Adaptation of Technology in RMG Sector

Adaptation of Technology in RMG Sector
Bangladesh has received critical acclamations for its rapid rise in GDP over the past decade or
so. The achievement of this feat might have been a pipe dream for many developing nations but
we were able to do it. Yet the impediment that we somehow managed to overlook is the negative
value of net export contribution to our GDP. So, the question arises- If our import is so high,
how can our overall GDP maintain a steady growth? For that reason, let me introduce the Bruce
Wayne of our export industry, the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector which contributes to
over 80% of the total export of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is considered the second largest exporter of RMG in the entire world and we are only
behind China in this case. The third country in this list is Vietnam who, according to the
statistics of 2020, had overtaken Bangladesh in the global apparel export in that particular year
only for Bangladesh to reclaim its spot in the following year. So, it is very apparent that while
competing against China is like chasing the sun for our country, we’re only fingertips away from
exposing our second place to Vietnam.
Now, I would like to address a question- how much vulnerable are we to succumbing to the third
spot? I would say- very much so. Vietnam is now taking the head start by integrating ‘Industry
4.0’ into their apparel and textile industry. According to a recent study of over 300 garment
enterprises in the Vietnam apparel sector by the research team of the Vietnam National Textile
and Garment Group and institutes, the majority of the industries were attempting to keep up with
Industry 4.0.
As for Bangladesh, though we have lagged behind a bit, we are also coming up with the initiative
to gain the benefits of ‘Industry 4.0’ in our apparel sector. At a seminar on December 11 of 2021
at the council hall of IEB Headquarters, M. A. Mannan, Minister of Planning of Bangladesh
along with many other country and industry leaders, demonstrated the adoption of ‘Industry 4.0’
to the textile and RMG industry of Bangladesh. According to Engr. Ayub Nabi, Bangladesh is
capable of improving their position in the global market with the help of Industry 4.0. The
technology can provide a transparent view of the product's quality to the buyer. Industry 4.0 can
also save costs by getting rid of waste, hidden costs, and damage. Cyber-physical systems and
sub-nanotechnology can be used to construct indexing technologies thanks to Industry 4.0's
complexity.
The new technologies, which include cutting-edge equipment to make synthetic fiber and
robotics, will widen the sector's export market and speed up factory operations in general. In
2022, sources said that 137 of the new facilities had registered with the Bangladesh Garment
Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 60 with the Bangladesh Knitwear
BKMEA, and 27 with the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA). The amount of fresh
investment the sector has received is not known with precision. According to industry experts,
the minimum setup cost for a 10-line factory in a rented premises is at least Tk 5 crore. The cost
of opening a ready-made garment factory ay sometimes go up to Tk 100 crore. In addition, an
additional $3 billion was invested in the construction of 15 new textile facilities and the
expansion of 12 existing ones. These facilities are mostly used to produce man-made fiber.
It is a very ecstatic thing to say that in the coming days even more businessmen are willing to
bring changes in the textile market. The parent business of Envoy Textiles Limited, Sheltech
Group, has begun constructing knit composite factories and denim apparel factories, which will
begin producing by the end of 2023, according to Kutubuddin Ahmed, chairman of Envoy
Textiles Limited, who spoke to TBS. "Our environmentally friendly denim plant will provide
high-quality clothing. To create high-end clothing items, the knit composite plant will be
established in a joint venture with a prominent global apparel manufacturer. Both of these
facilities will be outfitted with the newest technology to deliver goods to affluent customers,
"Kutubuddin Ahmed remarked.
So, is the RMG market working on adaptation? Apparently yes. Over the past few decades,
Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) industry has witnessed considerable technical
advances. The garment business has adapted to new technology to fulfill the growing need for
high-quality, quick-drying, and affordable apparel. An overview of a handful of them are
provided in the following section.
Automation in garment production: Industry efficiency and productivity have grown with the
implementation of automated manufacturing methods including computer-controlled sewing
machines, robotic cutting machines, and material handling systems.
E-commerce and online sales: Reaching a worldwide market has become simpler for RMG
businesses in Bangladesh because to the growth of e-commerce and online sales. Exports have
increased as a result, and the sector is now more profitable.
Supply chain management: By reducing lead times, enhancing transparency, and lowering
prices, the use of technology in supply chain management has increased the RMG sector's
efficiency.
Quality control and inspection: The use of computer vision and machine learning technologies
has increased the precision and efficiency of quality control and inspection procedures,
guaranteeing that clothing is produced to the highest standards.
Energy efficiency and sustainability: In order to lessen its carbon footprint and advance
energy efficiency, Bangladesh's RMG industry is using more ecologically friendly and
sustainable technology.
In brief, industrial capacity growth, product diversity, improved predictability, efficiency,

decision-making, accuracy, and cost optimization - not just in sourcing, but across the business
process - will be supported by technology adoption and digitization. The Bangladeshi RMG
sector is one that has consistently thrived in the face of adversity by adapting and developing.
Being on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution, it fulfills that promise admirably.
Bangladesh has opportunities, it's simply an issue of how to seize them.
- Hasin Jawad Ali (ID:200061107)

- Nafisa Alam Toree (ID: 200061120)

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Adaptation of Technology in RMG Sector

In brief, industrial capacity growth, product diversity, improved predictability, efficiency,

- Hasin Jawad Ali (ID:200061107)

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