Improve
Skill and Productivity to Survive
According
to Vivek Gogia of Alster International Bangladesh, factories should start
taking the necessary steps to improve their competitiveness for maintaining and
growing their share of the RMG market. Factories must diversify product lines (i.e.,
by producing high-value designed garments instead of only basic t-shirts) where there are very few factories and huge potential,
as well as producing more value-added garments. To improve the design element, design
teams should be created that travel to fashion centers around the world, keeping
pace with the latest trends, designs, and fabrics. Accordingly, factories should
invest in plant and machinery upgrades to keep a competitive edge in world
markets. Factories should also maximize their productivity by investing in time
and motion studies and creating separate planning departments to ensure smooth
production flow and to optimize productivity. The marketing element is by and
large missing at these factories, and remain dependent on their customers to
bring orders into the country. Going forward, they should adopt a proactive
approach and recruit customers that have not traditionally purchased Bangladeshi
goods.
Concluding
Remarks
As
the Bangladeshi textile sector keeps expanding, the country's weak infrastructure
may potentially threaten continued growth. The industry has set a target of US$25
billion in garment exports by 2013, which would create an additional 1.4
million job opportunities within the sector and subsequently open up opportunities
across different occupations. To make it happen, entrepreneurs are gradually
moving to a higher value-added niche market, changing from factory-driven to
market-driven processes, developing designs and collections, enhancing
productivity, and strengthening the industry down the supply chain for the
sector. The textile industry in Bangladesh may provide market alternatives to
those looking for growth opportunities in the midst of the current global
recession.
Originally published in AATCC News; March 2009
© AATCC
About
the Authors
The authors are associated
with Dysin-Chem Ltd and Dyehouse Solutions International, respectively.
