Value Added Activities in Garment Industry

Shubham Anil Jain
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited
Bangalore, India
Email: [email protected]

Introduction:
A value added activity is defined as a process or activity that changes the form or shape of the product physically. If we consider the value added services, this are the activities that brings changes in method and lead time, it will be a value-added activity. It is an activity that increases the value of a product at a given stage in a production cycle or supply chain. In different words, it can be defined as value added activities are those activities for which customers (buyers) pay to a garment factory. Apparel buyers pay for the activities like fabric cutting, stitching garment, finishing, the washing process, etc. It is the basic role an industrial engineer, to focus on identifying non-value added (NVA) activities in the garment manufacturing processes and in production activities. After identifying the non-value added processes, the aim is to eliminate or reduce the identified NVA activities and always try to pay major attention towards value added activities.

Stages of Value Added Activities in Garment Industry:

1. Cutting
Cutting room is an important department of the garment manufacturing process which has a majorly affect on the profitability of the business. This is the department where they actually, the cutting of the fabric takes place and where the fabric is changed physically. As cutting is being the first operation of garment manufacturing, it is important from the quality point of view as it lays the foundation of quality of the garment to be made. Any imperfection in cutting process can result in non-conformance of the quality standards of all further processes. As the cutting activity is the feeding point to the factory has a massive impact on all the further processes of garment manufacturing i.e. sewing, finishing etc and add values to other departments.

2. Embroidery
“Ornamentation” purely depends on the creativity of the designer. There are no limits for surface ornamentation. Almost everything around us can now be used for ornamentation. Even small embroidery over the garment can make a big difference in the garment and can increase the value of the garment, that’s the reason it is value added activity. For example there are two shirts one with embroidery and one without embroidery, so the shirt with embroidery has more value and attract the public as compared to shirt without embroidery that is the reason how embroidery is adding value to the garment and increasing is market price and public is ready to pay for it. Because of which the scope of embroidery machine seems limitless with beading, sequins, ribbons, cording, chenille, metallic, appliqué, cut work, etc. often carried out on the same machine, albeit with various attachments. Even nowadays, laser engraving can be added to embroidery designs. The garment industry’s new drive towards high-value added products is prompted by increasing competition from other countries.

Different types of embroidery includes:

1. Phulkari embroidery
2. Chikankari
3. Kantha
4. Kasuthi
5. Zardozi embroidery
6. Pulled thread

3. Printing
In today’s world this activity has been lot of popularity. Various kinds of prints of logos, designs, motifs attract the customer increases the value of that garment and has become the value added activity in the garment industry. Today to public is ready to pay for different kinds of garments which is very attractive and has different print, design and has very colorful combinations over it.

4. Sewing
Sewing can be defined as the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. By the definition of value addition,  it is clear that value added department is the department where actually the needle movement takes place and sewing section is the only department where actual sewing take place that’s why it is one of the most value activity or department of garment industry and most of the value addition works takes place over here. All the parts of a garment are joined here by making stitches with the help of a needle and thread.

Importance of Value Addition in Garment Industry:

1. Nowadays, it is not enough to produce a service or a product just qualified or sell them at affordable prices. In addition to these, products should be high value added and companies should response to customer demands rapidly.
2. These factors are necessary to be successful. At this point, factors such as brand, design and productivity become important.
3. Design is one of the effective tools to create product-based significant differences and added value. Creating an added value through design forms the basis of “Differentiation and Branding”.
4. A product or a service is produced in a value chain and each activity in this chain adds a ring to this chain which adds a value to the manufactured product or service. If the added value creation process shortens, productivity increases and the created added value become so great.
5. This reveals the importance of the elimination of unnecessary activities in the value chain and increase of the productivity in main activities.

Conclusion:
Value is basically a concept, which occurs after the production of a product or service with certain characteristics. Customers ready to pay for it which satisfies their needs in a definite period by a definite price. Also it supplies technical, social, economic benefits. If the added value is high, this means the value of the service or product is high too. In addition to this in garment industry, when added value increases, customer’s sensitivity to price decreases and focusing on the added value increases. As a result the customer loyalty increases and this contributes to the profitability of the company positively. Added value is created in a value chain.

References:

1. Çoruh, E.,2010, “Production System Approaches for Readymade Garment Industry”, Journal of Textiles and Engineers, 17, pp. 11-19.
2. İşbilen, A., 2005, In The Face of Design Concept of the Global World in Apparel, Competitiveness of Burdur’s Regional Dresses, 1st Burdur Symposium.
3. Importance of a cutting room in garment manufacturing, https://www.textileschool.com/amp/465/importance-of-cutting-room/
4. https://fashionarun.page.tl/value-addition-to-the-garments.htm
5. Process Flow Chart of Sewing Department in Garment Industry, https://www.textileflowchart.com/2015/04/process-flow-chart-of-sewing-department-in-garment-industry.html

You may also like:

1. Value Chain in Textile Industry
2. Embroidery Cost Analysis and Pricing
3. Different Types of Embroidery Threads with Advantages and Disadvantages

Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.

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