VOL. 3 Issue 9 Editor-in-Chief DEEPAK MOHINDRA JANUARY 2015 Editor CONTENTS ILA SAXENA Chief Response Editor VINITA PANDEY Copy Editor 14 COVERY STORY VEERESHWAR SOBTI Nasim Manzur Defines the Growth Roadmap for Asst. Editor-Technical TUSSHAR KUMAR the Leather Industry Assistant Manager - Marketing & Advertising SUBIR KUMAR 20 BUYER BLOG Subscription Enquiry CJ International to now source linen heavy knits RANI MAHENDRU and chiffon blouses [email protected] Creative Team RAJ KUMAR CHAHAL 22 eXPORTER INSIGHT PEEUSH JAUHARI Desh Garments... How has the pioneer guarded SATYAPAL BISHT 14 its fort? Photo Editor Syed Nasim Manzur, Managing Director Apex, JITENDER MEERWAL Footwear and President, Footwear Manufacturers Value-added denim business strategies unplugged & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) Operation Director with Noize Jeans MAYANK MOHINDRA 01962098754 28 bANGLADESH CANVAS Publisher & Managing Director RENU MOHINDRA Meek Sweaters plans new unit Energypac Fashion to invest US $ 5 million in 2015 Head Office Apparel Resources Private Limited B-32, South Extension-1, 30 BUSINESS EXCHANGE New Delhi-110 049 Apparel Summit... A fulfilling image building Phone: 91-11-47390000, 24602283 Fax: 91-11-24604597 exercise E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Web associate: www.apparelresources.com 40 resource CENTRE 24 UNI Asia Associates focusing on printing solutions Printing Ask Advertising Aids Pvt. Ltd. Anurag S Chauhan, Managing Director, r-pac banking on RFID tags as the next game Noize Jeans 88, DSIDC, Okhla Indl. Area, Phase-1, changer New Delhi-110 020 Phone : 26816824 Lectra to capitalize on predictive maintenance for future growth ---------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to 48 tecH MANAGEMENT Apparel Online Bangladesh at How to Choose a Lean Consultant? www.apparelresources.com OR 52 WORLD WRAP mail at Search for comfort ... Yoga pants and gym shirts [email protected] ' ' for details. hit the streets as mainstream clothing 30 56 trends 2015 Apparel Summit 2014 Key Looks A/W ’15-16 6 Apparel Online Bangladesh | JANUARY 2015 EDITORIAL The year 2014 was a time of retrospection for the industry followed by consolidation, and 2015 marks the beginning of a journey to conquer the ambitious target of US $ 50 billion exports by 2021, an apt target to commemorate the 50 years of Independence. Can we as an enterprising nation do it… I have a strong feeling that we can! And when I go through the pages of Apparel Online for 2014, I see enough commitment from the industry, the Government and even the buyers to reach or even better the target… The proactive industry is a willing partner to change and adapt, as one can see how fast the industry adopted to become compliant and moved on without a break to continue serving the world retailers and brands… Apparel Online brought to you the views of Rob Ways, ED, Accord and Rabin Misbah, MD, Alliance in one dynamic article… What is most interesting is not the fact that both are impressed with the way the industry is coming forward to cooperate, but the fact that finally it is out in the open that in reality less than 2% of the factories in Bangladesh actually pose a real threat to worker safety… I am sure besides bringing cheer to the industry it will also make buyers more comfortable to work with Bangladesh and even increase their stakes. Apparel Online also took on the Minister of Textile & Jute, Md. Emaz Uddin Pramanik, in a one-o-one interview, and to the delight of all, he emphatically declared support to the industry highlighting that the Government was not only looking at incentives but was keen to work on issues that could facilitate business including backward integration to strengthen the foundations of the garment industry. Through our pages, we also put the spotlight on the core growth products of Bangladesh – denim, sweaters and knits – all central to the growth strategy of the country. There is much more that is expected from these categories and I am sure the existing and new players will contribute significantly to achieve the target set by the Government. What has also been highlighted in the pages of Apparel Online is the subtle, but strong shift towards newer categories like lingerie and winter jackets… both highly technical products that require technology intervention and trained manpower which is yet not perceived as Bangladesh’s strength… But mark my word, the players who are entering these segments are not only committed, but are pumping in investments to ensure that nothing goes wrong. The signs are all there to meet the target and we promise to continue in our quest to bring some newer perspectives in every issue for the industry… The October issue had a very current take on the challenges and probable solutions for setting up of a successful and safe multistoried factory. After the Rana Plaza incident, the industry is not only listening but receptive to building norms and suggestions from experts… that is exactly what we aimed at and the positive feedback suggests that we hit the bull’s eye. How can I forget the fun-filled but very purposeful issue, featuring 13 young Turks of the industry who not only have taken it upon themselves to grow their companies but are very positive and enthusiastic of the opportunities that are present in the current global scenario… can Bangladesh falter with such a determined lot at the helm… In our next issue of Apparel Online, we will carry a re-cap of all these interesting articles and many more. Wishing all my Readers a Happy, Safe and Bountiful New Year! Deepak Mohindra Editor-in-Chief 8 Apparel Online Bangladesh | JANUARY 2015 MINDTREE m ndtree LeadingDiscussionsi In what areas and aspects do you feel Middle Management in an apparel factory needs training? How many times in a year do you sponsor your Middle Management to attend workshops on management? What is your yearly budget for training initiatives? Shah Adeeb Chowdhury, these workers can be utilized I think middle management in Director, Evince Group properly and effectively. Ability apparel factory needs training in Being a garment manufacturer, to communicate efficiently following areas and aspects: we need to motivate and train with buyer’s technical For Productivity Improvement: our mid-management technical representatives, so as to work Training on 5S, 7 Waste, Lean personnel to spot advanced collectively and optimize Management, Efficiency manufacturing procedures/ productivity is also important Improvement, Quality visit various machinery for the middle management. Control, Alter Control, TQM, exhibitions/communicate with We encourage our mid- Team Building, and JIT; For various machinery suppliers management to participate Maintenance: Machine and and bring in new advanced in workshops sponsored by Electrical Equipment Checking manufacturing techniques, so our respective customers, or and Maintenance with calendar. that we can systematically phase suggested as beneficial by For Housekeeping: Clean out traditional manufacturing our customers. This has no and Tidy Floor and Hygienic methods, while replacing them limited time-frame and is rather Environment; For Compliance: with cost-efficient techniques dependent on the frequency Fire Training & Drill, Emergency and machinery that produces a of such workshops being Evacuation, Compliance finer product. conducted. As a company, Requirement on Electrical The mid-management needs we have already invested System, etc; For Commercial: to be trained to efficiently and US $ 10,000 for a 4 year mid- Export Import Procedure; effectively communicate with the management training program. For Merchandising: Costing, workers and deliver results within We have also periodically Consumption, Pricing and a short period of turnaround invested in mid-management for SCM: In-time In-house of time, when new production training programs in the factory, Backward Linkage and systems are implemented. They which have been conducted Timely Shipment. also need to be trained to spot by professional trainers. The We always arrange in-house efficient and talented workers training programs conducted training for our employees on the production floor, so that have covered all departments, around the year for which we from IE to stores to the packing department. Humayun Rashid, Managing Director & CEO, Energypac Fashion Training has the greatest and most sustainable impact on the apparel industry. The emerging issues that factories are now Shah Adeeb Chowdhury facing are the shortage of skilled Humayun Rashid workforce, demand for fast “We encourage our turnaround times, decreasing “We always arrange mid-management to margins, high turnover, and low in-house training for our participate in workshops awareness of workers for their employees around the sponsored by our year for which we have respective customers, or rights and responsibilities. a fully equipped training suggested as beneficial Each of these issues leads to room and an experienced by our customers.” decrease in productivity and trainer with an IE factory performance. background.” 12 Apparel Online Bangladesh | JANUARY 2015 MINDTREE have a fully equipped training organization. The companies can Cross Industry – varied industry room and an experienced fall or face huge problems due to can still interact and share their trainer with an Industrial misleading middle management experience and learning. Engineering (IE) background. which is the critical link between Each Department Head should Question We also hire qualified trainers the top management and the first be a good HR. Next, the who have many years of workers. It’s very important that HOD should be a Trainer and BGMEA has declaredMIND itsTREE experience and expertise in they take responsibilities and Mentor – to continuously train ambitious plan to reach the garment industry from feel that they are accountable and groom his team. Rotation outside. In our annual training for any shortfall. It is indeed very the export target of US of staff – cross functioning $ 50 billion by 2021... the calendar, we plan all the earlier vital for the middle management can give you many surprises.