Research conducted in the College of Textiles often focuses on application of developing technologies to design and development of textile products. Two projects, one focusing on print-on-demand and one on product simulation, are highlighted in this article. As most printed items have an unpredictable demand, textile product companies must maintain inventories of printed fabrics to respond the customer request quickly. To enhance competitive advantage, cost can be decreased by reducing waste in the production process, both in terms of raw materials and time. Since ink-jet printing has been applied to the textile printing industry for some time, enhanced technologies in ink, printheads and substrates have increased the speed of printing, the compatibility of printers and inks and printing quality. CAD systems integrated with digital textile printing technology improve the textile product design and production processes in terms of productivity and efficiency, and offer the opportunity for enhanced quality and service as well. Current work supported by the NCSU Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center examines the applicability of an advanced computer-aided production system in a demand driven upholstered furniture environment. Such a system would support a low and stable inventory and add quality to products. The project applies CAD/CAM and digital textile design and printing technologies and the concept of just-in-time design to upholstered furniture manufacturing and to improving the productivity and efficiency of the process. The just-in-time process consists of five steps; flat pattern generation from digitizer, marker making, file conversion to Photoshop, matching fabrics and pattern adjustment, and digitally printing and automated cutting.

Another project being conducted in the College, supported by the National Textile Center, is improving simulation of apparel. The work focuses on incorporating actual fabric properties into virtual simulation of apparel products for design, development and marketing purposes. Methods and technologies that provide true representation of fabric drape could bridge both physical and communication barriers in the textile supply chain. During the first phase of research the focus of the project was to analyze circular forms to understand the relationship between measured fabric properties and simulation parameters and to develop suitable comparative standards. The image of a draped circular sample was acquired using the College’s [TC]² body scanner, and then surfaced to obtain a digitized virtual model of the fabric. Fabric properties were integrated into virtual draping software and a drape simulation was made. The simulated image was then compared with the actual drape shape to develop simulation parameters.

In the current stage of research, the developed method is being extended from a simple form to garments. Cross sections from scanned and surfaced garment images are obtained and compared to simulations to evaluate the quality of the simulation and to facilitate improvments. Once completed, the research will support apparel applications ranging from using a 2D CAD pattern to virtually drape a simulated garment, to virtual 3D garment design applications that culminate in the generation of a 2D pattern for an apparel item.

TI: Fabric printing in a totally digital supply chain
AU: Fralix-Michael-Thomas
DN: PhD
DD: 2000
SN: North-Carolina-State-University (0155)
AD: Little-Trevor-J; Winchester-Samuel-C
IB: 0599851708
PG: 251
LA: ENGLISH

AB: This research explored the evolution of digital technologies and the analog-to-digital shift in supply chain processes with a specific emphasis on ink jet printing and digital product supply. The technology for ink jet printing was researched along with technology management principles and supply chain strategies such as quick response, agile manufacturing, and mass customization. The research into digital technologies led to the distinction between digital processes and digital products. The objective was to model a digital product supply chain and map the relationship of digital products to a physical process supply chain for the textile and apparel industry. Models were developed for three product categories: traditional woven garments, digitally printed garments, and digitally knitted garments. For each model a process capability table was constructed that listed the major supply chain activities from garment design to shipping manufactured product. Each activity was assumed to use state-of-the-art technology and was identified as either digital or physical. Process limitations were noted for each activity and the state of the product was tracked from its digital beginning until it was converted to a physical entity. The results verified that process limitations are minimized when digital processes are implemented and supply chains are more efficient when products are digital. The models were verified using industry experts in manufacturing, technology development, and research, The digital supply chain model is strategically important because it shifts supply chain thinking from a physical process orientation to a digital product orientation. Future strategy will incorporate digital products that are digitally designed, digitally marketed, digitally manufactured, and digitally distributed.

SU: Textile-Technology (0994); Business-Administration-Management (0454); Operations-Research (0796)
SO: VOLUME 61-07B OF DISSERTATION ABSTRACTS INTERNATIONAL. PAGE 3823.
NO: AAI9979141

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