North West Advanced Apparel Systems Centre
(January 2002-December 2004)

Our Aim

To create opportunities for SMEs in the North West (Objective 2 areas) to design and manufacture high value, high performance textile/clothing products, exploiting expertise in the HEIs and in associated large companies.

Objectives

The project seeks to enhance business to business links between large corporations (providing equipment and manufacturing technology), HEIs (providing specialist areas of expertise) and clothing/textile SMEs by:

1. enhancing supply chain effectiveness by harnessing new technologies;
2. bringing innovative products to market;
3. improving SME production processes.

Focus of Interest

The project has been stimulated by the decline of the textile/clothing sector operating in traditional markets, and an awareness that products based on technical textiles and high performance clothing offer companies in the North West a profitable future. In order to realise the potential benefits, supply chains need to be more flexible and responsive, technology gaps need to be closed and more efficient procedures of product development need to be implemented. Key implications of an earlier study of the North West sector were:

1. Production should move into higher-quality and higher value-added products with demand-oriented production and delivery systems;
2. Investments in technology and integrated supply systems are needed;
3. The adoption of technical textiles and high performance products will require innovative approaches in organisation and will benefit from external facilitation and support;
4. Operator and management development related to the new technologies and delivery systems is required.
5. To exploit the regional concentration, new forms of collaboration and co-operation are desirable

Two earlier successful projects worked towards achieving these objectives. Both involve the collaboration of the Manchester Metropolitan University and the Bolton Institute. Expertise in these institutions relate to the technology of textile materials and garment construction and a wide range of management skills relevant to product development and supply chain management. The technology emphasis was led by the Bolton Institute. The NW Advanced Clothing Web (based at MMU) sought to improve supply chain effectiveness by promoting business partnerships.

The most recent project had the following major deliverables:

• Assisting 40 SMEs, 12 new companies, 2 spin-out companies
• Supporting the completion and bringing to market of 23 new products/processes
• 2 Teaching Company Schemes, 40 skilled work placements
• Creating 60 additional jobs, protecting 45 jobs
• Increased sales of £10m, safeguarded sales of £75m.

The project commenced on 1 January 2002 (funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the overall management of the Contact Partnership) and was completed on 31 December 2004. We achieved our deliverables and have submitted a proposal for follow-on activity. However, funding has not yet been secured.

Contact: David J. Tyler (0161-247-2636, email: d.tyler@mmu.ac.uk)
Web site: http://www.hollings.mmu.ac.uk/~dtyler/