Title: Using innovative technology to establish sizing systems

Authors: Chih-Hung Hsu, Mao-Jiun J. Wang

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, ROC

Abstract: Among textile manufacturing industries, garment manufacturing produces products with the highest added value. Because certain standards and specifications must be followed in large-scale production, each country must have its own standard-sizing systems for manufacturers to follow. Data mining is used in many fields but there is a lack of research on sizing systems in garment manufacturing. This study aims to establish such sizing systems using a decision tree-based data mining approach. When sizing systems are established using the innovative technology, three advantages can be seen: resulting in fewer size groups with high coverage; generating regular patterns and rules; providing manufacturers with reference points to facilitate manufacturing. As a result, production planning can be made more realistic and inventory costs due to mismatches can be minimised. The innovative technology is found to be effective in processing classification problems for promoting production planning and management.

Keywords: technological innovation; data mining; sizing systems; garment manufacturing; garment industry; clothing industry; apparel industry; textile industry; production planning; inventory costs; cost reduction; production management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2005.006367

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2005 Vol.2 No.3, pp.233 - 245

Published online: 24 Feb 2005 *

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