Automation is a must, despite challenges
The Indian textile and apparel (T&A) industry, like its global counterparts, faces multiple challenges in maintaining supply chain efficiency. Fluctuating market demands make it difficult for mills to ensure stable fabric production throughout the year. Additionally, rising energy costs, increasing raw material prices, and inefficiencies in production contribute to reduced productivity. Automation can offer a solution to these challenges. By integrating automation, manufacturers can improve production efficiency, ensure consistent quality, and reduce operational costs.
Despite its benefits, integrating automation into the Indian textile industry presents several challenges. The primary hurdle is the high initial investment required for automated machinery. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which form a significant portion of the Indian textile sector, often struggle with capital constraints. Advanced technologies such as robotic looms, automated inspection systems, and AI-driven fabric analysis require substantial upfront costs, making it difficult for smaller players to adopt automation.
Another challenge is the compatibility of existing infrastructure with modern automation systems. Many Indian textile plants operate older machines that are not designed for integration with automated technologies. Upgrading or retrofitting legacy equipment involves additional expenses, including system integration and maintenance costs.
The textile industry deals with diverse fabric types that require flexible automation solutions. Automated defect detection systems must be highly precise to maintain quality standards, and achieving this level of accuracy can be costly.
While challenges exist, the Indian textile industry stands to gain significantly from automation. AI-powered tools enable manufacturers to anticipate market trends, optimise resource utilisation, and produce customised products cost-effectively.
Automation also plays a crucial role in sustainable textile manufacturing. Energy-efficient production methods and waste reduction strategies help lower environmental impact while reducing costs. The textile sector is one of the most energy-intensive industries, making it imperative to adopt technologies that optimise energy consumption. By leveraging automation, textile manufacturers can improve their sustainability efforts while enhancing profitability.
Additionally, India’s textile exports have shown resilience despite global economic uncertainties. With global trade expected to grow, Indian exporters have the opportunity to strengthen their presence in international markets by improving efficiency and ensuring timely delivery through automation.
India is a preferred supplier for brands across the US, EU, and other global markets. However, the industry faces challenges related to pricing competitiveness and extended delivery periods due to insufficient capacity expansion in the past. To remain competitive, India must focus on quality improvement, capacity building, cost reduction, and modernisation of production lines.
The textile industry operates on thin profit margins, making productivity enhancements essential for long-term sustainability. Automation can drive improvements in waste reduction, product specialisation, and quality control, all of which contribute to higher profitability. By combining the right technologies with skilled human resources, the industry can achieve exponential productivity gains.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) projects global trade volumes to rise between 2.7 per cent and 3 per cent in 2025, contingent on geopolitical stability. This growth highlights the need for Indian exporters to adapt to technological advancements and improve operational efficiencies. Though challenges exist, Indian textile and apparel (T&A) manufacturers must embrace automation to scale efficiently and compete globally. By leveraging automation, India can solidify its position as a global textile leader while ensuring sustainability and long-term success.
