The trends of automation, digitalization, and the application of artificial intelligence are driving forces which can help Vietnamese textile and garment businesses improve labour productivity, meet international standards, and promote sustainable development goals.
The Vietnam Textile and Garment Association (VITAS) in collaboration with the Center for Industrial Development Support under the Department of Industry, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, organized a workshop on “Application of AI and Robotics in the Transformation of Textile and Garment Production”.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Do Nam Binh, Deputy Director of the Industry Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, emphasized that textiles and garments hold a strategic position in the Vietnamese economy, making a significant contribution to export turnover, creating stable jobs for millions of workers, and helping the country participate more deeply in global supply chains and value chains.
Do Nam Binh also pointed out that the textile and garment industry is facing significant changes and challenges. International competition is increasingly intense, while major export markets are imposing stringent requirements not only on price, quality, and delivery schedules, but also on traceability, green development, emission reduction, and social responsibility.
The old growth model, based primarily on abundant labour and low production costs, is gradually revealing its limitations. Therefore, to maintain competitiveness and ensure sustainable development, the textile and garment industry needs to shift from cost advantages to advantages in productivity, technology, quality, and the ability to participate in high value-added stages.
Regarding technological solutions, Do Nam Binh believes that artificial intelligence is not limited to automated production lines or smart factories, but also provides strong support for businesses from product design, market demand forecasting, production planning, material optimization to order management, quality control, and supply chain organization.
In addition, robots and automation solutions are effective in transporting raw materials, cutting, fabric laying, product inspection, and packaging.
However, due to the unique characteristics of the textile and garment industry—with its diverse products, frequently changing orders, and many processes involving soft materials and complex operations—the application of technology needs careful consideration based on the specific needs of each enterprise.
Especially given that the majority of Vietnamese textile and garment businesses are small and medium-sized, technological solutions must be truly suitable to their financial capacity, management skills, and ability to adopt them.
According to him, businesses do not necessarily need to invest in overly large or complex systems immediately; they can start with a specific process or a successful pilot model, then evaluate, learn from experience, and scale up.
In this process, international cooperation plays a crucial role. South Korea possesses extensive experience in industrial development, high-tech application, and the construction of smart manufacturing systems, while Vietnam has a large textile and garment industry and an urgent need for technological innovation.
Do Nam Binh suggested focusing on three key areas: correctly identifying production problems with practical applications, promoting pilot research models between institutes and businesses in both countries, and emphasizing human resource training to master the technology.
Image courtesy: BNews
