Application of Robotics & Automation in the Textile Industry
We’re occupants of an age where technology is evolving at a very fast pace. In order to survive amidst fierce competition, it is important for every industry to adopt the latest technology. Today’s apparel and textile industry runs on technology, robotics and automation. Knitting robots and bot couture are a few buzzwords being used. AI-powered robots are actually revolutionising the entire manufacturing process. Procedures that were executed manually back in the day are now being done super-fast by robots. Any clothing brand especially a fast-fashion one runs on fast-paced and high-volume manufacturing. If they’re unable to optimise production and meet consumer demand, they will cease to exist. This has led to exponential use of robotic technology.
Robots are now equipped with advanced sensing systems. They seamlessly take care of labour-intensive tasks such as cutting, sewing, knitting, tagging and packing. Robots significantly reduce the risk of human error, wastage and ensure quality standards are met adequately.
How Robots Streamline the Production Process?
Fabric Inspection
Fabric inspection and testing is something that was done manually earlier. Usually, defects could not be accurately identified. With a fabric-testing system, the sensors can easily track the movement of the sample and test it on an array of pre-set parameters. A few parameters robots generally test the fabric on are material composition, surface texture, shrinkage and stretchability. If the number of defects in a lot exceeds a certain limit, the fabric is rejected.
Printing
Robots are proving to be invaluable in assisting designers and manufacturers. They can create designs more rapidly, thereby reducing time to market and overall product quality. In textile or garment manufacturing, printing designs onto a fabric is quite a task. Currently, printing is done manually or via computer programs. By using robotics for printing, the quality and efficiency significantly increases. Robots can be used to customise patterns on textiles including logos, text, images or any other design. Though the use of robots in printing is still in its nascent stage, it will surely transform the entire industry in the future.
Fabric Cutting
Fabric cutting requires utmost precision and care. Robots can improve efficiency as far as fabric cutting is concerned. The best part is that they are also capable of working on multi-layer or thick fabrics. Instead of cutting one layer manually by hand, they can get two layers or more. Fashion robots operate like laser cutting machines. The fabric is first marked and then cut through a ray of light with a laser. Robotics in fabric cutting ensures there is less wastage of the fabric since the entire process is automated, and the cutting is accurate and exact.
Sewing
Robots can sew quickly, at least 1000 times faster than humans. Sewing is one of the most challenging parts of textile manufacturing. Robots can even manage complex sewing. Robotic sewing machines are precise when it comes to quality products. They sew fabrics with heat or water to create different types of clothing including shirts, pants and jackets.
Picking, Packing & Warehousing
The point of using robots in garment manufacturing may be defeated if after the whole process is done you still need to pick, pack and place garments yourself. Robots play an important role in the entire assembly process. Once the garments are manufactured, they sort it in different piles so that they can be easily picked up and transported. Not just after the garment is manufactured but even before, robots pick the right fabric to be used in manufacturing. They also keep a track of inventory – how much fabric has been used and how much is left. This helps optimise raw material usage significantly. Robots usually have a modified gripper to move pieces around.
Human-Robot Collaboration
The adoption of AI or robotics in the fashion, textile or garment industry is only a value addition. A lot of concerns around job displacement arose recently and many people believed that AI will completely eliminate the need for human labour. However, this is untrue. Robots cannot work solely on their own. They are collaborative in nature. They are designed to work alongside human operators. Improving overall productivity and simplifying repetitive tasks is the job of a knitting robot. The fashion industry still needs a human touch, problem-solving skills and utmost creativity. The point of embracing automation is to create a harmonious relationship between machines and humans.
For the same reason, manufacturers these days are using CAD and CAM to make garments. CAD is used to make 3D designs using a computer whereas CAM controls the production process according to the fed information. As an aspiring designer, if you want to learn CAD, consider pursuing a certificate course in computer-aided fashion design.
