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The Textile Institute Information Technology Group has agreed a new strategy which is now in the process of being implemented.

This new strategy is aimed at providing a basis for the improved supply of computer software and systems for the UK textile industry.

The means by which this objective is to be achieved is described below:-

Operating Levels

The operating levels of the group will fulfil the following objectives:-

  • Be Practical

To gain the support of textile companies the group is aimed at achieving practical results of benefit to the manufacturers. This means it has to have a strong domestic base of activities.

  • International Considerations

    To reflect the global activities of modern computing and the business opportunities created, the UK domestic activities should be part of a global network.

    On both levels the group will focus on improving the supply of computer hardware and software to the textile industry. This will bring practical benefits to the textile manufacturers and will enable the group to become a focal point for software and hardware suppliers. The objective of improving hardware and software supply is to be achieved by the assessing computer products aimed at the textile industry and providing a ranking system. This ranking system can then be used by textile companies when they are looking at the selection of new systems.

This accreditation process consists of the two parts:-

Accreditation of software suppliers.

Problems frequently encountered by textile manufacturers when implementing software centre around :-

a. Software functionality

b. Level of textile expertise within the software house

c. Experience of the software house when implementing in the textile industry.

It is envisaged that the Information Technology Group will create a panel of five experts from the textile industry to rank each of the three factors above. This ranking can then be used by the software company for marketing purposes. This is based upon a variation of the Awards principle used by the TI in other areas.

This activity should enable the group to attract textile manufacturers and computer software suppliers. This accreditation system can then be used as an evaluation criteria when textile companies purchase systems.

It is expected that this will create a strong and powerful group with influence in both the textile and computing industries.

Accreditation of hardware suppliers

The accreditation of computer hardware suppliers is more difficult than for software since it is more technical. To follow the same basic principles the following factors can be ranked:-

a. Price

b. Integration capabilities

c. Growth capabilities

This should then attract the support of hardware suppliers.

The activities above should create a strong and powerful group with influence in both the textile and computing industries.

It is envisaged that the Accreditation activities can be on-going activities related to the demand from textile manufacturers and computer suppliers.

Conferences

The accreditation service is to be complimented by holding conferences which will operate on two levels:

  • domestic conferences aimed at primarily UK textile companies
  • international conferences in conjunction with an international network. This conference could become a standard part of The Textile Institute Annual World Conference.

For further information contact Mike Roberts of MRA Consultants, email address mike@mraconsultants.co.uk

  
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