Industries in many parts of the world today have evolved as a result of rapid
advancement in information and manufacturing technologies. In Ghana, the product
manufacturing subsector, of which the fashion industry is a part, has also continued to
evolve just as the technological advancement progresses. As a result, companies
(fashion houses) are consistently looking for innovative ways to adapt to the evergrowing demands of consumer’s trendy wear. In view of the fact that the world is
experiencing low growth in the global economy, the fashion industry, realizing this, has
adopted smart manufacturing to enable it to maintain its relevance in the global
economy. Thus, smartening up factories is crucial in this era of industrial revolutions.
The traditional methods of operation by the fashion industry continue to fade as ecommerce booms. There is a need for the fashion industry to evolve by adopting smart
manufacturing, which may help the textile and garment industries become more
environmentally responsible and efficient, as well as boost business output and
efficiency by equipping “smart factories” with automated processes and technological
advancements. The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature on key areas of
smart manufacturing for fashion firms. It has been revealed in the chapter that the
projected advantages of the fourth industrial revolution are being fulfilled by smart
manufacturing projects. By integrating digital technologies with traditional automated
manufacturing processes, the manufacturing industry is projected to see a new growth
trajectory. More so, the smart factory can actively participate in the transition of
industries by utilizing the internet, data analytics, and sensors. This will eventually lead
to technological advancement at all stages of the manufacturing process. However, not
every firm will be able to balance the benefits of upgrading technology, installing
security systems, and retraining workers against the associated costs. Making a factory
smart requires input from many departments within a firm, but ultimately, the decision
must be taken on an accurate assessment of its financial viability for the facility or
business model in question.
Keywords: Augmented reality, Artificial intelligence, Fashion firms, IoT, Virtual reality, Smart manufacturing.
