Process management in the textile industry is fundamental to the success of the business. This is a strategy that aims to analyze, monitor and promote constant improvement in activities. The focus is to ensure productivity, cost reduction and better performance.
Therefore, in this text we have gathered the importance of this tool, its main characteristics, benefits and tips on how to optimize each process. Check it out!
How important is process management in the textile industry?
Process management in the textile industry is nothing more than controlling activities, execution and organization of work stages. In this sector, this practice is even more important thanks to the numerous phases that correspond to industrial production.
A study on process management practices in the industry states that the constant evolution of processes is fundamental to the health of the organization in the market. This is a healthy way to respond to changes in the environment and stay up to date with the sector, ensuring quality and competitiveness.
Process management is, therefore, the tool that gives organizations the possibility of generating value through the entire functioning of the company, based on established processes.
Therefore, this is a practice that appears as an option for organizational innovation and offering products or even services, playing a role in driving development.
In the textile industry, this process refers to the stages of people management, including receiving raw materials and ending with production. The aim is to identify the effects in chains and how one phase affects the other, to understand the processes in general. And then identify which of them can be improved and optimized.
Also according to the study, process management includes:
- Process teams with employees with different profiles and skills;
- Promoting individuality by providing decision-making authority;
- Attention to the results of the business process;
- Greater support for negotiation and collaboration, with communication and billing;
- Constant search for skills and multifunctionality with training;
- Horizontal structure focusing on process teams;
- Integration into the process vision, adding constant value;
- Diverse nature of work, aiming at evolutionary/adaptive knowledge;
- Multifunctional and systemic processes;
- External relationships through partnerships;
- Technology integrating information systems.
And what are the benefits?
As this is a sector that is related to several areas of the industry, such as inventory management, raw material acquisition, quality control and even maintenance management, poor management can cause losses throughout the entire production chain.
In this scenario, there will be costs beyond what was anticipated, a lack of inputs, machines and materials, as well as lost time and productivity.
Therefore, as already mentioned, one of the main benefits of applying this strategy is the improvement of processes. With more optimized and agile activities and stages, the risks of delays or production stoppages, due to an error, decrease.
In short, this technique transforms the workflow of industries, positively impacting relationships with customers, suppliers and employees.
Furthermore, it is responsible for cost reduction , of failures, errors and rework, which, consequently, guarantees greater productivity and financial health. That is, with a macro view of each stage, it is possible to identify what does not work and is influencing the results.
To do this, it is necessary to monitor performance and apply predictive management, avoiding possible problems. This attribute directly impacts the cost of labor and raw materials.
By improving the time for each process and selecting the elements necessary for correct operation, problems that previously went unnoticed can be recognized.
And of course, it is safe to say that with the most efficient textile processes, customer satisfaction will be guaranteed. This is because the quality of production and final products will increase, resulting in an improved experience.
Therefore, constant updating with changes in the environment is essential for the industry’s results. Consumer behavior changes frequently and to ensure adaptation it is necessary to invest in innovation, textile technology and modern techniques.
How to optimize processes?
It is possible to optimize processes based on the two main management tools: mapping and flowchart.
The first concerns the development of the initial design of the sequence of activities. This should contain your interconnections, collected data, responsible professionals and interactions.
The flowchart is a graphical analysis tool. It is the representation of the process scheme, in a simple and objective way. It is necessary to have the transition of information from each activity to identify errors and failures.
On this occasion you will have the sequence of work, decision-making and its results, process variations, as well as the beginning and end of each stage.a In other words, the schema is a summary of what was previously collected during mapping.
With this information in hand, it is possible to create standards, develop quality tests and analyze the results. Additionally, you can invest in maintenance management and finishing inspection.
The important thing is that the manager closely monitors each process, shares and receives information with different areas of the industry, in addition to finding points for improvement to increasingly optimize activities.
The role of technology in this context
An important step to updating areas and processes, and better managing them, is to invest in technology. Modern and updated tools collaborate with information management through connectivity and automation.
Therefore, one of the main tips for this is to invest in technological machines and tools . This is because the quality of the final product is linked to the processes of the previous stages, such as weaving, manufacturing, printing, dyeing and finishing. And in all of them there are instruments that facilitate the activities.
More up-to-date machines require less maintenance and inspection. And with technology and textile automation, they are able to generate valuable information for analysis and process improvement.
Added to this, one machine can connect with another, generating more complete data based on a macro view.
Technological solutions are part of the efficiency of the textile industry, a direct result of Industry 4.0. Constant digitalization makes factories smarter, with the aim of improving human performance.
Technology is the sector’s ally in all processes and is essential for the organization’s success!
Bet on innovation
Process management in the textile industry is responsible for the constant improvement of the business. Monitoring allows the identification of steps that need to be reviewed to ensure greater productivity and performance.