WORKSHOP ON LEAN SIGMA APPLICATION IN GARMENT MANUFACTURING

UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, LAHORE, FEBRUARY 4, 2010 HELD BY GEN-PROM PUNJAB

Introduction: GEN-PROM Punjab held a one day workshop for students and faculty of University of Management and Technology, Lahore, and representatives of the garment/clothing industry on Lean Sigma Application in Garment Manufacturing, on February 4, 2010. Consultants from Technopak Advisors Limited delivered the content of the workshop, with Rakesh Ranjan, Senior Consultant, Technopak, as the instructor, assisted by Prabhat Pande, Consultant, and Abhishek Kumar Singh, Associate Consultant, Technopak. The workshop was attended by thirty-five participants. Purpose: This workshop was the first among a series of workshops planned with the objective of capacity development of industry and students, in Lahore. It captured the essence of Lean Sigma which is a hybrid concept of lean manufacturing and six sigma. This is a relatively new concept and the workshop highlighted the practical applications of Lean Sigma in the garment manufacturing industry. Methodology: The workshop entailed a detailed presentation with an innovation exercise and profound discussions with the participants. Proceedings: The days proceedings started with an opening address by Dr. Noor Aslam Khan, followed by a welcome address by Dr. Nabeel, Director, Department of Industrial Management. Dr. Nabeel also introduced Rakesh Ranjan. Mr. Ranjan started off by defining six sigma as a modern management concept or technique in which the participation of people is highly valued. High process velocity in manufacturing is called lean manufacturing (lean being the elimination of waste), whereas six sigma can be defined as a tool for improving quality. The history of lean manufacturing and six sigma was detailed, as well as companies that have implemented them. Throughout this the fact was stressed that for a business to grow, it has to be owned by the people working for it. An exercise was carried out to trigger out-of-the-box thinking among the participants: a piece of paper was to be divided into five equal parts. After the exercise Mr. Ranjan showed the audience how it could be done. The purpose of this exercise was to show that the concept of six sigma tells the participant to innovate without the help of infrastructural tools. Prabhat Pande took over the presentation and gave an overview of what the garment industry is and how it works. Abhishek Kumar Singh then explained the visual management system.
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