The textile industry is a traditional pillar industry and a civilian production industry in China's national economy. It is also an industry with obvious international competitive advantages. It plays an important role in prospering the market, expanding exports, absorbing employment, increasing farmers' income, and promoting urbanization.

The lower input level determines that the level of informatization in the domestic textile and garment industry is generally low. In addition, domestic IT vendors cannot fully meet the needs of enterprise information.

The textile industry is a traditional pillar industry and a civilian production industry in China's national economy. It is also an industry with obvious international competitive advantages. It plays an important role in prospering the market, expanding exports, absorbing employment, increasing farmers' income, and promoting urbanization. As one of the first industries in China to achieve marketization and market competition, the informationization of the textile industry started early and has a broad application base.

However, the characteristics of geography, industry, enterprise differences and development imbalance determine the diversity of the information needs of China's textile industry, the gradual progress of the steps and the arduous implementation process. Not long ago, in an interview, Wu Di, deputy director of the China Textile Economic Research Center, said: "From the overall analysis, the information level of the textile industry is in the middle of China's manufacturing industry."

Low input restricts informationization and realizes its potential

At the end of 2008, AMT Consulting's Garment Enterprise Research Center conducted a survey on the informationization status of more than 500 apparel companies in China. The results show that about 90% of enterprises are trying to build their own information platform and try to rely on the advantages of information platform. To reduce production costs, shorten the reaction cycle or strengthen terminal control capabilities; the remaining companies are also thinking about how to use information technology to improve performance and management.

However, Ge Xing, director of the apparel industry of AMT Consulting, told reporters that from the perspective of the proportion of information investment and sales revenue of domestic apparel companies, 85% of enterprises are less than 1%, and 10% of enterprises have reached 1%-2%. 5% of companies reach more than 2%. The investment in informationization of foreign clothing enterprises must reach at least 2% of sales revenue, and leading enterprises even reach 5%-10%. "The lower input level determines that the level of informatization in the domestic textile and garment industry is generally low, and the status of informatization construction is not satisfactory," said Ge Xing.

The reporter learned in the interview that the application of information technology in the textile industry is mainly reflected in computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), management information systems (including manufacturing resource planning, enterprise resource planning, etc.), information networks and e-commerce, Supply chain management, automatic monitoring system for textile electronic equipment, automatic control system, etc.

Although many textile companies have recognized the importance of information technology, the potential of information technology has not been maximized. According to Xin Xiaojian, industry director of the clothing business department of UFIDA Software Industry and Pre-sales Consulting Headquarters, compared with electronics and automobile industries, the overall level of informationization in the textile industry is still very low. Enterprise informatization is mainly concentrated on the primary aspects, such as finance, OA (office software) and so on. The use of fully integrated informatization software like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is still very low. Even if it is used, it is “fragmented” and there is no “information island” without integrating information.

Wu Di told reporters that in terms of the status quo of informationization in the textile industry, there are mainly four problems: First, enterprises have serious shortage of funds for informationization; second, there is a serious shortage of enterprise information talents; Software products suitable for industrial applications; Fourth, the lack of information technology construction master plan.

In this regard, Wu Fugen, general manager of Shanghai Huansi Information Technology Co., Ltd. stressed that adhering to the integration of the two industries and accelerating the construction of information technology is an inevitable choice for China's textile industry, and also a key link to promote the adjustment of its industrial structure and enhance its international competitiveness.

Wu Fugen believes that textile industry enterprises must have insights into diversified markets and be good at forecasting. The innovation ability of textile industry enterprises is reflected in production management efficiency, cost control ability, rapid response capability, market operation capability, etc., which must be based on information technology.

Only by using information technology, the textile industry can standardize R&D, production, marketing and management, carry out comprehensive scientific management, strengthen communication between horizontal departments, and integrate vertical and downstream supply chains to enhance the management level of enterprises. Establish and improve the standardized management system of enterprises and enhance their competitiveness.