Modern factories nowadays rely on Human-Machine Collaboration (HMC) in their production processes. With the right technology and set up this collaboration can be optimized to get the most out of the synergy between humans and machinery. For every innovative garment manufacturer this is essential to keep up with current demands and newest trends, while still being profitable and effective. But how exactly can this be achieved?
Human-Machine Collaboration (HMC) refers to the seamless integration of human and machine capabilities to optimize manufacturing processes and enhance productivity. Leveraging AI, robotics, automation and advanced analytics to enable real time decision-making and efficient resource allocation. Especially in a Smart Factory, where an interconnected network of machines, communication mechanisms, and computer power help to drive automated processes and learn as it goes HMC is very beneficial. Here are some examples in which step of the manufacturing process humans and machinery can benefit from each other:
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1. Automation for Repetitive Tasks:
Repetitive tasks such as fabric cutting or heat pressing can be sped up by a lot by implementing automated machines. With automated machines less manpower is needed to complete these tasks, allowing to use the valuable staff on more creative tasks such as decision-making or problem solving instead, while reducing high labor costs at the same time.
For example, machines like the Smart Automatic Fabric Cutting M8S Machine can cut 100 to 180 layers of fabric at once with highest precision, eliminating human error and enhancing efficiency, saving resources in the long run. Only one operator is needed to set up the cut-out patterns and monitor the cutting process.
Automated Pressing Machines, such as OSHIMA’s Heat Press OP-10A5 use temperature control features to ensure consistent finishing and quality on all garments, reducing errors, while only needing one staff member to load and unload garments.
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2. Collaborative Workstations:
With well-designed workstations that support collaboration and communication between operators in different steps of the production line, efficiency can be improved significantly. Solutions with machinery that are connected to each other and have online data-management features, like OSHIMA’s Automated Cutting Room Solution, allow and support the executive team to make decisions on the go as information are visually enhanced and reports generated in real-time.
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3. Flexible Production Systems:
Machinery that can easily be reconfigured to handle changes in the production and to keep up with new demands and trends reduce downtime and therefore reduce extra losses and costs. A good example for machinery are the Fabric Spreading Machines by OSHIMA. They allow a wide range of flexibility in way of spreading, speed and adjustability to different fabric types. Additionally, they give real-time data updates in the production, streamlining the whole process.
To keep up smooth production, it is only important that workers that operate the machinery are trained properly so they can handle the given flexibility of the machine and maximize the benefits of HMC.
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4. Data-Driven Decision Making:
Smart machinery with sensors and data analytics features deliver the necessary data to gain valuable insights into the production process, speeding up the decision making for the executive team by a lot. Such machinery, as already mentioned above, like the Smart Automatic Cutting M8S, Smart Fabric Spreading SPro or the Digital Conveyer Needle Detectors, have an immediate data output which helps improving productivity and optimizing use of resources right away.
As the machines do everything automatically the personnel only needs to be trained to interpretate and leverage the data for informed decision-making.
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5. Quality Control Collaboration:
Error detection on fabric is a slow process and prone to human errors, yet it is the most important step in garment manufacturing as it ensures the quality of the produced garments. The use of Artificial Intelligence can eliminate errors, reduces the number of needed workers down to one and speeds up the process significantly with a lot higher detection rate. OSHIMA’s EagleAi Inspection Machine for example has a defect identification rate of 90% thanks to a regularly updated data-base and its smart AI learning algorithm. The result: Saving time, labor costs and waste of materials.
This machine is the best example how HMC can excel garment production into its best form yet allowing high flexibility at the same time.
Conclusion
To get the best optimization for your garment production process the work tandem between various machines and human skills, expertise, and creativity has been proven successfully over time. The goal of Human-Machine Collaboration is to leverage the strength of both sides after all, leading to increased efficiency, precision and innovation of a modern garment manufacturer, while allowing high flexibility to continuously adapt with new trends. If you want to give your garment factory the right push for the future contact us now!
