The Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC), in collaboration with JUKI India Pvt. Ltd., has launched India’s first Technology Innovation Research Centre at the ATDC-Training of Trainers’ Academy, Gurgaon, to demonstrate leading edge technologies in apparel manufacturing and undertake applied research. This is a significant initiative to strengthen the apparel industry, especially SMEs, and to adopt new technologies for increasing productivity, efficiency and quality for price realization and global competitiveness.
Inaugurated on January 17 by Mrs. Kiran Dhingra, Secretary (Textiles), Ministry of Textiles, in the presence of Dr. A. Sakthivel, AEPC Chairman, and other dignitaries, the ATDC-JUKI Tech Innovation Centre is a platform to build “deep dive” capabilities through advance training, innovative processes, technical guidance and close linkage and interface with the apparel industry.
Mrs. Dhingra said on the occasion: “The Ministry of Textiles has selected ATDC as a nodal agency since October 2010 under its Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) and the pioneering ATDC initiatives of setting up ‘Training of Trainer’s Academies’ in Gurgaon, Thiruvanthapuram and Chhindwara, bringing out digital contents for the benefit of trainers and trainees, introduction of ERP system, and the launch of the ATDC-JUKI TECH Innovation Centre.”
Dr. Sakthivel observed: “The apparel industry is now becoming technology intensive, and huge technological advancements are taking place in all its production systems. The coming together of JUKI and ATDC will certainly help in enhancing the skill sets and knowledge base of both ATDC’s faculty resources and apparel industry’s technical personnel on an ongoing basis.”
Technologically advanced manufacturing units for producing garments using a better trained workforce have now become an essential prerequisite for long-term profitability and sustainability, he added.
The new centre is expected to bridge the gap between the industry’s technological requirements and the prevalent vocational training programmes. In today’s context where scientific work methods and advanced technology are playing a pivotal role in making the apparel industry globally competitive, this technology leader-academia collaboration will go a long way in developing and promoting innovative product concepts and manufacturing practices.
Dr. Darlie Koshy, DG & CEO-ATDC & IAM, said: “The ATDC-JUKI TECH Innovation Centre is a platform where industry and academia can focus on showcasing and demonstrating technology and carrying out applied ‘research’, which is a key word in SMART (Skills for Manufacturing of Apparel through Research and Training). Applied ‘research’ combined with technology training can become a potent force to catalyze advancement of apparel production techniques that would be relevant for India’s apparel manufacturing environment.”
ATDC hopes to further build on mutually beneficial collaborative partnerships in other ATDC-TOT academies as well in the 12th Five-Year Plan as the TOT academies transform to become national resource support agency to serve the training needs of the apparel industry.
The Institute of Apparel Management’s (IAM) second convocation was also held on the occasion. Mrs. Dhingra was the Chief Guest and the Convocation Speaker. A total of 77 students graduating from various UG/PG diploma programs were awarded degrees/diplomas.
In a bid to motivate the apparel factories in India for the adoption of training and implementation of AEPC DISHA, Mrs. Dhingra also distributed the DISHA adoption certificate to the ‘DISHA Champions’. As many as 78 factories have been reached out for the training and implementation under project DISHA.
The six-day training programme/workshop aimed at capacity building and greater awareness for the effective implementation of the programme.
‘DISHA Champions’ are the managers of companies who are chosen from the employee pool which includes professionals from human resource, administration, sourcing and testing departments.
Mr. V. Srinivas, Joint Secretary (Exports) in the Ministry of Textiles, who was also present on the occasion, said: “The objective of felicitating is to encourage and recognize the front runners of the programme who are nearing completion. The “DISHA champions” are the responsible and trained managers who will ensure sustained implementation of the programme in the factory. I am happy that factories are gradually getting enrolled in the DISHA programme, and congratulate DISHA Champions for the implementation of DISHA in their respective factories.”