Fibre2Fashion November Issue'17 | Page 58

INDIA 2. Continuous research and product development: Continuous focus has to be given to research and product development in order to gain competitive advantage. Bringing new ideas into action is of importance as it can lead to finding new manufacturing methods to improve performance, producing better quality and designs and streamlining of the entire process flow. 3. Skill development: High performance training in the textiles and apparel industry is important as manpower involvement is more than any other industry. It includes components such as:   Foundation training: Once the operator is selected through aptitude test he/she undergoes induction process where he/she is given awareness about basic machines. Machine training is given to achieve variable speed pedal control, loop exercise, control of machines in high/ low speeds.   Intermediate training module: The training is customised based on operator performance in the foundation module and handling different products.   Advanced module: The trainee is prepared for a real life industry situation through soft skill training and visual training. The new recruits have to be placed in real time production lines and need effective monitoring so that they are able to handle mass production. Apart from technical skills, it is important to provide operators with soft skills which includes motivation, health and hygiene, social security, group behaviour, personal finance, self- management, time management, team management, etc. 4. Keeping an update on market trends and global practices helps the companies in:   Identification and understa nding of market dynamics;   Understanding consumer trends and how their products can fulfill or create a need;   Choosing the correct way of diversifying business;   Getting insights into competitors’ strategies, operations, strengths and weaknesses;   Finding out the key success factors to play and win in that specific market. Government support required Apparel manufacturing in India is highly dispersed. Due to the innate nature of the industry, enterprises have to devise effective planning mechanisms. 58  | FIBRE 2 FASHION NOVEMBER 2017 This roadmap to manufacturing excellence can be supported by government along with the efforts from industry to achieve manufacturing and sustainability goals. Various schemes like Technological Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS), Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP), Integrated Skill Development Scheme, and others have been launched for promoting investments in the textiles industry, upgrading technology and setting up integrated manufacturing setups. Apart from Central government schemes, several state governments have also launched their textile policies under which several incentives are provided for investments in textile sector.