International Conference on Apparel Industry in Colombo 7-9 February

Globally, 60 million people are employed in the apparel industry, with around 15 million employed (largely women) in factories located in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Asian manufacturers supply a very large proportion of the garments imported by retailers in developed countries.

Competitive advantage for the Asian apparel industry has been primarily based on cheaper inputs, low cost production due to cheap labour and strong traditional skill base. However, this is beginning to shift now developing a competitive advantage based on rapid responsiveness to meeting specific customer needs, high levels of productivity and innovation capability.

Productivity improvements, disruptive innovation, effective leadership, sustainability and ethical production have become key concerns not only for manufacturers and their major global customers but also for other stakeholders involved with the apparel industry including governments, NGOs, investors, logistics and supply chain solution providers and other members of the global apparel supply chain.

Transformation of the Asian apparel industry is crucial for it to move up the value chain by incorporating more value-added activities in terms of front-end design, research and development, etc. The application of advanced manufacturing, communication and supply chain technologies is essential for the future. 

The apparel industry needs to recognise the challenges and opportunities with respect to ‘Industry 4.0’ and what the industry will look like in 10 years’ time.

This conference is designed to bring together researchers, practitioners (retail executives, manufacturing executives and first/second tier suppliers) and policy-makers from around the world.

The conference will focus on the following topics:

Day one of the conference (Wednesday, 7 February), to be held at the Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, will have four main sessions as follows;

Session 1 will be keynote presentations on the topic:

“Current status of the global apparel value chains and productivity improvement”

This session addresses the question: “How do we maintain productivity and agility (customer responsiveness and business model agility) in a digitised world?”

Presenters include Prof. Jan Godsell, WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group), UK; Faruqur Hassan, Senior VP, Bangladesh Apparel Manufacturers and Exporters Association; and Shakthi Ranatunga, Director – Group Human Resources, MAS Holdings, Sri Lanka

Session 2 will be a panel discussion session on the topic:

“Disruptive Innovation: Industry 4.0 and the Apparel Industry”

This session addresses the question: “How do we capitalise on the opportunities the new digital economy (Industry 4.0) offers us to improve competitiveness for manufacturers in the apparel industry whilst ensuring the transition towards a rewired economy?”

This will be a panel discussion session including Dai Forterre, Australia Post and Politecnico di Milano; Samath Fernando, Chief Information Officer, Hirdaramani Group; Prof. Shibli R. Islam, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Prof. Edward Buckingham, Monash Business School, Monash University

Session 3 will be case study presentations:

“Case examples of excellence in the apparel industry”

Presenters will include Vidiya Amrit Khan, Director – Desh Group of Companies, Bangladesh; Felix A. Fernando, Chief Executive Officer/Director of Alpha Apparels Ltd. and Sirio Ltd. and Director – Omega Line Group; Mariella Noto, Linking Threads, The Netherlands; Sharika Senanayake, Director of Sustainability, MAS Holdings and Suneth De Silva, Central Sustainability Team, MAS Holdings; and Rajesh Paramjeet Jain, Principle Associate, TATSAT VENTURES, Advisor, National Handloom Development Corporation, Ex-CEO, Biba Apparels Ltd., India.

Session 4 will be another panel discussion session on the topic:

“Developing leadership capability for the future”

This session addresses the question: “What capabilities are needed to lead the transition to value-adding manufacturing in the apparel industry whilst ensuring sustainability?”

Panelists include Dr. Mark Johnson, Warwick Business School, UK; Sadaf Saaz Siddiqi, Director, Eske Clothing Ltd., Bangladesh and Ishan Dantanarayana, Group Chief People Officer, BRANDIX, Sri Lanka.

This conference is organised by Monash University, Australia with the support of Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), WMG, University of Warwick (UK),University of Moratuwa, Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Institute for Manufacturing, Centre for Industrial Sustainability, University of Cambridge (UK), University of Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Further details on the conference including registration details can be found at: www.monash.edu/business/apparel.