The latest buzzwords in manufacturing supply chain are Industry 4.0 and Automation. What is Industry 4.0 and how is it impacting apparel value chain? The key impact on the apparel value chain comes through effective use of PLM software for concept initiation, integrating it with Time and Action calendars, costing, merchandising and order processing, creating transparency in supply chain, etc. It’s important to understand how such tools can be implemented in the fashion supply chains to simplify the processes and bring in higher transparency with improved timelines. The panel will discuss cases where the use of such practices has helped to gain an edge in making the supply chains more agile and in ensuring a quicker response time across various stakeholders in the supply chain.

Supply chain can benefit from reduced lead times, reduced inventory levels leading to reduced operational costs and decreased product obsolescence at retail level. To develop such smart supply chains which are fully automated and interconnected, significant amount of efforts and long-term investments are required, but the payoffs can be significant. Sourcing teams of brands and retailers not only need to understand these latest trends but also adopt them with their partners.

In this panel discussion, experts will discuss how sourcing teams are keeping abreast with these changes, adapting them and making their supply partners adopt these latest trends.