Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine May Issue 2019 | Page 24

EXPORTER PERSPECTIVE THE LATEST NEWS HAVE YOUR SAY For the latest news on apparel and textile, make sure that you visit https://apparelresources.com/top-news/ Write to Apparel Resources, B-32, South Extension-1, New Delhi (110049), India or email: [email protected] Technology, IE and Training remain the core of Bangladesh Apparel Industry In today’s time, the buyers are constantly asking to reduce unit prices, whereas the cost of production for the manufacturers is going up because of increase in the input cost and also because of huge investment made towards enhanced social and environmental compliance norms. This, as a whole, increases the financial load on the manufacturers. In such circumstances, the only available path is to increase productivity by having a complete control on the entire supply chain within a garment manufacturing unit. The control can be done in various ways such as using automation in the most efficient manner; following proven Industrial Engineering (IE) practices to make processes smoother and viable; deploying available workforce in multiple operations to make the best use of manpower; and, of course, training them on exact modules which are needed inside a unit. Bangladesh, the world’s second largest apparel manufacturing destination, is effectively working on all these factors to make its manufacturing even stronger. Team Apparel Online Bangladesh recently visited Mahmud Fashion Ltd., Laila Styles Ltd. and Pretty Sweaters based in Dhaka and observed that each of them is implementing something unique in terms of improving productivity and making a strong work system to make themselves stand out. Let’s look at the practices these companies are following... ‘Line Layout is Must’ – MAHMUD FASHION LIMITED Timely deliveries, building all operations in-house under entirely compliant conditions, being competitive in pricing and a strong emphasis on quality have always kept Dhaka-based garment manufacturer Mahmud Group at the forefront of manufacturing. The Group produces 60,000 denim bottoms per day in its old factory named Mahmud Jeans Ltd. (MJL). That’s a whopping per day output compared to many other jeans manufacturers who claim themselves to be big but actually are struggling to get even 1/10th pieces per day output compared to what MJL is achieving. Not just this, in May 2017, the Group further added one more unit named Mahmud Fashion Ltd. (MFL) to cater to increased orders from buyers and MJL has eight operational lines (at the time of interview) with 60 machines in each line. The unit has already planned to make eight more lines operational by June ’19 and a total of 48 lines will be workable till this year end. Susanth Ranjith Ekanayaka, GM (Maintenance), Mahmud Fashion Ltd. the factory is exemplary in terms of technology use and IE practices. Currently, MJL has eight operational lines (at the time of interview) with 60 machines in each line. The unit 24 Apparel Online Bangladesh | MAY 2019 | www.apparelresources.com has already planned to make eight more lines operational by June ’19 and a total of 48 lines will be workable till this year end. Line balancing is of utmost priority for