurements from women with the specified seat measurement—allowing for size optimization.
A variety of charts which show the percentage of women that fall into a specified size category can be generated from the data. Munro says further research will include using bust measurements as the primary search criteria to do upper body analysis. [TC]² researchers also plan to use the software to investigate male body shapes and sizing strategies. The new software tool drew interest from both academicians and industry professionals.
The price for the new SizeUSA Automatic Analysis Tool will be $25,000 for the full database, and $15,000 per gender. Current SizeUSA license holders can apply the cost of their original data purchase to the purchase of the new automation tool. SizeUSA 3D Scans or point clouds are also now available for purchase. [TC]²’s Body Measurement Software is included with the purchase of the 3D body scans. The combination of the SizeUSA Automatic Analysis Tool and 3D body scans will place the ability to optimize sizing and fit strategies based on statistically valid anthropometric analysis and visual 3D assessment into the hands of the apparel industry.
[TC]² 2007 Student Intern Program Patrons
The [TC]² Summer Student Internship program would not be possible without the cooperation of many companies who provide facility tours, or whose company representatives have met with the interns to discuss career opportunities and the future direction of the sewn products industry. At the half-way point of the summer internship, [TC]² thanks the following patrons of the Intern Program: Clovertex, Cognis, Cotton Incorporated, D2 Design Studio; Datacolor, Gerber Technology; Gutermann, Jockey International, L.L.Bean, Lectra, Neiman-Marcus, NC A&T University; North Carolina State University College of Textiles; Shapely Shadow; and WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production). Additional program participants will be acknowledged in future newsletters.
[TC]² Activity
Student Intern Program Review
By Allison Osteen, Oklahoma State University and Heather McCready, Iowa State University
This segment will focus on our past two weeks as interns at [TC]². It has been a flurry of information and knowledge though guest speakers and lectures, and the SizeUSA conference.
The week began with Kathy Kierce from Gütermann thread. She showed us a fascinating video of thread production from fiber to packaging, emphasizing their strict quality standards. The same day Pamela Miller spoke to us about her role at Neiman Marcus concerning alterations/tailoring and customized fashion. Both emphasized their career paths and how you never know where you are going to end up when you begin in this industry.
We spent an entire morning with Mike Fralix, President and CEO of [TC]², learning and discussing change in the industry. Mike’s favorite motto is “expect change, and be flexible.” He demonstrated the industry’s newest and greatest innovations and technologies that are on the horizon. Datacolor’s Director of Sales, Christopher Hipps, spoke to us on color and the challenges of color matches and his company’s efforts to reduce the color approval time cycle. Christy McGowan from Cotton, Incorporated and Melissa Stewart from Jockey International shared with us their responsibilities in their current positions, as well past job experiences and how they found each of their placements. Another example of never knowing where your path in the industry will take you was Dr. Dianna Vass who began her career in textiles and is now the Director of Development at North Carolina A&T University. Also, Cecelia McAleer from LL Bean took time to share her experiences in the technical design department. This was particularly interesting to several of us who are interested in positions as technical designers.
[TC]² was also a bustling place full of enlightenment and discovery. Mike King took us on a tour of the scanner building area and answered all our questions in how to create a 3D rendering of the body. We all found the process very interesting because we could reference the knowledge to our own scanning experience. Jack Nienke presented a lecture on seams and stitches followed by a hands-on experience where we constructed the stitches though perforated boards using string. A very exciting activity for us was sewing our digitally printed bags and totes. The group has a varied level of sewing experience and therefore sewing on the industrial machines was quite a treat. Some of us even used the stand-up machines in the modular production line. We are looking forward to presenting our bags to the [TC]² staff on July 3rd. An afternoon was spent with Richard Atwell on cutting and marker making methods. We even had a chance to try cutting a marker with both an industrial rotary hand cutter and a table-top reciprocating blade cutter.
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April Taylor assembles digitally printed bag |
Heather McCready operates cutter with assistance from Richard Atwell |
To continue our manipulations of our scan data, we had a session with Kim Munro and Elizabeth White to convert our 3D scans into 2D patterns using the BMS (body measurement software) software. We had the experience of digitally drafting slopers for bodice, pant and skirt for our individual scans. This was particularly interesting as BMS is the future of pattern making.
The major treat and experience this past week was participating in the 3rd Annual SizeUSA User Group Conference. Listening to each of the presenters explain how they utilize the data and their future plans for continued research was inspiring. One of our own interns, April Taylor, presented her research and findings in a study about teen correlation between teen BMI and clothing preferences that she worked on at East Carolina State University. As students, the research showed us the complex issues of universal fit standards and grading for the current body trends. We all felt that SizeUSA was a revolutionary step for the apparel industry and we all see a need for a TeenSizeUSA study.
The past two weeks were jam-packed with speakers and activities. We have kept busy learning and networking with industry professionals, and gathering knowledge to take home to our universities and carry throughout our career. As we have just crossed the half-way mark of our internship, we look forward to our last four weeks of learning and are thankful for the experiences we have already gained.
[TC]² Student Intern Sponsor Profile - Lectra
By Karen Davis, [TC]²
[TC]² is pleased to recognize Lectra as a Gold Sponsor of the 2007 Student Internship Program. Lectra is a worldwide leader in integrated technology solutions that automate, streamline and accelerate product development processes for the soft goods industries. From enterprise software that optimizes every element of the product lifecycle and manufacturing process to the world’s most sophisticated cutting systems, Lectra provides specialized solutions to a broad array of markets including fashion, automotive, aeronautical, marine, leather goods, industrial fabrics and furniture.
Lectra has a worldwide staff of 1,500, and provides daily accompaniment to more than 17,000 customers. Dr. Hari Kenkare, the School Partnerships Manager for Lectra, and a Ph.D. graduate of North Carolina State University, has been designated as the new liaison with [TC]² for products and services.
A valued [TC]² member, Lectra has provided software and training for its line of CAD/CAM products, its Modaris 3D Fit virtual prototyping solution and Kaledo 3D Trend for animated storyboard creation for use in [TC]²’s Demonstration Center. Lectra also participated in the Cool Zone at the recent SPESA Expo.
[TC]² and the 2007 student interns gratefully acknowledge Lectra as a Gold Level Sponsor and wish to thank them for their support of the
intern program.
Member Profile
International Apparel Search, Inc.
By Karen Davis, [TC]²
International Apparel Search specializes in search and recruiting services for executive level positions in the apparel, home furnishings, textile, automotive, and footwear industries. Its services include assistance with candidates in manufacturing, merchandising, retail, marketing, design, product development, quality control, logistics, engineering, sourcing, sales, IT, and human resources.
IAS has been developed as an innovative search firm that intuitively understands the apparel industry and how best to provide top quality search and recruiting services to client companies.
Wayne Wilson, IAS's founder and president, has spent his entire career in the apparel industry. He initially worked in manufacturing, both domestically and off shore, and has been involved with recruiting activities for over 20 years. He was a two term President of the American Apparel Producers Network during the NAFTA days, which was not an easy transition. His is still a member of AAPN and the
SEAMS organization.
In addition to recruiting, Wilson has a sourcing business, Source-I, which has taken him around the world and expanded his knowledge and understanding of different cultures.
Wilson has agreed to work with [TC]²’s Student Interns as they prepare to enter the job market. “I really pride our team on being very professional and ethical when conducting business which is the cornerstone of our corporation. Our services will speak for themselves and we hope to help people get a good start in an exciting, fast moving industry,” comments Wilson. “We are proud to be part of [TC]².”
[TC]² welcomes International Apparel Search as its newest member, and looks forward to working together to assist member companies with staffing needs through the services of IAS.
Important Dates
July
11-12 |
Lean Manufacturing and the Importance of Cycle Time Seminar - [TC]², Cary NC. |
18-20 |
Pattern Development Seminar - [TC]², Cary NC. For more details, click here. |
31-Aug 2 |
Apparel Conference of the Americas – 2007 Casa Santo Domingo Antigua, Guatemala. |
September
21-22 |
SEAMS Fall Meeting at [TC]². For details, visit www.seams.org. |
For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com
Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors
Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Lawson, Lectra, Methods Workshop and Reach Technologies.
A Look Ahead in the Newsletter
Student Intern Program Review
SEAMS Fall Meeting
View previous editions of this newsletter
[TC]²
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Fax: 919-380-2181
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