[TC]² Bi-Weekly Technology Communicator

[TC]²’s Avatar Creation Engine

By Karen Davis, [TC]²

In concert with the September 3-4 Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo in Los Angeles (http://www.virtualworldsexpo.com) [TC]² is announcing the release of a unique “Human Avatar Engine”  for all applications utilizing human models including online virtual worlds. The powerful feature of the HAE is that it is based on statistical sampling of a large number of previously scanned human subjects. It does not require the person to be scanned, so it can be accessed anywhere. The pool of 3D scan data comes from [TC]²’s SizeUSA human sizing project of the US population, which contains 3D body scans of over 10,800 individuals. SizeUSA includes age groups ranging from ages 18-65+ in all heights, weights, and ethnicities. Using this wealth of data and extracting over 3000 reference points from each body scan, it is possible to create a very realistic avatar of a person using a very small number of inputs. An example set of input data points a person would use to create their avatar are items like height, weight, and age demographics as well as a few body measures such as chest, waist, seat circumference and inseam measure.  In total, only a dozen responses are required to very closely replicate the real person. 

A real test is to take a human subject who is not part of the statistical reference pool, create an avatar with the Human Avatar Engine, and then compare that with a full 3D body scan of that individual, as shown in the examples below.

3D Scan of Female Subject	Avatar from [TC]²’s HAE

Unlike parametric computer generated human models, the output of the Human Avatar Engine is much more realistic and human-like and less “cartoon-ish.” The Human Avatar Engine can be tuned to generate avatars in any mesh density and can include internal joint rigging locations for animation, allowing its easy accommodation in any existing virtual world or software application which utilizes human models.  “This new engine is a great complement to our recently announced avatar feature directly from a 3D scan. Now a person can be 3D scanned at any of the 20+ scanning locations in the ImageTwin network of 3D scanners and create a super high fidelity avatar or they can simply create a very realistic avatar using the avatar engine over the web.  We are making the Human Avatar Engine available to all applications needing realistic human avatars,” according to [TC]²’s David Bruner.

3D Scan of Male Subject	Avatar from [TC]²’s HAE

The statistical technique which allows conversion of just a few pieces of information about the subject into a high-quality avatar using a reference population of data is called principal component analysis: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_components_analysis

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Innovative Textile Printing: Green & Global Symposium
September 17-19, 2008
Sheraton Imperial Hotel, RTP - Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina

Still Accepting Registrations!

Digital printing methodologies focusing on sustainability and environmental solutions are featured in this session-packed event.

[TC]² and AATCC are partnering to produce Innovative Textile Printing: Green & Global, a special educational event that brings together experts in both digital and conventional textile printing, as well as colorant chemistry, fibers, product development, and color communication.

Confirmed speakers include representatives from: American Eagle; Brother International; Cheran Digital; CloverTex; Cotton Incorporated; Cranston Print Works; DataColor; DP Innovations; Dow Corning; Dystar; First2Print; Huntsman Textile Effects; IT Strategies; ITT; Mary Miller Designs; Osiris Digital Prints; Pantone; Philadelphia University; Sensient; SGIA; Spoonflower; Stork Digital; X-Rite; and Yuhan Kimberly; in addition to [TC]² staff members.

Discounted registration fees are available for AATCC or [TC]² member companies. On September 19th, optional tours of technology demonstration areas at Cotton Incorporated and [TC]² are offered.

Click here to view the conference brochure, or for conference registration, click here.

[TC]²’s Signature Course Offered

Intro to Apparel Manufacturing – September 22-26

[TC]²’s best attended in-house seminar, Intro to Apparel Manufacturing, offers an overview of the entire manufacturing process with numerous hands-on exercises. Topics covered include: textile fundamentals, fiber formation and fabric design, fabric characteristics, material utilization, spreading and cutting theories, and much more. Key apparel terms and concepts are featured, along with standard terminology for seam and stitch formations.

This seminar will be held at [TC]²’s facility at 5651 Dillard Drive, Cary, NC.

For additional information or to register, contact Debra Gill at 919.653.3501, or via our contact form.

To download or print a copy of [TC]²’s seminar offerings for 2008, click here (pdf).

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A Sustainable Supply Chain: A Beneficial Advantage

By Kim Anderson, [TC]²

Today, many companies are not only setting high sustainable goals for their employees and facilities, but are also requiring their suppliers to meet high environmental and social expectations as well. The best companies view sustainability not as a costly inconvenience but as the lynch pin that will result in corporate survival. A growing strategy is to extend the sustainable focus as far as possible upstream to the raw materials and downstream to the consumer and then back to the company again as the product and wastes are recycled.

There are numerous definitions for ‘Sustainable’ and ‘Supply Chain’. Sustainable in a business context has been defined as “The ability to maintain a chosen strategy into the future without jeopardizing profitability.” A common definition for a supply chain is “The network of retailers, distributors, transporters, storage facilities and suppliers that participate in the sale, delivery and production of a particular product.”

The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, (NZBCSD) has melded the two words sustainable and supply chain to coin a simple and practical definition:

“Management of raw materials and services from suppliers to manufacturer/service provider to customer and back, with improvement of the social and environmental impacts explicitly considered.”

A sustainable supply chain allows companies to differentiate themselves, reduce cost and improve service by examining the environmental, social and economic factors relating to their supply chain.

The NZBCSD has defined three areas that a sustainable supply chain should focus on:

• Improving the performance of the business’s own operations.

• Ensuring that the goods and services provided by suppliers are sustainable, and working with suppliers to increase efficiency and   competitiveness and

• Working effectively with customers and sales channels to design sustainable products and services.

In recent years the emphasis has shifted from the “green consumer” to the “responsible retailer.” The brand owner has taken on the responsibility for ensuring that consumers can confidently buy products and services that have been manufactured with a social and environmental focus. Similarly the relationship between manufacturers and retailers has shifted. In the past manufacturers were the drivers of the supply chain, managing the pace at which products were manufactured and distributed. Today, retailers drive the agenda and successful manufacturers are those who can meet the retailer’s demands for options, styles or features as well as fulfill and deliver orders quickly.

Retailers now have the power to put pressure on the manufacturer to uphold the sustainable bar they set. The difficulty in accomplishing this depends on the complexity of the supply chain. Some supply chains are fairly easy to identify and examine while others are quite complex. Taking the time to investigate the entire supply chain will more than likely reap benefits. As Stephen Tindall, Chair of (NZBCSD), points out, “If you don’t find out about your own supply chain, someone else might do it for you….companies like Nike have learned this the hard way.”

Creating a sustainable supply chain entails collaboration with all companies along the supply chain. A sustainable supply chain gives companies a chance to contribute to social goals, a powerful source of competitive advantage. With the economic downturn, many companies are focused on keeping the bottom line in the black. Creating a sustainable supply chain is an excellent strategy that will result in corporate profits with the added benefit of providing environmental and social goodwill.

References
Implementing a Sustainable Supply Chain. “Business and the Environment.” February, 2004.

Mahler, Daniel. The Sustainable Supply Chain. “Supply Chain Management Review.” November, 2007.

To read more articles related to Sustainability and Environment, visit our newsletter archive.

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[TC]² Activity - INTERMODA July 2008

By Arturo Rodriguez, [TC]²
Latin America Industry Services

[TC]² was present at the past edition of Mexico’s premier fashion show, held in the city of the Pearl of the West…Guadalajara.

INTERMODA invited [TC]² to speak and also be present with a booth at their four day event. During the rainy month of July, Guadalajara becomes the fashion beacon for all of Mexico and its shine glows over a good portion of Latin America. It was the fashion show’s 49th event, and the 24th consecutive year of INTERMODA, which continues to amaze visitors and exhibitors alike.

This time the Fall / Winter 2008 edition was held over a spread of 30,000 square feet with more than 1,200 booths that attracted mainly buyers from Mexico. The exhibits included finished garments, supplies, technology and materials.

Our topic at the show was  How GREEN is Your Supply Chain?  which drew the attention of brand owners, designers, manufacturers and buyers alike. Just discussing the carbon footprint that the apparel industry is leaving on Mother Earth and what can be done to reduce that footprint was enough to attract a respectable audience. Over the course of two hours, we covered what are best practices in Sustainable Apparel manufacturing by giving examples from leading brands; companies such as Patagonia, Wal-Mart, Nike, American Apparel, and others. Links to sustainable oriented web sites were mentioned and reviewed. Sustainable practices such as Lean Manufacturing are endorsed by environmental agencies as being the door to Green and also the key to more efficient and profitable business strategies.

At the end of the presentation there were many questions and suggestions, initiating discussions with a leading Guadalajara university on the feasibility of doing a garment recycling pilot program in Guadalajara.

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Member Profile - Assyst/Bullmer

By Karen Davis, [TC]²

Since the inception of Assyst/Bullmer in 1985, the heart of its business philosophy has been a steadfast commitment to the highest quality equipment with excellent customer service, support, and consultation.  Its product line includes robust and proven solutions for textile and product design, product lifecycle management (PDM/PLM), pattern design (CAD), manual and automatic marker making or nesting, marker plotting, cut and cost planning and optimization, automated material handling, and spreading, and automated single, low and high-ply cutting systems (CAM/CNC).

Several of these products such as automatic marker making, cost planning and data conversion are offered as a web service on its e-commerce platform automarker.com. As a valued Associate Member, Assyst/Bullmer has supplied its CAD programs for patternmaking, marker making, MTM, SmartPattern, cut file generation, and data conversion for [TC]²’s demonstration center.

Additionally, Assyst/Bullmer’s vidya 3D software will soon be added at [TC]². With vidya 3D a garment can be displayed on an avatar in adjustable poses to determine the fabric’s behavior on the body.  Fit problems or issues with drape are immediately apparent, and a tape measure and virtual pins provide the vidya 3D user with familiar tools to make alterations and view their effects. Pattern pieces are checked using 3D visualization to detect any possible flaws prior to the initial cut. Material characteristics and fabric types are stored in a database for easy access.  The system is designed to eliminate the high costs associated with creating prototypes, and the digital images can be shared with partners internationally.

Assyst/Bullmer is headquartered in Germany, with offices in China, Italy, the UK and U.S.

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AAFA’s 9th Annual Human Resource Leadership Summit to discuss “Leadership in Crisis”
FIT, New York
October 15, 2008

The American Apparel & Footwear Association is honored to announce this year’s keynote speaker for the 9th Annual Human Resource Leadership Summit. Mr. Richard Sheirer, Vice President, Giuliani Partners LLC, served 28 years with the New York City Fire Department and almost 4 years with the New York City Police Department before being appointed Director of Emergency Management by former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani.

To review the agenda, or to register, go to www.apparelandfootwear.org.

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Important Dates

September

October

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.

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A Look Ahead in the Newsletter



SEAMS Fall Meeting

View previous editions of this newsletter

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[TC]²
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Cary , NC 27518
www.tc2.com
Phone: 919-380-2156
Fax: 919-380-2181

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