Sew-Bot And The Clothing Manufacturing Industry
Submitted by :
Arpita Tripathy
Tulasi Kumar Nanda
Why Industry need robots?
Human is bad for
Eliminate a the product (Ex: To save labor and
human operator. semiconductor reduce cost
handling.)
Product is bad for
Replace human
the human ( Ex:
operators where Maintain Quality
radioactive
there is danger.
product.)
Working with Avoid repetitive
Working with
dangerous strain syndrome
harmful matter.
machinery
Arrival of robots
1136–1206- Al-
250 BC-Clepsydra Jazari 1990s-
The Cyberknife
1023–957 BC-
Yan Shi 1970s- WABOT 2015-SOPHIA
2017-
4th century BC- Kengoro-the
Archytas -"The University of
Pigeon“. Tokyo.
1088- Su 2000-ASIMO
10–70 AD Song
Hero of 1980s- Takeo
Alexandria Kanade.
The word “robotics” was first coined by Issac Asimov in the year 1941-1942.
What is automation?
Automation is the process or technique of doing certain
works by the use of automatic equipment in the place of
human operators during a product manufacturing.
Achieved by the use of highly automatic tools and
equipment embedded with sophisticated electronic
devices.
Widely used in several areas such as manufacturing
industries, medicine, healthcare, engineering, supply
chain, and distribution.
Apparel manufacturing- labour intensive-automated
processes- digital components, and artificial
intelligence(AI).
Factors that prohibit automatic equipments to be used:
No progress in the clothing industry as
compared to automobile production.
Availability of low cost labour in many
developing countries.
High initial investment on the automatic tools
and equipment.
Complexities involved in the automation.
Production of a garment style in different sizes
with change in specification.
Frequent style changes.
What are sewbots?
Sewbots are actually
robots that are installed
in the apparel industry
with enhanced robotic
and machine technology.
For example, LOWRY
from SoftWear
Automation, industrial
robots by Sewbo. Inc,
Maica automated lines
and Automated machines
by Atlanta Attachment
Company.
DIFFERENT PURPOSE OF MACHINE &
HOW IT DIFFERS FROM SEWBOT
Purpose And Operation Of Equipment
Manually operated General purpose machines-It requires
the operator to control both the machine and material.
Example –SNLS m/c
Semi automatic special purpose machines-The operator
places the material or garment part ,activates the machine
and then the machine completes the cycle. Example-
JUKI AP-874S Jeans pocket setter(semiautomatic)
Automatic Special purpose machines-In fully automated
operation the machine performs the entire process.
Example-automatic button sewer or attach
Robotized machine-Electronic controls give machines the
capability of handling both information and
materials.Example-Sewbo
Source : Apparel manufacturing Ruth E Glock
Maica automated machine
button holes and button
attach for cuff in shirts
Atlanta Attachment
company automatic collar,
cuff and waistband
workstation machine and
cuff machine to cut collar,
cuff & waistband as per
size
PFAFF 3538 Pocket loader
for pocket hem specially
for denims
Source : Atlanta attachment co., Maica Italia
Atlanta attachment
company automatic
circular cuff machine to
prepare cuff for
sweatshirts
HS-600A Automatic
shoulder strap m/c to
prepare strap
Sewbot complete automated
line for basic t-shirt
preparation.
Sewbo complete
automated robot for basic
t-shirt preparation.
Garment manufacturing process without No of operator required-
Sewbot vs. Sewbot Garment 11
Manufacturing process Time required for each
operation will vary as per
For example if for making a operator cycle time
basic round crew neck we Directly affecting the
require Following efficiency
operations-
1. Set parts & Shoulder
attach
2. Neckband preparation In case of Sewbot
3. Neckband attach Manufacturing process
4. Shoulder to shoulder 1 robot doing all the process
tape attach Pick and dispose by robot
5. Neckband t/s and not by humans which
6. Sleeve attach differentiate it from
7. Side seam attach automated machines
8. Sleeve hem More production
9. Bottom hem Standard time maintained for
10. Wash care label attach every operation
11. Main label attach More output high efficiency
Advantages & Disadvantages Of Garment
Manufacturing process without Sewbot
A Advantages Disadvantages D
D No extra cost for the initial Absenteeism does cause many I
setups. problems.
V S
Small space is required for Even a minor product change A
A each operator. cannot be accommodated
N D
Instant solution for the Quality problems easily
T technical problem accumulate.
V
A Operator can handle all kind A
Machine breakdown can be
G of fabrics critical and troublesome. N
E Pre-production planning skill is T
S essential. A
The line is paced by the slowest G
operation E
S
Advantages &Disadvantages Of Sewbot Manufacturing
Process
A Advantages Disadvantages D
D Increase in productivity High initial cost of installation
I
V Increased inventory turnover S
A Consistent in quality Technical problems A
N Replacement of repetitive and High cost of maintenance
D
T monotonous work V
Limited scope
A Reduction of variability among A
products and product batches Lack of flexibility
G N
Performing jobs beyond human
E capability Create Unemployment T
S Reduction of direct human labor costs A
and overheads G
E
S
SEWBOTS AND AUTOMATIC SEWING
MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
Sewbot Making Industries
About Softwear Automation
• Automated sewing machine from soft wear
automation known as LOWRY.
• Part of the company’s initiative to automate the
textile industry in the same way that other
industries have used robotics for manufacturing
• Their sewbot family includes the Lowry, Budger,
And Asm sewbots
• Their sewbot worklines allow manufacturers to
sew local, geographically shortening the distance
between manufacturing and consumers.
• T.EVO: sewbots step into shoe manufacturing
About Sewbo Automation
• Sewbo is a start up by Jonathan Zornow
wants to automate the garment
construction process as well.
• Using a stiffener for rigidity, removed by
hot water at the end of the production
• Not available commercially
About Shima Seiki – 3D Knitting Technology
• The Shima- Seiki a Japan based knitting
industry has developed a 3-D knitting
technology
• SHIMA SEIKI’s revolutionary
WHOLEGARMENT knitwear is produced
in one entire piece, three-dimensionally,
directly on the knitting machine.
Consequently it requires no expensive, time-
consuming post-production labor.
The Level Of Adoption Of Automation Or Sew
Bot Depends On…
Garment
Industry size Export market Profitability
styles
Available Management Technical Competitive
Budgets Policy Skills Advantage
Current Scenario of India
The clothing industry is being transformed from a traditional, labor-
intensive industry, into a highly automated and computer-aided
industry.
To fulfil the high-quality requirements, companies have started using
automation but the transition is slow.
Indian industries use automation to meet the challenges posed by the
pluralistic market.
Current Scenario in India
• Some of garment industry hubs are Ludhiana, Bangalore, Delhi,
Tirupur and Jaipur.
• Major global brands sourcing from India includes SEARS, Target,
Espirit, GAP, H&M, Tom Taylor and NEXT, Walmart, CKJ, Vf, PVH.
• Fabric inspection, CAD and CAM, fabric spreading and cutting,
pressing, material handling, and RFID are the basic automation being
used.
• Recently Indian Industry are heading towards sewing solution, as it
being the most cumbersome and highly manpower dependent sector.
• Industries have started opting from semi automatic to completely
automatic sewing solution to get higher and better production
efficiency.
Current Scenario in India
The Factory
But an increase use Automation is a
Automation in India
impacts the prospects costly affair and is
has witnessed a really
of the country's majorly opted by
steep growth in past
labour force. large-scale industries.
5–7 years.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
• Efficiency and productivity • High capital expenditure
• Saves time • Complex procedures
• Products at a lower costs • Technical challenges
• Reduction in labor costs • Higher level of maintenance
• No idle time • Human error can cause
• Reduced lead time dysfunction
SWOT Analysis
Opportunities Threats
• Tapping the untapped markets • Loss of employment
• Better management and sales • Disruption of lives
• Creation of major market leaders • Impact in developing geographies
• Higher competitiveness • Upgrading or reskilling for new
• Continuous production roles
• Safer environment
.
WORLD PERSPECTIVE ON SEWBOT
Major Countries Exporting Garment
• CHINA
• INDIA
• BANGLADESH
• VIETNAM
• WESTERN
EUROPE
• INDONESIA
• TURKEY
• SRI LANKA
Source : https://shenglufashion.com/2017/10/12/wto-reports-world-textile-and-
apparel-trade-in-2016/
Machines being used in the Industry
Criteria For Sustaining In The Industry
INVESTMENT INTO
TECHNOLOGY
Lower Carbon Footprint Flexibility
Large Quantity in Evenness in Quality
Low manufacturing price Less Time
Top Industries Investing In Technology
CHINA BANGLADESH VIETNAM
INDIA
Tianyuan Garments Ha Noi Textile and
Raymond Company Ha-meem Group
Garment Joint-
Loyal Group Guangzhou Jidian BEXIMCO stock Corporation
Fashion Co. Ltd Fashions Ltd. Nam Dinh Textile
Mandhana
Industries Guangzhou Junyu Square Fashions and Garment Joint-
Clothing Co., Ltd Ltd. stock Corporation
Alok Industries
Guangzhou Jiazhuo Opex Sinha Group. Phong Phu
Garment Manufacturing International
Arvind Mill
Factory DBL Group. VINATEX
Hengxing Clothing Viet Tien Garment
Factory Joint-stock
SOURCE: Corporation
• https://www.bizvibe.com/blog/top-garment-manufacturers-in-india/
• http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2014-10/28/content_18811642_5.htm
• http://vtown.vn/en/category10/genre901.html
FACTS FROM CASE: Sew-Bot Is Revolutionizing the
Clothing Manufacturing Industry
Shift of Apparel
manufacturing unit Less man and
to developed nation. more machine
Unbeatable cost of 71% rise in production
production
SOURCE: https://thetechnoskeptic.com/sewbots/
SEWBOTS- “A BOON OR BANE”
Result Of Sewbot
LAY OFFS
DISAPPEARANCE OF
SMALL INDUSTRIES
EXPLOITATION OF
LABOUR FORCE
LESS COMPETITORS
How To Cope With Sewbots
FOCUS ON
INCREASE SKILLS
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE FOCUS ON CREATIVE
/ EDUCATION WORK
CURRENT TRENDS AND SEWBOTS
Machines are technical robots that can do only what it has been asked to
do.
It doesn’t have a creative mind to judge and create something new.
In the Fashion Industry, creativity and quality comes first before
quantity.
A robot might hamper the quality of a garment and it would be
discarded but if a human hampers the quality, he/she can redo the only
part that is hampered.
CONCLUSION
• For the past 30 years, technology has rapidly evolved in every area save
sewing.
• Advanced computer-assisted design software has made the design process
easier.
• Computer controlled cutting has reduced bottlenecks in the cutting room.
• Yet, the only real solution around sewing has been to chase cheap labor
around the globe.
• Sew Bot is disrupting the $100 billion sewn products industry by creating
autonomous sewn machines for Home Goods, Footwear & Apparel.
• It will be a very long time, if ever, before things are 100% automated.
But Sew Bots are able to leverage machines to achieve
incredible productivity to the point where the labor cost
to manufacture a yard of fabric is minimized
Understandably, the rise of automated sewing has raised
concerns that it could displace countless low-wage
garment workers in the coming decade.
References
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978008101211600001X
• http://www.deviceplus.com/connect/sewbot-in-the-clothing-manufacturing-industry/
• http://www.catchnews.com/business-economy-news/robots-vs-people-automation-set-to-hit-jobs-in-india-s-
textile-industry-1467996260.html
• https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-future-of-automation-in-India
• https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/impact-of-automation-on-employment-opportunities-analysis-
1507117867-1
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978008101211600001X
• http://sci-hub.hk/http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B978008101211600001X
• http://softwearautomation.com/about/
• http://www.deviceplus.com/connect/sewbot-in-the-clothing-manufacturing-industry/
• http://strobotics.com/whyrobot.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_robots
