Mass customisation of flat knitted fashion products : simulation of the co-design process

• In 1995, the Japanese manufacturer Shima Seiki introduced the first complete garment knitting machine capable of producing a ready-made flat knitted article under the trade name WholeGarment. Recently, the company also developed a co-design software tool, Ordermade WholeGarment®, for the customisation of knitted fashion garments. Factory Boutique Shima, their retail shop for on-demand production of customised knitted garments, makes it possible for clients to modify a knitted garment according to personal taste in style, colour, pattern and size. This study examines how such a process streamlines the interaction between customer and shop personnel, while expediting the programming of the knitting machine. In comparing the manual co-design process with the Ordermade WholeGarment® system, we used a computer simulation to analyse the efficiency and lead times of each concept. The case study method was employed with an inductive approach based on company visits and interviews.

Nyckelord

knitting technology

mass customisation

co-design

complete garment

simulation

fashion design

Textiles

Knitting technology

Mass customisation

Textil och mode (generell)

Textiles and Fashion (General)

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)