TEXTILES.ORG
Automation can compensate for staffing shortages
June 1st, 2023
A worker at Ehmke Manufacturing using a continuous feed laser cutter. Photo: Ehmke Manufacturing Making textile products has transitioned from a manual job to one that is largely automated, in part because of a worker shortage. The offshoring of jobs reduced the U.S. textile industry workforce from 3.8 million in 1975 to only 500,000 workers […]
How to be an efficiency champion at your specialty fabrics business
January 1st, 2021
A well-organized space is a productive space. In the parts room at Kamber Narrow Fabric Machinery, items are organized by part and page number. These represent 20 percent of total parts but are common to 80 percent of the machines. Photo: Kamber Narrow Fabric Machinery LLC. No business owner wants to waste time and money, […]
Long-term growth: The right equipment, the right software, the right employees
October 1st, 2019
At each step along the supply chain, customers demand quality, efficiency, flexibility and speed. The right kind of equipment, with the right kind of software and the right kind of operator, can lead to long-term growth. by Maura Keller Today’s consumer expects faster turnaround times and custom quality at low prices, which means that manufacturers […]
Small shops: Tips for shortening your lead times
October 17th, 2018
Torey Heinz, of Teagles Consulting, has a background in small manufacturing jobs shops. This gives him a good sense of how poor workflow and other issues can affect a small shop’s lead times. Shortening lead time is important, Teagle told participants at his Oct. 17 Expo session, because shorter lead times mean increased sales and […]
Enhancing workplace (and worker) performance: automation and technology, equipment ROI and the new workforce
July 1st, 2018
Canvas Innovations in Holland, Mich., focuses on custom marine canvas and upholstery products, says owner Chris Ritsema. The company also has a smaller portion of the business dedicated to other textile-related products, such as porch enclosures, shade sails, awning recovery, furniture covers, golf cart enclosures and a wealth of other custom projects. “We continue to […]
2017 Equipment Showcase
October 1st, 2017
With technology taking over and automation ascendant, manufacturers are reinventing themselves and their operations to maximize efficiency, effectiveness, safety, reliability, productivity and profitability. The equipment they choose, especially when skilled labor is in short supply, doesn’t replace craftsmanship—it enhances it. We asked our equipment suppliers to tell us about the advantages of their latest innovations […]