Index Lean Manufacturing program at [TC]² 2006 NCSU IFFTI [TC]² Activity - Student Intern Program Review Member Profile - GRUPO BAMEX, SA. DE C.V. Important Dates A Look Ahead

Lean Manufacturing and the Importance of Cycle Time

July 17-18, 2006 – Cary, NC

Join [TC]²’s 2006 Student Interns for this two-day program discussing short cycle manufacturing’s important role in today’s environment and participate in the Penville Plant™ hands-on activity. Lean 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 required at all levels of the organization. If your customer is requiring faster service time and responsiveness, this seminar is a must.

For more details, visit http://www.tc2.com/what/seminars.html.

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2006 NCSU
International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes Conference
By Kim Anderson, Ph.D., writer/reporter for [TC]²

An arsenal of tools has been developed to help textile and apparel companies maneuver in the global and very competitive environment in which they find themselves—but are the tools helping…have they unleashed new opportunities or presented more challenges? Academics and industry professionals came together on June 19-22 to hash it out at the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes conference held in Raleigh, NC at the NCSU College of Textiles.

Tools such as body scanning, digital printing and virtual fabric draping allow companies to offer customers better fitting clothes and unique products. These tools also enable companies to move closer to working in a digital environment—which has a number of benefits including reduced inventory and faster design and development processes. Some of the ways in which these tools are being utilized within the textile and apparel industry were detailed at the 8th annual IFFTI conference.

Researchers are using body scanning technology to take a close and discerning look at the ASTM sizing standards. Under the direction of Dr. Cindy Istook, Beth Newcomb of NCSU College of Textiles has analyzed body scans collected in the SizeUSA study conducted by [TC]². She has found that the majority of women aren’t shaped like an hourglass as the standards suggest, but more like a rectangle. Hopefully this research will result in a modification of the standards.

Rectangle Shape: Little to no waist definition; balanced under arm and hips	Hourglass: Bust and hips are balanced waist is well-defined

Simmons, K.P. (2002)  Body Shape Analysis Using Three-Dimensional Body Scanning Technology. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. North Carolina State University, Raleigh.

Digital printing is not just for prototypes anymore. Dr. David Tyler of Manchester Metropolitan University and Kerry King, Manager, Digital Print Services at [TC]², each shared their insight into the exciting opportunities of digitally printed technology. Tyler detailed a case study in which three companies participated. The companies utilized digital printing to produce mass customized products for the home. Tyler reported on the technical and marketing challenges and opportunities that arose during the study. King shared with the audience the services offered by [TC]²’s InkDrop Printing services. The service allows artists, designers and museum retailers to create innovative digitally printed products using their own imagery.

Professional Tote Designed by Kerry King

Stargazer Scarf Designed by Kerry King

Virtual drape is fast becoming a sought after tool and one that has made remarkable strides in the last decade. Software packages can now generate virtual models that strut across the computer screen wearing virtual garments. The movement and flow of the fabric is phenomenally realistic, however, given the plethora of fiber types and fabric constructions, accurately animating the huge array of fabrics is an undertaking. Narahari Kenkare and Dr. Tracy May of NCSU College of Textiles presented a paper showcasing their research on virtual drape.

Example of a Virtual Drape
Courtesy of OptiTex

Other highlights of the conference featured new printing techniques, the creation of digital libraries and the challenges and opportunities of mass customization.

Under the direction of Professor Nancy Powell, Wonseok Choi of NCSU College of Textiles has developed a unique dyeing technique that mimics a hand dyed process. Choi incorporates different stitches within a seamless construction to produce a seamless dress. Once the dress is dyed, a resist patterning appearance is achieved.

Seamless Knitted Dress with Innovative Dyeing Technique
Courtesy NCSU College of Textiles

Dr. Kathi Martin, Director, Digital Museum Project at Drexel University shared with attendees their online digital library. The library consists of haute couture gowns from the 1870’s to the present. The gowns have been photographed and digitally archived and can now be viewed at various magnifications and rotated. Each image is accompanied by information such as the designer, origin, period and fiber content. Users can search by period, fabric type, designer, category or donor. Best of all—the website is accessible and free of charge to anyone with an internet connection.

Example of Digitally Archived Gowns

Digitally Archived Gown Designed by Hubert Givenchy
Rotated and Shown at Different Magnifications
Courtesy of the Digital Museum Project at Drexel University

Dr. Cathy Challender of Nottingham Trent University has digitally archived not only fabrics but obscure, forgotten and lost knitting techniques as well. Students can tap into this diverse archive to obtain a host of valuable information.

Dr. Amanda Briggs-Goode and her colleagues at Nottingham Trent University are investigating print design with the 3D garment shape in mind. Dr. Briggs-Goode and her colleagues are experimenting with simple garment shapes such as rectangles, circles and squares. Using a digital printer, they have designed patterns that accentuate the garment shape.

Mass customization, first introduced in the late1980’s, still remains a conundrum. With tools such as body scanning and digital printers, taking the concept to fruition is no longer an anomaly but an enticing realization. Researchers have discovered that zeroing in on the right customer is paramount to the success of mass customization. Finding the target customer that would benefit and pay for a customized product was one of the main topics of discussion.

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[TC]² Activity

Student Intern Program Review

Our first four weeks as [TC]² interns have been spent learning about various aspects of the sewn products industry through tours, guest speakers, and seminars. Before beginning this internship, we could have never imagined the extent or scope of the things we would be learning about and experiencing first-hand through our summer experience here in Cary. We kicked off our third week by learning about various quality control procedures and the importance of taking ISO 9000 certification to the next level in manufacturing and becoming Six Sigma certified.  We were also visited by Kathy Kierce from Gütermann, a German-based thread manufacturer.  It was really intriguing to hear about all of the research and testing that goes into the production of thread.  We also had the pleasure of meeting Peter Butenhoff, CEO and Chairman of the Board of [TC]² and hearing about the development and history of the company.  It was interesting to hear about how [TC]² has become what it is today.  In addition to seminars given by [TC]² employees, we had representatives from Cotton Incorporated, AATCC, and Datacolor speak to us about color trends, standards, and color communication. It really opened our eyes to how in-depth the color process truly is. Robert Broadhead, of Estmark, Incorporated, also came to speak with us about fabric utilization and the software he personally developed.

For the past weeks, we have worked on developing our own unique print design for use in our professional tote bags. We researched lifestyle and pattern trends in order to create a design for a specified target market to be featured in a line of tote bags. We were then directed in the actual printing of our designs. It was exciting to see our designs progress from our imagination to being printed on fabric and all the steps that are a part of the digital printing process. Afterwards, we were responsible for sewing our tote bags, which was an interesting, and very enjoyable, experience for all of us.

In conjunction with our education on printing, we were exposed to the area of technical design and the iterative processes of compiling a specification package. We also covered methods for spreading and cutting, as well as manufacturing techniques including time and motion studies and ergonomics. We had the opportunity to apply the manufacturing techniques that we learned to the Sourcing Simulator software and were able to run the application.

We had the privilege of traveling to Milliken & Company in South Carolina where we not only toured their extensive product gallery, but were able to sit in on a marketing meeting alongside their interns. Our two days there were not only extremely educational, but really gave us an in-depth look to an industry leader in research and manufacturing. We can’t wait to see what the next four weeks have in store. It’s already gone by so fast. We’re having a great time with each other, both in and outside of work and appreciate [TC]² giving us this opportunity.

Comments provided by Melissa Essenpreis of Western Kentucky University, Katy Minor of the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Lorraine Nichols of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

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Member Profile

GRUPO BAMEX, SA. DE C.V.

Grupo Bamex is a group of companies dedicated to manufacturing and distribution of men’s apparel for all ages. Founded in 1948 by a family in the apparel business since the turn of the century, the company is today known as Grupo Bamex, S.A. de C.V. and is one of the leading apparel manufacturers in Mexico.

Since 1948, the company has been developing menswear brands, international and its own brands. Starting with the in house brand, Mariscal in 1948, Manhattan from 1969 to 2002, John Henry since 1978, Arrow since 1996 and other brands, Grupo Bamex has national distribution through its sales force and showrooms. Its brands, each with its own consumer profile, cover a wide array of market segments:

• Mariscal. Catering to Latin tastes, traditional and elegant - sold mainly through specialty stores.

• John Henry. The main department store dress shirt brand in Mexico has a very loyal following, and is strong also in sportswear.

• Arrow. A department store brand with a modern twist and, at the same time, loyal to its 150 years history.

Headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico’s industrial capital and the third largest city, Grupo Bamex operates four plants in the State, manufacturing almost the half of its products. The company maintains showrooms in Mexico City and Guadalajara.

Its list of products includes: Dress shirts; Casual shirts; Western shirts; Knit shirts; Dress slacks; Casual slacks; Loungewear; Underwear; Children’s wear; Office uniforms; and Industrial uniforms.

For more information, visit www.bamex.com.mx.

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Important Dates

July

August

For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com

Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Intentia, Lectra and Methods Workshop.

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A Look Ahead in the Newsletter


SizeUSA Users Group Meeting
Student Intern Program Reviews

View previous editions of this newsletter

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