FabricLink Network reports on “Textiles Get Smart” seminar

The conference provided an opportunity to learn about the current state of business and new and exciting trends and technologies associated with recent fiber and yarn developments with leading edge future developments.

The FabricLink Network (FLN) focused on some of the most interesting “smart” trends and technologies highlighted at the conference. FLN elaborates with details on these innovations, and their potential impact on supply chain management going forward.

Economic Update & Overview, was lead by Tim Quinlan, economist with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC:  According to Quinlan, “The federal government faces some significant fiscal challenges—the current path is not sustainable.  We have been adding jobs for two years, but still have a long way to go. Overall, our forecast calls for the sub-par pace of economic growth to continue for the foreseeable future.” 

Quinlan predicts that over the short-term, the US will be looking at about a 2% growth, and the long-term average growth rate will be around 3%.  All of these issues will impact future growth for the U.S. textile industry. 

Keynote Presentation, with Mike Fralix, TC2 spoke to Trends & Technologies in Supply Chains, Manufacturing, & Sustainability

“Supply chain technologies have changed and now more industries than ever are shipping products before they make them, because it is more efficient, more flexible, more sustainable, and more profitable.  The key is adopting a supply chain strategy, implementing the appropriate technologies and changing the thinking of management and workers.” 

Mike Fralix, TC2

Fralix addressed sustainability, with one example being the less obvious 3-D printing. This rapid-prototyping of 3-D processing has a surprising number of green benefits. An emerging technology, 3-D printing uses ultraviolet beams to fuse layers of powdered, recyclable thermoplastic into shape, leaves behind virtually no waste. 

This localized production approach also saves on shipping costs, requires less labor, and compresses production time into hours, rather than weeks or months. Full details on the New Words for the 2000’s, Re-shoring, Additive Manufacturing, Subtractive Manufacturing, 3D Printed Clothing, Bio-engineering at this link.