Sustainable Transformation: Leveraging Lean Manufacturing
for Digital Readiness in the UK Textile Industry
This project aims to demonstrate how Lean Manufacturing principles can lay the foundation for digital and green transformation in the UK textile industry. By investigating companies at different digital readiness levels, it will identify key challenges in traditional manufacturing and highlight potential productivity, cost, and sustainability gains. This work will pave the way for future data collection on carbon footprints and resource efficiencies, while also enhancing the knowledge and skills needed within the industry, thereby informing policy on support for UK textile manufacturing. The project addresses the industry's historical struggles with innovation due to economic pressures, perceived risks, and a lack of expertise, providing a pathway toward sustainable growth and efficiency.
Project lead: Dr Jo Conlon
Job title: Senior Lecturer in Fashion Business and Technology and Programme Director for postgraduate taught fashion programmes
Organisation: University of Manchester
Additional Partners:
- Bill Macbeth - Textile Centre of Excellence (TCoE)
- Dr Albachiara Boffelli - Assistant Professor, Sustainable and Global Supply Management (University of Bergamo)
- Ms Beatrice Colombo - Research Fellow in Smart Lean & Sustainable Manufacturing (University of Bergamo)
- Ms Maria Sofia Pugliese - Adjunct Professor, Department of Management, Information and Production Engineering (University of Bergamo)
- Mr Filippo Visintin - Associate Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
Project timeline: 1st October 2024 - 31st March 2025
Duration: 6 months