An increasing focus on automation is encouraging factories to find alternatives to traditional fabric inspection methods.
Fabric inspection identifies product flaws early, preventing defective goods from being shipped to customers (link: Five Benefits of Fabric Inspection Machines for Garment Manufacturers). This process ensures that goods are manufactured according to customer specifications, enhancing product quality and increasing customer satisfaction. Fabric inspections are conducted at various stages of the production process so that issues can be identified as early as possible.
The tendency towards automation is causing textile manufacturers to rethink and streamline their production processes, removing human interference as much as possible. Many fabric inspection machines are now equipped with Artificial Intelligence to boost efficiency and produce higher quality materials.
What is AI and why is it important?
Artificial Intelligence is a technology that uses machines to do tasks that usually need human intelligence. Some well-known consumer examples of AI are Siri or Alexa, but it has gained popularity in the garment manufacturing industry over the past two decades.
Making clothes is a tough job with a lot of competition, and it's important to please the final buyer. Textile factories have numerous quality control measures in place, but increased demand for higher quality goods leaves them looking for alternatives. That’s where AI comes in, helping factories throughout all stages of production. Factories are looking for ways to automate the garment manufacturing process, using smart machines to streamline production and enhance profits.
What are AI fabric inspection machines?
AI fabric inspection machines are highly intelligent systems designed to identify product defects in record time. They are equipped with powerful lights and high-resolution cameras to capture images of each product that is processed, comparing real-time photos to its vast fabric database. They are built to withstand challenging factory conditions, processing high amounts of fabric each day for hours at a time. They give factory managers the freedom to access data remotely, and remove the need for dozens of quality control staff.
How do AI fabric inspection machines benefit garment factories?
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Increased automation, higher profits
Unlike manual workers, AI fabric inspection machines are designed to process bulk numbers of fabric per day. They are programmed to hold a database full of product images, enabling them to access and compare historical and real-time data. This makes the quality checks faster and the whole making process smoother.
Automation reduces the amount of human involvement in production, leaving little room for human error. Repetitive tasks are taken on by machines, boosting factory efficiency and enabling machines to become smarter. A smoother production process and higher product quality allows factories to take on more orders, leading to increased profits for textile manufacturers.
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Decreased manpower, reduced risk of human error
Fabric inspections take place multiple times throughout garment production. Manual inspections require special lighting and alert workers that can slowly sift through fabric checking for defects. Fatigued workers can inadvertently let defective garments pass inspection checks, leading to rejects and product recalls.
AI fabric inspection machines have a high inspection accuracy and do not require additional lighting or equipment. The smart machines quickly inspect products using pre-programmed algorithms that predict fabric properties, enhancing inspection efficiency. Machines don’t get tired like humans do, so AI fabric inspection machines can easily check bulk production amounts. Excess manpower can be distributed to other factory areas, enhancing factory production and reducing labor costs.
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High inspection accuracy, increased return on investment
AI fabric inspection machines are programmed to identify specific product flaws, reducing the risk of producing defective products by up to 90 percent. Machines take pictures of fabric in real-time, comparing it with pre-programmed data to quickly identify flaws. Smart machines categorize the severity of the flaw, eventually learning to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable errors.
This level of consistency is impossible for manual inspections, as flaws are analyzed by humans with a subjective view of severity. AI fabric inspection machines improve inspection accuracy and production efficiency, leading to a higher return on investment for factories.
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Happier customers, fewer product recalls
In the highly competitive textile industry, quality is everything. Inconsistent fabric quality and defective products could cause customers to find a more reliable supplier elsewhere. When products are inspected multiple times throughout production using AI fabric inspection machines, the risk of defects is decreased. This leads to a more consistent production quality and fewer product rejects, saving money on costly product recalls. Satisfied customers means repeat orders, which in turn boosts factory profits.
Fabric inspection machines from OSHIMA
The EagleAI fabric inspection machine from OSHIMA is equipped with a large defect database that is regularly updated, reducing the risk of oversight. Our team of R&D specialists is constantly updating algorithms to improve the machine’s detection rate. It has a current defect identification rate of over 90 percent, and produces detailed quality control reports upon completion. The machine is suitable for use with elastic and woven materials, and uses a 16K camera resolution for defect and color detection.
The bottom line
Artificial intelligence has changed the way factories work. Labor-intensive manual inspections are no longer necessary, reducing the risk of oversight due to fatigue or human error. AI fabric inspection machines save factories money by increasing inspection accuracy and detecting defects early. This allows textile manufacturers to rectify mistakes before products are shipped.
OSHIMA offers advanced fabric inspection technology to garment manufacturers looking to improve efficiency and automation. Our one-stop-shop approach means that most production machinery can be bought from us, reducing the need to deal with multiple suppliers. We have over 50 years of experience in the fabric manufacturing industry, and have built a strong reputation worldwide.
Our team is passionate about what it does, constantly working on product updates and creating newer, even smarter machines. Talk to us today to understand how AI fabric inspection machines from OSHIMA can change the way you work.
References
https://www.techknowgram.com/artificial-intelligence-ai-in-apparel-industry/
https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence
https://www.thesunflowerlab.com/blog/benefits-industrial-automation/
https://www.techknowgram.com/artificial-intelligence-ai-in-apparel-industry/
https://www.frontier.cool/news-detail/importance-of-machine-learning-in-the-textile-industry.htm
https://www.iotforall.com/how-artificial-intelligence-is-transforming-the-textile-industry
