Automation Adoption in the Textile Industry of an Emerging Economy

Abstract

This study identifies the levels of the incorporation of automation-application of machines or automatic procedures, in an industrial textile process-of the companies of the Textile Confection sector in Colombia, to improve the level of maturity of their technological capabilities. This chapter analyzed ten companies that previously had some automation experiences according to the level of their maturity in seven dimensions: prospective, strategy and organization, smart operations, smart products, smart factory, data-based services, and employees. Besides, companies were categorized following three levels of automation: beginner, apprentice, and leader. The findings of this study reveal that companies do not develop leadership at the same time in all dimensions, which justifies an adjustment in the process of incorporating automation or an improvement program in those dimensions in which the company has not reached the leader level yet. Additionally, the study relates that the weakest automation processes in most companies are related to intelligent operations, intelligent products, and intelligent factory.