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Robotics in Clothes Manufacture

Published: 2 April 2013
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Abstract

Process automation and intelligent manufacturing are important factors for competing successfully in today’s international economy. The survey considers the use of these tools within the clothing industry where low cost labour has especially driven the marketplace, in recent decades, toward productive break-up, with relevant drawbacks on preserving the process control uniformity. Several hints are described for the use of modern manufacturing tools in the production flow of clothing and in the management of the related operations. Emphasis is placed on maintaining a high quality product in a customised production environment. The presentation begins by exploring the automated retrieval of fabric from a warehouse; it continues with a study of the laying and cutting process exploring mixed mode schedules, combining batch and one-of-a-kind delivery; and concludes by considering the assembly and sewing aspects of the manufacturing process. For clothing manufacturers in developed countries, the automation concepts presented here offer an alternative (and perhaps the only alternative) to out-sourcing and overseas production.

Published in International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijmea.20130101.13
Page(s) 17-27
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Robotics in Textiles; Customised Clothes; Integrated Automation; Materials vs. Information Flows

References
[1] M. Acar, 1995: "Intelligent textile machines and systems", M. Acar, ed.: ‘Mechatronics Design in Textile Engineering’, Kluver Acad. Press, pp. 61-66.
[2] N. A. Hunter, R. E. King, H. L. W. Nuttle, J. R. Wilson, 1993: "North Carolina apparel pipeline modelling project", Intl. J. of Clothing Science and Technology, 5, pp. 19-24.
[3] D.H. Kincade, 1995: "Quick response management system for the apparel industry: definition through technologies", Clothing and Textiles Research J., 13 (4), pp. 245-251, UK.
[4] U. Meyer, 1994: "Automation and control in textile produc-tion", Globalisation: Technological, Economic and Envi-ronmental Imperatives - 75th World conference of Textile Institute.
[5] A. Seyam, F. Sun, 1994: "Manufacturing technology for apparel automation: lay-up module, part II", Intl. J. of Clothing Science and Technology, 6 (1), pp. 5-3, MCB University Press.
[6] R.C. Michelini, G.M. Acaccia, M. Callegari, R.M. Molfino, R.P. Razzoli, 1997: "Shop controller-and-manager for intel-ligent manufacturing", S. Tzafestas, Editor: Management and Control of Manufacturing Systems, Springer Verlag, London, pp. 219-254.
[7] C. Antonelli, 2008: "The economics of innovation: critical concepts in economics", Rutledge, New York.
[8] G.L. Kovàcs, P. Bertòk, G. Heidegger, Eds., 2002: "Digital enterprise challenge: lifecycle approach to management and production", Kluwer Acad. Pub., Boston.
[9] J.X. Liu., Ed., 2005: "New developments in robotics research", Nova Sci. Pub., New York.
[10] R.C. Michelini, 2009: "Robot age knowledge changeover", Nova Sci. Pub., New York.
[11] J. Olhagher, F. Persson, Eds., 2007, Advances in production management systems, Springer, Boston.
[12] G.J. Olling, G. Jacucci, K. Preiss, M. Wozny, Eds., 1998: "Globalisation of manufacturing in the digital communication era: innovation, agility and the virtual enterprise", Kluwer Acad. Pub., Norwell.
[13] F.Y. Phillips, 2001: "Market-oriented technology management: innovating for profit in entrepreneurial time", Springer, Berlin.
[14] S. Zhang, L. Lin, A. Kumar, 2009: "Materials characterisation techniques", CRC Press, Abingdon.
[15] N.L. Russo, B. Fitzgerald, J.I. DeGross, Eds., 2001: "Re-aligning research and practice in information systems development: the social and organizational perspective, Kluwer Academic", New York.
[16] G. Taguchi, E.A. Elsayed, T.C. Hsiang, 1989: "Quality en-gineering in production systems", McGraw Hill, New York.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    R. C. Michelini, R. P. Razzoli. (2013). Robotics in Clothes Manufacture. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications, 1(1), 17-27. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmea.20130101.13

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    ACS Style

    R. C. Michelini; R. P. Razzoli. Robotics in Clothes Manufacture. Int. J. Mech. Eng. Appl. 2013, 1(1), 17-27. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmea.20130101.13

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    AMA Style

    R. C. Michelini, R. P. Razzoli. Robotics in Clothes Manufacture. Int J Mech Eng Appl. 2013;1(1):17-27. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmea.20130101.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmea.20130101.13,
      author = {R. C. Michelini and R. P. Razzoli},
      title = {Robotics in Clothes Manufacture},
      journal = {International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications},
      volume = {1},
      number = {1},
      pages = {17-27},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmea.20130101.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmea.20130101.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmea.20130101.13},
      abstract = {Process automation and intelligent manufacturing are important factors for competing successfully in today’s international economy. The survey considers the use of these tools within the clothing industry where low cost labour has especially driven the marketplace, in recent decades, toward productive break-up, with relevant drawbacks on preserving the process control uniformity. Several hints are described for the use of modern manufacturing tools in the production flow of clothing and in the management of the related operations. Emphasis is placed on maintaining a high quality product in a customised production environment. The presentation begins by exploring the automated retrieval of fabric from a warehouse; it continues with a study of the laying and cutting process exploring mixed mode schedules, combining batch and one-of-a-kind delivery; and concludes by considering the assembly and sewing aspects of the manufacturing process. For clothing manufacturers in developed countries, the automation concepts presented here offer an alternative (and perhaps the only alternative) to out-sourcing and overseas production.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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    AB  - Process automation and intelligent manufacturing are important factors for competing successfully in today’s international economy. The survey considers the use of these tools within the clothing industry where low cost labour has especially driven the marketplace, in recent decades, toward productive break-up, with relevant drawbacks on preserving the process control uniformity. Several hints are described for the use of modern manufacturing tools in the production flow of clothing and in the management of the related operations. Emphasis is placed on maintaining a high quality product in a customised production environment. The presentation begins by exploring the automated retrieval of fabric from a warehouse; it continues with a study of the laying and cutting process exploring mixed mode schedules, combining batch and one-of-a-kind delivery; and concludes by considering the assembly and sewing aspects of the manufacturing process. For clothing manufacturers in developed countries, the automation concepts presented here offer an alternative (and perhaps the only alternative) to out-sourcing and overseas production.
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Author Information
  • University of Genova, DIME, Genova, Italy

  • University of Genova, DIME, Genova, Italy

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