Browsing by Author "Dr. George Hodge, Committee Co-Chair"

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Adapting Lean Manufacturing Principles to the Textile Industry
(2008-04-25) Goforth, Kelly Ann; Dr. George Hodge, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. Jeffrey A. Joines, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. Kristin Thoney, Committee Member; Dr. Lei Qian, Committee Member
An Analysis of the Disruptions in the U.S Apparel Manufacturing Industry and Identification of Continuity Planning Strategies
(2003-09-02) Gupta, Deepak Kumer; Dr. Peter Kilduff, Committee Member; Dr. Nancy Cassill, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. George Hodge, Committee Co-Chair
The purpose of this research is to conduct an exploratory analysis of the disruptions in the United States apparel manufacturing industry. The specific research objective is to identify and determine the nature of disruptions and the continuity strategies in the US apparel manufacturing industry. The research was conducted in two phases. The Phase I research gathered quantitative data using a three page survey questionnaire developed by the researcher. The questionnaire was structured by a designated set of questions that were separated in relation to the disruptions and business continuity planning. The questions were structured to obtain an understanding of the types of business disruptions and the business continuity planning in the US apparel industry. The Phase II research gathered qualitative data from 10-K SEC filings of ten randomly selected US apparel companies. Data was gathered on the risk of disruptions and the response strategies used by companies to handle those risks. Companies were selected based on convenience sampling, as this study explores the current status of continuity planning in the industry to form the basis of future research. The risk of disruption to companies in apparel industry is significant due to the international nature of the business, large supply base, and the ever changing trade and customs regulations. The movement of the United States apparel manufacturing industry to low wage countries, increased use of independent and contract manufacturers and the trend towards full-package sourcing have increased the industry risk exposure. The business continuity planning culture is not well developed in the industry. Most companies studied have not completed their risk assessment and business impact analysis. The budget is not usually allocated for the development and implementation of continuity plans, and no training programs for employees were identified to effectively handle a disruption. Results will benefit industry personnel by providing insights into today's dynamic apparel manufacturing environment as well as identifying key disruptions. Future research studies relating to this topic were identified.
Applicability of Data Mining in Yarn Manufacturing
(2007-06-09) Anderson, Mary; Nancy Powell, Committee Member; Dr. William Oxenham, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. George Hodge, Committee Co-Chair
Information technology has become a priority in many businesses today. Understanding the data collected in information systems has allowed companies to stay competitive in different industries. Data mining is a set of statistical techniques for discovering previously unknown trends and patterns in large datasets. Data mining is becoming a significant tool in today's competitive business world and helping business leaders to make more informed decisions. The purpose of this research has been to understand the yarn manufacturing process, the data collected, and the different data collection systems in order to determine the potential application of data mining in cotton yarn spinning. Plant interviews and a case study with one cotton open-end spinning plant was helpful in understanding how data mining could be used within yarn manufacturing. Data was collected from the case study plant and analyses were performed to determine relationships and trends. This research provides an overview of the data collection requirements for textile spinning and the different data elements collected throughout the spinning process. A model of collection points and data elements is presented. The different data collection systems used for monitoring these elements are discussed as well as the quality of data being collected. Analyses are performed to determine the applicability of using data mining techniques on the many data sets to improve both process and product quality.
Data Mining and Its Potential Use in Textiles: A Spinning Mil
(2002-05-08) Schertel, Stacey Lee; Dr. Thomas Honeycutt, Committee Member; Dr. Nancy Cassill, Committee Member; Dr. George Hodge, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. William Oxenham, Committee Co-Chair
The purpose of this research has been to understand the possible uses of data mining in the Textile Industry, specifically a spinning mill. There is a lot of information published on the theory of data mining, however there is not a lot published on its use in a manufacturing setting. A case study approach was used to help understand how data mining could be used in the manufacturing of textiles. The focus of this research was on a spinning mill in the textiles industry and the processing that is followed with the different data elements available. Data was collected from a spinning mill operation and then cleansed and merged to create a data warehouse that could be mined using the SAS Enterprise Miner software. An example ideal data warehouse was created for a spinning mill. In this warehouse the different elements and formats that are needed were listed for each process in the production of a cotton fiber. Initially a simple data mining process was used however this proved to be ineffective. Due to the successes and failures that were experienced during the research a new data mining process model was created. This model has six major steps, which contains a total of 28 specific activities that may be included in the data mining process model. The proposed model describes how data mining can be implemented in a manufacturing setting.
Factors Affecting Governmental/Trade Disparities Among Nations
(2006-04-26) Jones, Michael Andrew; Dr. Nancy Cassill, Committee Member; Dr. Robert Barnhardt, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. George Hodge, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. Michelle Jones, Committee Member
As globalization takes hold in international trade, companies are impacted by factors that are often beyond the scope of their influence. These trade factors directly impact the competitiveness of companies in global markets. Global markets are becoming the norm as communication, technology, and infrastructure within developing countries improve. Textile and apparel companies are searching for the optimal locations to produce various products so that they will have the proper balance of quality and cost, in an attempt to increase profitability. This research focused on the bottom weights and bed/bath markets. These markets were selected because they have a significant manufacturing presence in the United States, and they possess different supply chain structures. This study used a two-phase mixed methods approach in order to gain secondary data from available resources and primary data from in-depth interviews with industry executives. Eighteen leading companies in the bed/bath and bottom weights markets were interviewed with 33 respondents whose average experience was 25 years in the industry. Comparisons and contrasts were analyzed regarding the two markets. The five trade factors that were analyzed in this research were: 1) currency exchange rates, 2) environmental and social compliance, 3) Intellectual Property theft, 4) federal government subsidies, and 5) employee benefit plans. All of the trade factors influence companies in international markets. American companies are at a competitive disadvantage with offshore companies in these markets due to these five trade factors. Government policy and regulations put tremendous strain on domestic textile and apparel companies to remain competitive in the dynamic global textile industry. This study is one section of a three part research project regarding economic competitiveness in the global textile and apparel industry. The three studies are: • "Factors Affecting Governmental / Trade Disparities Among Nations," by Michael A. Jones. • "Market Competitiveness in the Global Textile Supply Chain: Examination of Supply Chain Configurations," by C. Hope Nowell. • "Economic Competitiveness in the Global Textile Supply Chain: An Examination of Logistics Cost Structures," by Lynsey A. Cesca.
Market Competitiveness in the Global Textile Supply Chain: Examination of Supply Chain Configurations
(2006-05-12) Nowell, Candace Hope; Dr. George Hodge, Committee Co-Chair
This research study is one portion of a three-part study on economic competitiveness in the global textile and apparel industries. The purpose of this research was to determine why U.S. manufacturers are losing market share in the areas being sourced by U.S. retailers, and to determine the supply chain structures and performance measures being used by U.S. manufacturers, global manufacturers, U.S. retailers, and sourcing agents in the bottom weight and bedbath markets. The study's results were intended to provide the U.S. with a benchmark of how their supply chain should be configured, as well as the metrics to be used along the chain in order to be more competitive in a global environment. Stock, Greis, and Kasarda's (1999) conceptual model from their "Logistics, Strategy, and Structure" study was used as a framework for this study. The sample consisted of 18 companies with the participation of 33 respondents from manufacturers and retailers of both markets, as well as sourcing agents and auxiliary companies. A survey questionnaire was used to interview company representatives via face-to-face interviews or phone conferences. Results were separated into eight groups depending on the company business sector and market. The responses pertaining to each research objective were compared among each group and analyzed. Results identified they key areas that U.S. textile manufacturers need to improve in order to gain market share. The results also identified the measures to be used to measure the performance of a supply chain and the dominant supply chain structures being used among each business sector. Finally, a benchmark supply chain model was designed from how research suggested that U.S. textile manufacturers could compete in the global market.
Plant Floor Scheduling Systems in a Lean Environment
(2008-04-26) Wagoner, April Gail; Dr. George Hodge, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. Lei Qian, Committee Member; Dr. Jeffrey A. Joines, Committee Member; Dr. Kristin Thoney, Committee Co-Chair
The objective of this study was to determine how companies in the US textile industry are using lean manufacturing practices in their planning and scheduling systems. The study uses primary and secondary data sources to explore the utilization of lean techniques in manual or automated planning and scheduling systems. In addition to a literature review, ten open ended in-person interviews with textile industry executives and three in-depth case studies were used to gather data. The case studies were conducted to further explore whether or not the use of lean principles can be applied to planning and scheduling systems in specific textile operations. Many textile companies are interested in implementing lean scheduling systems for the plant floor but have not quite come to that point in their lean transformation. This study will provide examples, barriers and suggested solutions to the barriers for those companies who are on the path forward to implementation of lean planning and scheduling systems. Textile companies who are already using lean practices in their planning and scheduling systems are seeing improvements through reduced finished goods and work-in-process inventory, as well as less time and effort required by the production planners and schedulers to schedule the plant floor. A directory of planning and scheduling software that can handle lean concepts and is applicable to the textile industry was compiled as part of this research.