Industrial Production Techniques

Having already touched on making yarns, fabrics, spinning, weaving and knitting here is some information on the overall production on mass.

On mass production the equipment needs to be able to maximise efficiency for the business. When purchasing new equipment a number of factors need to be considered such as; safety, noise, technical expertise, power, are spare parts easy to come about, size and the weight.

Pattern drafts are made from accurate measurements that take into account size specifications and makes it easier for modification. The industry is more likely to use CAD for this as block patterns are too time consuming. Cutting is also time consuming and can be hard to cut each piece accurately by hand. The industry uses computer controlled cutting machines; they are automated and accurate, saving time and waste.

There are also many different types of sewing machines available so it’s important to find one that suits you and your desired garment. The flat bed machine can be used on all types of sewing, the raised bed machine is used for assembling parts, the post bed machine easier to work on when producing larger garments, the cylinder bed machine its used for more complex parts such as cuffs ect, and a slide bed machine is used for sewing edges.

By Abigail Stephenson
Photographs provided by fashion Capital.

For other articles in the learning about textiles technology, click below:

Part one: what are textiles?
Part two: The inspiration behind the ideas of design
Part three: drawing and modelling
Part four: planning
Part five: influences on design
Part six: fibres
Part seven: construction
Part eight: properties of fabrics
Part nine: care of fabrics
Part ten: components
Part eleven: disassembly
Part twelve: application of colour
Part thirteen: measuring and marketing
Part fourteen: assembly
Part fifteen: industrial production techniques
Part sixteen: systems in production
Part seventeen: aesthetics and ergonomics
Part eighteen: evaluation and quality
Part nineteen: marketing