Tainan firm transforms Taiwan textile industry

2016/03/11

A Tainan City firm is leading the way in transforming the textile sector in Taiwan through industry 4.0 innovation while cementing the country’s top-tier position in the global functional fabric supply chain.

Everest Textile Co. Ltd., a long-term supplier to international sportswear giants like Adidas, Nike and Under Armour, has championed intelligent automation since 2014. This undertaking reflects company President Roger Yeh’s firm belief in the value of business innovation.

“We are the first smart textile firm in Asia employing big data, cloud computing and smart networking technology to re-engineer operations,” Yeh said.

This NT$350 million-plus (US$10.59 million) root-and-branch upgrade should raise Everest’s production efficiency by 30 percent while eliminating 30 percent of manual labor processes by year-end. “We expect to fully recover our capital outlay in 18 months,” Yeh added.

In addition to quantifiable benefits, Yeh said his smart factory in southern Taiwan is turning out a new breed of employees adept in the latest automation technologies. This is opposed to traditional textile mills using foreign workers for routine tasks such as operating equipment and maintenance.

“These advantages will ensure we remain at the head of the pack in the highly lucrative functional fabric sector and differentiate ourselves from competitors, especially those from mainland China.”

Responsible environmental practices are another important plank in Everest’s business model, Yeh said. “All private sector outfits should commit themselves to protecting the environment and playing a part in safeguarding our planet’s future.”

Following the company’s 2007 decision to adopt energy saving measures and convert manufacturing facilities into green buildings, Yeh said annual energy consumption dropped 27 percent.

By sharing Everest’s experiences with other local textile firms aspiring to ride the industry 4.0 wave, Yeh remains confident the sector can continue to enjoy global competitiveness on the strength of superior business know-how and product quality.

“More importantly, Taiwan firms are committed to working with their clients for the best solutions,” he said. “Such a farsighted business approach makes us stand head and shoulders above the rest.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=242812&ctNode=2194&mp=9)