World Journal of Textile Engineering and Technology , 39

World Journal of Textile Engineering and Technology, 2020, 6, 39-51 39

E-ISSN: 2415-5489/20 © 2020 Scientific Array

Application of Internet of Things in Smart Textile and Apparel Manufacturing

Amruta V. Puranikmath and K. Murugesh Babu*

Department of Textile Technology and Research Centre, Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Davangere – 577004, Karnataka, India

Abstract: This paper deals with the application and implementation of IoT towards development of Smart textiles which include real-time operation within the industry and smart fabrics. IoT in textile manufacturing holds promise of potential positive impact with automated processes, higher output, predictability in production and maintenance, as well as new business models. The scope of IoT features a various range of improvements within Textile based Wearable System Technology, Biosensors, Cloud Computing, Communication Framework, Textile industry automation where computers, software, and data are an instrumental part of the assembly process. IoT based devices, sensors, smart machinery, and pieces of apparatus communicate through industry LAN and wireless communication systems. Their better-control at various levels provides smarter services, high reliability, high availability, safe & resilience to failure, early detection of issues. Within the textile industry, nowadays, modern technology is changing the state of producing due to Industry 4.0’s rise which has allowed manufacturers to stay up with market changes and consumer demand. The IoT enables communication within the process, products, and services to people around the globe.

Keywords: Communication system, Internet of Things, Sensors, Smart clothing, Smart manufacturing.

1. INTRODUCTION

Textile is a very diverse industry and with a transformation and advancements in digital technology, textile companies have the opportunity to achieve Industry 4.0 leadership and deliver automated control over the entire textile fabrication processes. Mainly with the event of technologies like IoT and computing, it has been able to perform a high degree of automation over the whole textile fabrication process right from fibre, fabric, design, fabric creation to finishing [1]. Since clothing is one amongst the fundamental needs in life, now it is transforming from basic textiles to smart clothing where it can communicate through IoT.

IoT is the network of physical devices that connects everything that can communicate without requiring human to human or human to computer interaction. It enables objects to be sensed and controlled remotely [2] and now it is used in the textile and garment industries in an efficient way to develop E-Textiles and control manufacturing processes [3].

In the IoT system, both hardware and software are used to achieve their objectives. Sensors are fixed to the gadgets from which the data can be collected and exchanged, where each thing is identifiable through its embedded computing system [2]. For example, in factories, large pieces of machinery would be connected to computers and mobiles so they will be

*Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Textile Technology and Research Centre, Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Davangere – 577004, Karnataka, India; E-mail: [email protected]

easily controlled and operated just with a tap on Smartphones. This can make the entire production plant automated (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Internet of Things.

["Internet of Things: Connected world, its all about IoT", theiotacademy, 2020. Available: https://www.theiotacademy.co/blog/internet-of-things-connected-world].

2. INDUSTRY EVOLUTION

Industries evolve along four distinct trajectories-radical, progressive, creative, and intermediating-that set boundaries on what will generate profits in a business. For hundreds of years, goods including food, clothing, houses, and weaponry were manufactured by hand or with the assistance of labour and animals. By the start of the 19th century, manufacturing began to

40 World Journal of Textile Engineering and Technology, 2020, Vol. 6 Puranikmath and Babu

alter drastically with the introduction of Industry 1.0, and operations started rapidly developing [3].

Figure 2: Industrial Evolution.

["Simio's 8 Reasons to Adopt Industry 4.0", Newswire.com, 2020. Available: https://www.newswire.com/news/simios-8-reasons-to-adopt-industry-4-0-20431686].

Industry 1.0-- In the early 1800s, water and steam powered machines were produced to help workers [3, 4].

Industry 2.0-- By the beginning of the 20th century, electricity became the main source of power. It was more comfortable to use than water and steam enabled industries to concentrate energy sources on individual machines [3]. Ultimately, machines were designed with their power sources, making them more portable [4].

Industry 3.0-- At the end of the 20th century, the discovery and production of electronic devices, such as the transistor and, later, computer circuit chips, made it possible to fully automate individual machines to improve or replace operatives [3, 4].

Industry 4.0-- In the 21st century, it combines the internet of things (IoT) with manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence to enable systems to share information, and examine it which uses to guide intelligent actions [3, 4] (Figure 2).

3. INTERNET OF THINGS IN TEXTILES

IoT in textile manufacturing holds promise of potential positive impact with automated processes, higher output, predictability in production and maintenance, as well as new business models. The IoT-based garments can potentially have a high influence on combining functionality and the pleasure.

Hence, balancing fashion, engineering, communication, user experience, cyber security, design, and science is an essential task [5]. Nowadays, rapid merging of textiles and electronics is enabling seamless and extensive integration of sensors into textiles and the development of conductive yarns, which can communicate with smartphones to process biometric data such as heart rate, temperature and many more are introduced in every required field. Thus the potential of smart fabrics is rapidly increasing [6].

Figure 3: IoT based wearables and garments.

[Fernández-Caramés, Tiago & Fraga-Lamas, Paula, Towards The Internet of Smart Clothing: A Review on IoT Wearables and Garments for Creating Intelligent Connected E-Textiles, 7. 405. 10.3390/electronics7120405 (2018)].

3.1. IoT in Smart Clothing

Smart clothes are created by inserting smart wearables into garments. Clothing can adjust to our daily lifestyle, thus it's a powerful applicant to fit between the interface and digital world, replacing smartphones and other portable connected devices. Textiles are the ultimate wearable medium where the physics of fabrics and the power of flexible electronics are a perfect match: these are flexible, adaptable and usually in direct contact with the body [31]. Besides, smart shirts are can track more accurate biometric signals [5] (Figure 3).

3.2. IoT Implementation in Smart Clothing

3.2.1. Communications Architecture

A garment should be composed of most basic subsystems to become part of the future Internet-of-

Application of Internet of Things in Smart Textile and Apparel Manufacturing World Journal of Textile Engineering and Technology, 2020, Vol. 6 41

Smart-Clothing. The subsystems communicate either wirelessly or by conductive materials. Here interconnection subsystem interrogated with textiles is important because of its authenticity, washable, wearable, and miniature in size. The traditional method requires more power and it was expensive, thus embedding conductive yarns into a smart garment, eliminates the need for designing by saving some energy and cost. However conductive fabrics also support seamless and huge integration of sensors into textiles [5].

• A communication gateway collects information from smart garments through the Internet and further provides the collected information to remote devices by cloud servers and a blockchain. It can also process the collected data and further responds to the smart garments.

• A collected data is stored in cloud servers, provided through certain smart garments to remote users e.g., doctors or nurses that need to access the stored information of their patients.

• A blockchain: It is the essential functioning unit in a smart clothing system; it enables repetition, data security, and trustworthiness of the system. Moreover, it automates certain tasks according to detected issues.

The communication architecture system is divided into three layers.

Body Area Network (BAN)

The components cover a really short area that is sufficient for a human body [5]. Here the components are dispersed throughout the human body wherever they are required but they are embedded into fabric material known as Wearable BAN (WBAN). In some cases, such components are placed inside the body for better information this is known as Implantable BAN (IBAN). Each smart garment collects data and stores in a common connected network.

Personal Area Network (PAN) or Local Area Network (LAN)

The components of this network collect data from smart garments and stores them in a cloud or remote server and these communications are operated wirelessly thus it is known as Wireless PANs. PANs are Bluetooth, which are usually shorter ranges i.e., up to 10 m. Wireless LANs (WLANs) are Wi-Fi type. It provides an interlocking network where smart garments

communicate with the objects and machines that surround them.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

These components cover a large area and act as public networks that support a distributed base. WAN’s essential application is in IoT, AI [5] for critical infrastructures, and industrial areas. Their services are provided through an internal LAN (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Communication architecture of smart garment.

[Fernández-Caramés, Tiago & Fraga-Lamas, Paula, Towards The Internet of Smart Clothing: A Review on IoT Wearables and Garments for Creating Intelligent Connected E-Textiles, 7. 405. 10.3390/electronics7120405 (2018)].

3.2.2. Sensing System

The sensor subsystem is composed of various types of sensors (Figure 5) that monitor diverse phenomena and events around them. Different types of sensors are:

Motion, Gesture, and Position Sensors

These sensors are embedded in the smart garments to detect the action of people or animals around the wearer. Different types of sensors used are accelerometers and gyroscopes, barometers, tilt-switches, vibration sensors, or pedometers [6]. Sensors


based on infrared or ultrasound and are usually used to determine the proximity of the things around them.

Figure 5: Sensing system in smart clothing.

["Wearing the future - Imgne", Imgne, 2020. [Online]. Available: http://imgne.com/2015/03/wearing-the-future/].

Body Temperature

The most commonly used sensors to measure body temperature are thermistors or Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs), these sensors collect information from a particular part of the body [6].

Environmental Sensors

These sensors measure environmental parameters such as air temperature, light (e.g., Light-Dependent Resistors (LDRs), photodiodes), Ultraviolet light, noise (e.g., microphones, speech recognition sensors), humidity and the presence of certain gases (e.g., CO or CO2), atmospheric pressure, and the presence of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive substances, altitude and many more.

Vital Sign Rates

These sensors monitor health factors like heart rate, respiration rate, (Figure 6) blood pressure, blood leakage, pulse oxygenation, glucose levels, galvanic skin response or electro dermal activity and sensors are also used to obtain electrocardiograms (ECGs) and electroencephalography (EEGs) where the sensors are embedded at a particular body to collect data and the collected data is monitored by doctors who look after them.

Location Sensors

They are devices are used to measure displacement in the position of a body [6]. They detect

touch sense through mechanical switches or switch-tactile sensors through capacitive or resistive touch screens (Figure 7). There also exist textile switches,

Figure 6: Sensors for health monitoring.

["Mobile Devices and Health | NEJM", New England Journal of Medicine, 2020. Available: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/ 10.1056/NEJMra1806949].

Figure 7: Supercapacitor Fabrics.

[C. Shen, Y. Xie, B. Zhu, M. Sanghadasa, Y. Tang and L. Lin, "Wearable woven supercapacitor fabrics with high energy density and load-bearing capability", Scientific Reports, vol. 7, no. 1, 2017. 10.1038/s41598-017-14854-3].


fabric/laser keyboards, and even 2D touchpad. This sensor can also be used to detect the presence or absence of an object.

Surrounding Objects Sensor

These sensors detect objects that surround the wearer, for example, Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), and infrared cameras are used to recognize these objects. Similarly, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) and Near Field Communication (NFC) reader are embedded into a smart garment to collect data from a certain distance [6].

4. INTERNET OF THINGS IN SMART TEXTILES

4.1. Volt Smart Yarns

Hickory, N.C.-based stretch yarn specialist Supreme Corporation has developed highly engineered composite material called Volt Smart Yarns. These are highly resistant, durable and now are implemented into a variety of areas including military equipment (Figure 8), healthcare and sportswear.

Figure 8: VOLT conductive fabric for Body armor.

[S. Zopf and M. Manser, "Screen-printed Military Textiles for Wearable Energy Storage", Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics, vol. 11, no. 3, p. 155892501601100, 2016. Available: 10.1177/155892501601100303.].

Volt is thread-bonded material with conductive property; act as sensor woven into fabrics to create the ability to monitor health and movement in living beings. Particularly it is developed for defense materials where the incidents, actions are recorded by these elements, and details are sent automatically to the required station. Furthermore, its applications are in space crafts to track the satellite movement and GPS location, body

temperature, flame-resistant fabrics [7]. Volt NASA sensors are embedded into astronauts’ fabrics to keep a track on them. These also act as a sensor, an on/off switch or a medical device, an antenna, or a speaker. Volt Wearable Tech blends electronics and textiles in new configurations to develop highly capable products for its customers that are transforming the world into IoT-enabled clothing [8].

4.2. LOOMIA Smart Fabric

LOOMIA an electronic layer with a soft flexible circuit is embedded into textile material that can heat, light, sense, and track data, by fusing with the user’s chosen material. These are soft, durable, flexible, customizable, and lightweight materials applied in several areas like automobile interiors, household appliances, smart textiles and heating panels [9].

LOOMIA Electronic Layer technology allows itself to connect to a car’s electrical system or household appliances through IoT [9]. It is compatible with any textile product with good sewing or bonding techniques. This heating panel is blended under any textile material to make it flexible and soft, customizable options like size, shape, power requirements, temperature, and selected heated areas (Figure 9).

Figure 9: LOOMIA Electronic Fabric.

["Loomia's Madison Maxey shows us the building blocks of future smart clothing", Wareable, 2020. Available: https://www.wareable.com/smart-clothing/loomia-new-lab-visit-778].

4.3. AVERY DENNISON Smart Tags

AVERY DENNISON is a manufacturing company that produces display graphics, labeling and packaging materials, retail graphic embellishments, and RFID tags, the companies around the world use these tags to engage consumers and efficiently maintain inventories.


This company was partnered with Rochambeau and EVRYTHNG to create a bomber jacket embedded with an NFC chip known as Bright BMBR and these developed personalized QR codes on the textile materials to communicate with consumers (Figure 10). Later, Avery Dennison and EVRYTHNG with Rebecca Mink launched smart bags where exclusive offers, e-commerce services, private styling sessions with Rebecca, style recommendations, video content, etc. are received by scanning the bag [10, 17].

Figure 10: Smart Tags in AVERY DENNISON.

["Bright BMBR Smart Jacket Debuts at Decoded Fashion Summit", brandchannel: 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.brandchannel.com/2016/11/04/bright-bmbr-smart-jacket-110416/].

4.4. POLAR TEAM PRO Smart Shirt

Polar Team Pro Shirt is a smart shirt with integrated sensors built for athletes to monitor heart rate and player tracking GPS sensor located on the upper back for optimal response. These record accurate data as they are next to skin, which ensures free movement on the field and the specific body moisture system keeps players cool [11]. This also prevents the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays so players can focus on the game [17] (Figure 11).

4.5. Authentication of Cloth by IoT

Smart clothing help to authenticate products and fight to counterfeit. This is an important case for combining IoT into fashion [12]. Barcodes and other two-dimensional code labels are used to build a brand’s product catalog by customized QR codes, RFIDs, and other unique product identifiers [12]. These technologies are cost-effective and sensors on these products are more feasible and flexible [17] (Figure 12).

They allow customers and retailers to quickly check on the authentication labels of IoT enabled clothing and handbags, sunglasses, watches, shoes, etc. which consist of scannable and readable physical product markers to maintain a digital record of fashion products.

Figure 11: Polar team pro smart shirt.

[F. Caro and R. Sadr, "The Internet of Things (IoT) in retail: Bridging supply and demand", Business Horizons, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 47-54, 2019. Available: 10.1016/j.bushor.2018.08.002].

Figure 12: Authentication of cloth by IoT.

["A FashionTech Platform for Fashion Designers and Brands", AuthenticOrNot. Available: https://www.authenticornot.com/].

4.6. SYGNAL - Smart Fitness T-Shirt with Navigation

Christened Signal Fitness T-shirt is not like any other garment. It pairs up with an app to tell the user exactly the number of steps walked, the number of


floors climbed, and the number of calories user has burnt. Additionally, it also helps to navigate in and around town without having to resort to maps or the navigation on the phone [13]. It will simply vibrate on the shoulder to tell the user the direction he should be going in. It is completely waterproof and pretty fashionable, t-shirt that can be worn practically everywhere - home, office, gym, an evening out with friends [17] (Figure 13).

Figure 13: SYGNAL smart t-shirt.

["LED Tshirt | Custom light up LED T Shirts | programmable Led T-Shirt | Washable Digital Led T shirt | equalizer Tshirts- Getsygnal", Getsygnal.com. Available: http://www.getsygnal.com/].

5. IoT IN TEXTILE MANUFACTURING

5.1. Conventional Textile Process

The textile manufacturing process is executed using a wide range of machines such as spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing, and fabric manufacturing. It is process-based, where every single stage has the potential to influence productivity and profitability [14]. It needs intense monitoring at every stage of the process and requires an Integrated system to measure the exact details of each machine [15] (Figure 14).

5.2. Smart Manufacturing in Textiles

Textile manufacturers know the influence of technology in every unit. This is the phase when traditional manufacturing processes are getting integrated with smart technology [23]. The industrial machines process with sensors and actuators that connect to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to connect to other important industrial networks that independently generates value. Every manufacturing unit requires modified equipment and machines with pre-designed ERP and MES [23] (Figure 15). IIoT is

found to be a gateway between the computing technologies, cloud, mobile machine learning, and industrial infrastructure to help industries promote productivity and efficiency, these are the uniform mass networks, sensors, operating equipment, and devices collect information from the devices to analyze, monitor and maintain high performance, efficiency in industrial applications such as production and maintenance [27]. Further, collected data is directly uploaded to a cloud server through EPC and various communication customs. It is important to use real-time data for the effective decision-making process in textile industries to monitor and receive information at every unit [15, 16] by adopting automation in every section of production right from fiber to fabric industry [17] it needs exact details and absolute accuracy in every unit. So, digitalization is advantageous for the industry as it brings supremacy in stock management, work coordination, human resource management, and operations [30].

5.3. Subsystems Used

5.3.1. Sensors

In Textiles, two types of sensors are used. One is Capacitive Sensor and another is Optical Sensor.

Figure 14: Conventional Textile Process.

[N. Raaz, "Textile Manufacturing Flow Chart", Textile Merchandising, 2020. [Online]. Available: http://textilemerchandising.com/textile-manufacturing-flow-chart/].


Again, Optical Sensors are divided into two types-

1. One Dimensional Optical Sensor

2. Two Dimensional Optical Sensor

Capacitive Sensors

Capacitive yarn sensors can detect the mass variation of yarn linear density in various types of spinning on the spinning machine. Whenever yarn stops or breaks during the process the sensor detects the variations and informs the automatic control system

of the spinning machine instantly [6]. Thus these capacitive sensors are widely used to determine the production parameters (Figure 16).

Optical Sensors

Optical sensors determine diameter variations with non-contact optical sensors that are used in different types of winding, twisting, spinning, and texturing machines. The dimensional sensor’s observation capacity is similar to a human eye, where it can be effectively used to determine the morphology and the visual appearance of yarn. Other major sensors used are Proximity Sensors, Inductive Sensors, Namur Sensors, Field Plate/Hall Sensors, Photo Electric Sensors [6] (Figure 17).

Figure 17: Optical Sensor.

[Iliev, Trayan and Plamen Danailov. “Optical Sensors for Control in Textile Industry.” (2014)].

5.3.2. IoT Networks

IoT Network uses a Wi-Fi model, using this model the real time values are uploaded to the cloud. Cloud is nothing but a virtual memory, which stores huge amount of data [18].

Figure 18: System diagram for real-time monitoring system.

["Real time processing - Azure Architecture Center", Docs.microsoft.com, 2020. Available: https://docs.microsoft. com/en-us/azure/architecture/data-guide/big-data/real-time-processing.].

Figure 15: Smart manufacturing in Textile industry.

[M. GmbH, "Targets and Requirements - Metrologia industriale Mahr", Mahr.com. Available: https://www.mahr.com/it/Servizi/Metrologia-industriale/Know-how/Industry-4.0/Targets-and-Requirements/].

Figure 16: Capacitive Sensor.

[“Application of Sensor Technology in Textiles”, https://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2013/05/application-of-sensor-technology-in.html (2020)].


The development of real-time controlled monitoring system model can control specific machines by the data given from sensors through the internet (Figure 18). The real time controlled monitoring system is connected to internet via Wi-Fi, through a computer, smartphone, tablet or any other device with internet access [19]. In order to perform this connection, it is necessary to fetch real-time values using Real-Time Controller, later based on the real time values the monitoring system is operated at a specified time. Once this information is uploaded and saved, then the monitoring system get access to internet, from which user can control the monitoring system and this process is done in principle via the internet [2].

5.3.3. IoT in Process and Control Units

a) Spinning

The spinning process includes different intermediate processes such as – Bale Inventory Warehouse, Blow Room, Lap Winder, Carding, Comber, Pre-Draw frame, Drawframe, Roving Frame, Ring Spinning/Speed Frame/OE spinning, winding, and TFO (Figure 19). The data is collected across all these processes in real-time interfaced with the ERP system to control the production and quality and ensure the scheduling system [21]. The IoT integration is supporting this unit to highlight the weak points during the process to reduce the downtime and to improve the quality.

Figure 19: Spinning unit overview.

[B. K, "The interoperable systems in textile industry – The role of IoT. - Elmeasure Blog”, Available: https://blog.elmeasure.com/inviting-the-interoperability-to-textile-industry-the-role-of-iot/].

Drones are also used to examine the Spinning unit, this reduces paperwork due to automated data

collection, decision making, scheduling, and logistics [1, 20]. Thus overall automation within the spinning unit improves productivity/efficiency of the workforce and quality [21].

b) Weaving

Processes in the weaving sections like sectional warping, sizing, weavers beam stock, weaving loom (Figure 20), loom shed of variety looms of different make, configurations, versions, and customizations [1] are monitored and synchronized with all the manufacturing and logistics activities.

Figure 20: Weaving process with IoT.

[Zhen Chen and Mingjie Xing, “Upgrading of textile manufacturing based on Industry 4.0”, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Advanced Design and Manufacturing Engineering (ICADME 2015), pp.2143-2146 (2015)].

Drone through IoT-enabled automation accumulates real-time data, through an optimized production schedule, real-time visibility of the manufacturing process, and automatic data collection [1] from yarn purchasing and inventory to the shipment of the finished fabric [21]. These drones monitor production, analytics, bench-marking, scheduling, yarn inventory management, and ticket printing (Figure 21).

c) Chemical Processing

The chemical processing unit includes processes such as Batching, Desizing, Dyeing, Printing, Sanforisation, Singeing, Stenter, and Mercerization. Here automatic monitors regulate the number of beams produced, production efficiency, recipe management, production, machine monitoring, and downtime, and calculating machine health, specific energy consumption per kg of yarn, or fabric [21]. The highlight of the IoT solution helps to keep up with trends evolving concerning to meet the needs of customers.


However, it builds a high-quality process that result in high-quality products [1].

Figure 21: Drone architecture for IoT service.

[T. Lagkas, V. Argyriou, S. Bibi and P. Sarigiannidis, "UAV IoT Framework Views and Challenges: Towards Protecting Drones as “Things”", Sensors, vol. 18, no. 11, p. 4015, 2018. Available: 10.3390/s18114015].

d) Apparel Industry

The apparel industry is transforming into superiority. The IoT and AI are applied in preproduction, production, and postproduction to balance between consumers and manufacturers to meet their needs and to drive the process and production to a higher level [22].

Inventory Management

IoT technology such as sensors, smart ridges, and doors, automaton picking vehicles, etc. provides a transparent, real-time model of the stocks that provide accurate inventory with clear visibility of the particular product. Using IoT, manufacturers can trace customer needs and can work on retail orders to improve efficiency [22].

Process Efficiency

Process efficiency can be improved by IoT applications in apparel manufacturing. Connected devices output with all the information recorded in real-time is received by workers to maintain time to complete work orders, this information can also be accessed by floor managers regularly. This helps managers to track work, document it, and use it with wearable technology which provides information anywhere, anytime [22].

Asset Monitoring

IoT monitors various types of equipment and machinery in the apparel manufacturing industry. This helps manufacturers monitor and track production assets such as location monitoring, quality, performance, irregularities, bottlenecks, and many more these all are connected to RFID, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, where manufacturers can access assets and take proactive steps to secure maximum performance [22].

Process Automation

In the manufacturing unit, some processes are extremely time-consuming. With IoT and robotics, at every stage one can achieve significant automation and reduce downtime, labor intensity, control processing time and errors, and improve work conditions. Self-driving vehicles, and sorting and picking devices can transport items to the right shelves, while significantly reducing manual effort and increasing production speed and this can reduce costs and improve the process [22].

Supply Chain Management

In the apparel industry, quick delivery of products can be achieved by shortening lead time. Real-time information collected from every department can be accessed by everyone. IoT allows companies to increase speed, supply chain efficiency and manage all the processes seamlessly by integrating the entire processes by carrying out tasks like materials sourcing, technical design, samples, production, and physical shipping [22].

Real-Time Feedback

Real-time feedback for defects or damaged goods is received through connected devices on the manufacturing shop floor in the apparel organization. The errors detected in early-stage are fixed quickly with less impact on the delivery, thus IoT in real-time management helps to save money and eliminate waste, facilitate faster, proactive, and transparent communication, replenish stock and optimize business [22].

Change Management

IoT makes customized and personalized apparel designs easily possible for apparel manufacturers to design and produce customized products according to


customer’s tastes and needs. Real-time data and feedback from customer preferences allow manufacturers to produce superior designs by instantly reviewing changes, trends, and improve quality by minimizing unnecessary waste and error before finalizing the products [22].

5.3.4. IoT in Management Units

Manufacturing Execution System (Figure 22) is a computerized system used in manufacturing, to track and document the conversion of raw materials to finished goods. This enables managers to achieve an operational result through IoT integration with real-time, improves production and quality [20], scheduling on all machines even including air jet texturizing machines [21]. Yarn monitoring sensors assure 100% quality without the downtime and inaccurate laboratory tests. These provide solutions to different energy consumption factors such as electricity, gas, compressed air, water, steam, etc., by saving 3% to 7% unit of energy [23, 1].

Figure 22: IoT solution in MES.

["Manufacturing Boom and MES - 2WTech", 2WTech, Available: https://2wtech.com/manufacturing-boom-and-mes/].

5.3.5. IoT in Enterprise Units

An enterprise resource planning system (ERP) is the information source of a company, which automates all business operations of the textile companies with strategic management. It can achieve the goals set by the company. If in any case those ERP packages that do not meet the requirements of the company, they are eliminated (Figure 23). Here, to compare the ERP system solutions, they use the analytic hierarchy

process, an extension of the multi-criteria decision-making technique AHP. These methodologies are applied to a textile manufacturing company to improve productivity [20, 24].

Figure 23: IoT solution in ERP.

[M. Intelligence, M. Services and M. Integration, "MES ERP Integration | DMC, Inc.", Available: https://www.dmcinfo.com/ services/manufacturing-automation-and-intelligence/ manufacturing-execution-systems-services/mes-erp-integration].

It is a Horizontal integration across value networks with end-to-end digital integration across the value chain in networked production systems. Industry 4.0 leads the industries towards modularization, automation in the production process, and supply chain which will improve the production process and quality of the materials [22, 24].

6. ADVANTAGES OF IoT

6.1. Security

IoT provides safety and security to the business premises. In industries, they have additional security other than the general needs. But these devices can monitor regularly and notify safety indicators to check and track the illness and injury to avoid all kinds of accidents [23] to provide a safe and healthy environment in industries [21, 25].

6.2. Automation of Processes

Most of the processes can be automized with the help of [21] smart sensors, networks, that are


connected to a cloud system that offers control over every process. This will decrease the manpower required for such tasks [25].

6.3. Maintenance

To reduce low-quality production and machine breakdowns the IoT sensors are connected to the machines for predicting the issues and maintenance alerts that gives warnings to help take necessary actions [21, 25].

6.4. Smart Vehicles

These IoT enabled vehicles will have GPS enabled location detection feature that helps them to detect traffic in their way to reach their destination smoothly in a short time [21, 25].

6.5. Easy Quality Control

The quality check of the products and processes is required for every industry to reduce waste by correcting the quality issues. IoT sensors can collect data from various machines which help the quality managers to identify the problems with the quick reveal of areas where the process is not properly handled [21, 25].

7. DISADVANTAGES

7.1. Security Vulnerabilities

IoT devices can communicate automatically with each other. The absence of a secure and properly encrypted network leads to brand new security challenges and vulnerabilities like hacking, etc. Standalone security elements should be introduced to eliminate a higher risk of hack attacks or data leaks [26, 27].

7.2. Absence of IoT Standards

Industrial computerized machines operate in industrial and manufacturing settings [26]. In these, various protocols are being utilized and no standardization is ensured [28].

7.3. The Cost of Implementing IoT Solutions

The implementation of IoT infrastructure is not cost-effective. Thus, many companies worry about the return on investment, where the importance of choosing the right IoT solutions comes to the standard of machines for the development of more readily adoptable products [29, 30].

CONCLUSION

Internet of Things is a revolution in the world of information technology (IT). It is developing with many superior facilities by employing the advantages of Wireless Sensors and Actuator Networks by collecting and storing the data. This application is mainly implemented in the healthcare sector, engineering, technology, and fashion. Advancement in smart textiles provides solutions for protective clothing that is developed for defense, assisted living for patients in hospitals. These advantages support the healing process, advance safety measures, comfort and assisted living. Textile Industry receives a great impact from IoT, where the industry parameters like temperature and humidity affect the quality of fabric, thus, they are directly controlled and monitored by visualizing and initiating actions towards condition raised in the particular section.

The Internet of Things connection between devices and systems possesses great potential towards the textile manufacturing. These innovations are driving progressively further and are working towards advancement in IoT-related manufacturing and E-textiles providing automated manufacturing, higher production, and accurate maintenance, superiority in process, reduced cost, comfort and assisted living.

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Received on 20-06-2020 Accepted on 05-07-2020 Published on 16-07-2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31437/2415-5489.2020.06.4

© 2020 Puranikmath and Babu; Licensee Scientific Array. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.

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