Digitisation and industry 4.0 in the Portuguese T&C sector

Abstract

Industry 4.0 is a key topic in the discussion about the future of Textile and Clothing (T&C) industry in Europe. This 4th Industrial Revolution is a vision, an important change of the current paradigm, able to make the convergence between real and digital world in the future “smart factory”. The integration of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), the Internet of the Things (IoT), the Big Data Analytics and Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Virtual modelling or Digitisation of the industrial processes are some of the main topics in this new challenges. Technologies as barcode devices, RFID, sensors, Bluetooth, GPS or 3D simulators starts to be present in the textile and clothing industry. This article will present how a clothing company (GUIMA, SOMELOS SGPS) is defining its strategy to face the demanding from their clients and stakeholders. In order to adapt the theories and models known from I4.0 to GUIMA's reality, as RFID in the fabrics and accessories to allow real-time updates of the stocks, all the planning is done with the IoS system, the cutting plans and production orders are assisted by a 3D system and the different batches are incorporated RFID tags. The ICT companies are critical partners in this partnership, but also the HEI, the scientific community and technological centres.