Export performance of ready made garments sector of Bangladesh

view with charts and images

Export performance of ready made garments sector of Bangladesh

Executive summary

In the newly created opportunity for doing business in trade, industries and services the private sector was attracted more to export sector. A dynamic and vibrant private sector is crucial to rapid and sustained economic growth as well as the development of export sectors in the era of globalization.

Garments Industry is directly related with Textile, Spinning, Dyeing, Printing and knitting sectors. In Bangladesh there are 3800 Garments factory and 1920 buying houses and more or less near 2000000 (Twenty Lacs) people related with this sector. Bangladesh in not highly developed in garments sector for lacking of appropriate raw materials and modern technology. Now – a – days Bangladesh ‘ can improve this sector gradually. A several number of modern garments industry introduces modern technology with computerized quality control systems which turn this sector in golden future. When the garments business introduce in Bangladesh it was primitive step for industrial sector in there. It was a challenged because in that period a few entrepreneur who had ability but couldn’t brave to take risk. So it was so difficult. Several garments are start their activities by some manual machineries and use of raw hand manpower but now a days it have a huge number of automatic machine and they have the ability to produce a huge number of readymade garments with high quality. In Internship report crack work in several steps.

Now – a – days the scenarios are gradually changed. The foreign human rights organization influences the garments owner and BGMEA to rescue the use of child labor and influence to provide the basic salary up to the international level. That’s why foreign buyer are now interested to enter our market.

In present there are 31% knit export is increased and beside this 13% woven garments export is increased. Now, Our Government is very much alert about the fact and offer various incentive program to the garments manufacturer. The Government also makes anti-rules for using child labor and takes various actions to reduce to the unethical practices in this sector.

Chapter One

1. Origin of the Report

The report title “Export performance of readymade garments sector of Bangladesh” has been prepared as a practical fulfillment of MBA Degree in Daffodil International University. Student are required to undertake and internship program. For this purpose each of there is attached with or organization. During the internship a student has to prepare a report on the organization where he is assigned. Has also to undertake and were of investigation o the organization for detailed study.

The basic purpose of this attachment is to expose the student to the real business world. This exposure acquaints his with the practices of modern business world. This exposure is very helpful is seeing for oneself how things move and to find the gap as well as the similarities between theoretical and practical knowledge.

2. Aim and objectives of the study

The main objectives of this internship report is to provide on “Export performance of readymade garments sector of Bangladesh”

· To know the export performance of Bangladesh garments in international market;

· To identify the difficulties and barriers faced in the international market;

· To identify possible threats to the Bangladesh garments in the international market in near future;

· To identify the opportunities of the Bangladeshi garments that may be realized in the international market.

· To recommend the measurers needed to be taken for increasing the export volume.

· To know the current RMG export status of Bangladesh.

· To full fill the course requirement

3. Methodology

· Bookles and Brchures of BATEXPO’ 2005 held on 29-01- October 2005

· Expolitz.com Garments-Bangladesh (Date as of September 1988)

· www.bgmea.com

· bangladeshgarments.info

· News letter o BGMEA issue March 2005

· www.google.com

· Bangladesh country paper on Ready Made Garments Industry of Bangladesh Presented by: Md. Hossain Ali, Economic Consultant the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

· BBC NEWS World south Asia Bangladesh garments aim to compete.htm

· BGMEA (1996), Booklets and Brochures of BATEXPO’ 96 held on 3-5 October, 1996.

· Siddiqi, H.G.A. (1995), Emerging Competitors and in Global Apparel Markets: Strengths, Weakness, Opp0ortunity and Threat Analysis, Keynote paper presented at the BATEXPO’ 95, October 4-5, 1995.

· International Trade forum-The quarterly magazine of the International Trade Centre Textiles and Garments.htm.

4. Scope of the study

The assigned to do Internship program in “DBL Group” this internship program designed by the school of business Daffodil International University together practical knowledge about overall activities of the DBL group at corporate office Dhaka my project was limited in “Exports Performance of Readymade Garments Sector of Bangladesh. How ever studied all the main functional areas of the company they are: Admin department, Marketing Department and other valuable work in garments factories. Also introduce with companies service polices and program. also observed in interaction general manager with other functional department o the company.

5. Limitations of the study:

From the beginning to end the study has been conducted with the indentation of making it is a complete and truthful one. However many problems appeared in the way of conducting the study. During the study it was not possible to visit the whole area covered by the company although the financial statements and other information regarding the study have been consider.

The study considers followings limitations:

· All the department of corporate office was not physically visited.

· All the concerns personnel of the company have not been interviewed have been assigned to perform internship program Head Office of “DBL Group” in this office export related work are not practiced. This is why acquiring practical knowledge about export activities was not consummated.

Chapter Two

1. History of the Company (DBL Group).

DBL Group is 100% export oriented knit garments manufacturing composite unit. the group is in business since 1991. All the products undergo a stringent quality inspection procedures at each level of production process. The fabrics are Oeko-Tex certified. the company increase domestic production for local consumption as well as fro export. The company fiscal and monetary benefits to attract the investor for Investment in the industrial sector. particularly benefits to attract much emphasis for setting up 100% exports oriented products. Which will contribute to earning/saving the foreign currency of the country.

The garments sector occupies major portion in the economy of Bangladesh. DBL Group in advantage position having cheap & sufficient skill alb our & mechanical personnel. The company good and wide markets un the country as well as worldwide.

2. Product Quality:

In the export market supply of quality product is considered to be prime determinant for successful marketing of the product. It is generally believed that the buyers do not sacrifice quality for the sake of price. As such, quality of the product must be ensured to compete in the export market. The sponsors of the company to remain always conscious about the quality, design etc. of fabrics. To produce quality fabrics they are required to use proper imported and local raw materials, right type machinery and to employ experienced and skilled personnel. The quality control section of the project must be equipped with the required and necessary quality control equipment so that at every stage of production quality of the product may be ensured; otherwise, it may difficult for the project to penetrate their product successfully in the international market unless quality is not maintained properly.

3. The project purposes and designs

DBL Group setting up a Composite Textile Industries consists of Knitting unit, Fabric Dyeing Finishing unit and Garments unit. The project will produce Knitted Fabric, beached Dyed finished Fabrics and Knitwear apparels like as T-Shirt and polo-Shirt in Garments section.

The project has most modem and sophisticated machinery in the section of knitting for producing quality fabrics, most modern and sophisticated machinery also included in the dyeing finishing unit to produce quality product. Finally the fabrics will be using in the garments unit to produce T-Shirt, Polo-shirt and high value knit wear.

4. Product Mix and Production Capacity:

The annual attainable capacity of the proposed project based on three shift operation for Knitting section & Dyeing and Finishing section and one shift operation for Garments section per day and working for 300 days in a year.

The annual saleable product of the proposed project based on three-shift operation per day of 8(eight) hours each shift and working for 300 days in a year both for Knitting and Dyeing & Finishing unit and Garments section is 10 hours per day at 100% capacity.

5. Raw materials

The project will be a Composite unit consisting Knitting unit, Fabric dyeing & finishing unit and Garments unit. The product of spinning unit i.e. 2411, 26/1 & 30/1 combed or material for knitting unit ,Various kinds of Does and Chemicals like as Reactive Dyes, Salt, Caustic Soda, Soda ash, Wax, Hydrogen Per-Oxide, Detergent, Softener agent etc will be the basic raw material for its fabric dyeing and Finishing unit, which will be imported. The Dyed and Bleached fabrics are the basic raw materials of its Garments unit, which will be received from its dyeing and finishing unit.

6. Conclusion & Recommendation:

From the detail analysis it seems that the DBL Group technically feasible, economically & commercially rewarding and financially viable. After implementation of the project will generate direct employment of .25& persons. AI the above measures of investment feasibility of the project indicate that it will be able to generate sufficient revenue from its operation to pay back debt obligation and annual operational expenses. The project is financially desirable & suitable for Bank Financing.

7. Identifying about some Instrument and some information be as follows

 

8. Dyeing & Finishing

9. Management & Organization:

The overall management of the company will be vested with the Board 4f Directors. The Board of Directors will be formulated company’s policies & guide lines for its day to day business operations. The Managing Director will be the executive head who will look after the business affairs and other logistic supports of the economy. However Managing Director will be assisted by the managerial and technical personnel who will be the directors of the company.

ORGANIZATION CHART:

Chapter Three

1. Introduction

The hundred percent export-oriented RMG industries have experienced phenomenal growth during the last 15 years. Within a very short period of time, it has attained great importance in terms of its contribution to GDP, foreign exchange earnings and employment and also as a vehicle of social changes. The export earning data of Bangladesh shows that in 1984-85, ready-made garment sector earned 12.39 %( $116 million) of the total export. This was raised to 36.46 %( $471 million) in 1989-90. This share rapidly went up to 53.36 %( $1064 million) in 1991-92. Surprisingly, the share showed no increase for the last three years. Bangladesh garments products are facing various barriers and difficulties in the international market. Garments’ contribution to the total export earning remained constant at around 52% for the years (52.84%) in 1994-95 and 52.63% in 1995-96. For the year 2004-05 the total amount of RMG export was ($5689.09 million). This is the current situation of RMG export from Bangladesh.

2. Statement of Research Problem:

The first ready-made garment factories in Bangladesh aimed at the export market were opened in the late 1970s by investors from other Asian countries whose exports had been restrained by quotas imposed by importing nations. By the mid-1980s, the ready-made garment industry had become a strong export earner. Garment exports brought receipts of only US$3 million in FY 1981, but by 1984 exports had risen to US$32 million, and the following year revenue soared to US$116 million. For FY 1985 and FY 1986, ready-made garments were the second biggest foreign exchange earner for Bangladesh after jute.

The surge in Bangladeshi exports eventually caused a reaction among some industrial nations. Canada, the European Economic Community, and the United States expressed concern that inexpensive Bangladeshi garments were flooding their markets. In 1985, after a series of notices as called for by multilateral agreements, the United States–which was the destination of about 25 percent of Bangladesh’s garment exports–began imposing quotas on Bangladeshi garments, one category at a time.

Bangladeshi manufacturers, working with the government, organized with remarkable speed and efficiency to adapt to changing conditions. They policed themselves to stay within quotas, allocating production quotas according to equitable criteria, and began diversifying their production into categories where there were not yet quotas: for example, cotton trousers, knitwear, dresses, and gloves. After a period of adjustment, during which some of the least well-established firms closed and workers were laid off, the industry began stabilizing, and growth continued at a more moderate pace. Exports in FY 1986 rose another 14 percent, to US$131 million, and prospects were good for continued growth at about that rate.

The ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh is not the outgrowth of traditional economic activities but emerged from economic opportunities perceived by the private sector in the late 1970s. Frustrated by quotas imposed by importing nations, such as the United States, entrepreneurs and managers from other Asian countries set up factories in Bangladesh, benefiting from even lower labor costs than in their home countries, which offset the additional costs of importing all materials to Bangladesh. Bangladesh-origin products met quality standards of customers in North America and Western Europe, and prices were satisfactory. Business

flourished right from the start; many owners made back their entire capital investment within a year or two and thereafter continued to realize great profits. Some 85 percent of Bangladeshi production was sold to North American customers, and virtually overnight Bangladesh became become the sixth largest supplier to the North American market.

After foreign businesses began building a ready-made garment industry, Bangladeshi capitalists appeared, and a veritable rush of them began to organize companies in Dhaka, Chittagong, and smaller towns, where basic garments–men’s and boys’ cotton shirts, women’s and girls’ blouses, shorts, and baby clothes–were cut and assembled, packed, and shipped to customers overseas (mostly in the United States). With virtually no government regulation, the number of firms proliferated; no definitive count was available, but there were probably more than 400 firms by 1985, when the boom was peaking.

After just a few years, the ready-made garment industry employed more than 20,00000 people. According to some estimates, about 80 percent were women, never previously in the industrial work force. Many of them were woefully underpaid and worked under harsh conditions. The net benefit to the Bangladeshi economy was only a fraction of export receipts, since virtually all materials used in garment manufacture were imported; practically all the value added in Bangladesh was from labor.

Country’s RMG producers have been steadily moving towards high value sophisticated items like high quality suits, jackets, branded jeans items, embroidered ladies’ wear etc. They are now producing a wide range of garments items and have expanded their market worldwide. Increasing at the rate of 27% per year over the . last several years, utilizing quota and diversifying their products into non-quota items, the country presently holds 6th largest apparel exporter status in the USA while 51h largest in the European Union (EU).

Japan has been a very quality conscious market in the world. Bangladesh very recently has proved itself to be prospective in RMG export to Japan also. In 199495, export of RMG to Japan from Bangladesh jumped up to US$ 5.61 million or by 168% of the previous years. It shows that the apparel producers are gradually catching up with quality requirement of the buyers in the international market.

WE followed by EU led the major share of the country’s RMG export market from the very beginning. But during 1995, EU overtook the US. Among countries in EU, Germany has been topping the list over last several years followed by UK, France, Italy and The Netherlands. In 1995, Germany imported apparels worth US$ 317.86 million against US$ 245.39 million in 1994. Only Shirts and T-shirts that Germany imported in 1995 were worth US$ 202.36 million. As single country, however, US have been the highest apparel importing country for Bangladesh.

3. Ready Made Garments Export Condition in Brief:

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is the only recognized trade body that represents the export oriented garment manufacturers and exporters of the country. Struck by the 70s’ political turmoil in Sri Lanka and price hike in other Asian countries, garment buyers in the international markets explored the potential of the newly born Bangladesh. Fortunately, with the timely policy support from the government, entrepreneur’s talent and efforts as well as the labor of the work force, the ready-made garment (RMG) industry could impressively succeed and the buyers got confidence in it. Now its development rate is, on an average, 20% per annum. With a huge supply of cost-effective labor force, country’s economic factors are in favor of development in this relatively low capital and high labor intensive industry. Starting in late 70s as a small nontraditional sector of export. Ready-made Garment (RMG) emerged as a promising export earning sector of the country by the year 1983. Bangladesh at that time lacked a pectoral trade body, non-government in nature, free from traditional bureaucracy, to help the sector to boost up the country’s foreign exchange earnings. Entrepreneurs and the government in the post independence years felt and emphasized the urgent need to develop non-traditional items of export for helping the struggling economy. As a result, 1977 marked the birth of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA). Since its humble inception with only nineteen (19) garment manufacturers and exporters, BGMEA has grown into a strong and dynamic body. Today it proudly declares registered membership of more than 2700 garment manufacturers and exporters. Of the total 2700 units, about 1932 garment factories. are located in Dhaka while about 155 and 415 factories are located in Naryanganj and Chittagong respectively. Factories are located in Dhaka while about 155 and 415 factories are located in Naryanganj and Chittagong respectively. These 2700 garment factories having about 1.5 million workforces is earning 73% of the country’s total foreign currency. About 15 million people are directly dependent on this sector. The growth of Freight Transport, Bank, Insurance, hotel etc. in the country are the gift of the garment industry. In a nutshell, the garment industry has become the pivot of the country’s economy. The fundamental objective of BGMEA, however, is to establish a healthy business environment for a close and mutually beneficial relationship between the manufacturers, exporters and importers in the process ensuring a steady growth in the foreign exchange earnings of the country. To this end, BGMEA has been playing a very strong role to lead the industry in concurrence with the government. The following are the regular activities of BGMEA for its members, owners, apparel buyers and other partners.

4. Bangladesh: Special Feature

The competitive strength of a firm or a country in the market depends on its specific comparative advantage(s) which its competitors do not have. A particular uniqueness of a supplier shapes up its strategic advantage profile. In case of Bangladesh, this uniqueness is the unlimited availability of unusually cheap but usable labour. It is the abundant supply of the comparatively cheap labor that stands out as the significant strength. The RMG industry by its nature, is a low technology but labour intensive industry. The workers can be employed at very low wages, not only in comparison with other competitor countries, but also in comparison with other domestic industries in Bangladesh. In domestic market as well, the wages of the workers of the RMG industry happen to be the lowest.

The External Threats

Bangladesh has successfully established a remarkable presence in the world markets, particularly in the US and EU markets. If one analyses its external threats and opportunity profile, one finds that its powerful competitors will try to influence the trading environment in such a way as will create hurdles for Bangladesh to retain or improve its competitive edge: This hurdle can take numerous forms. Broadly, these are discussed in two categories: (1) Phasing out of MFA and (2) Other non-tariff barriers.

(1) Phasing Out of MFA

It seems that the phenomenal growth of RMG exports from Bangladesh has become a threat to its powerful competitors. Naturally, they (the competitors) are preparing to snatch away the markets from Bangladesh with aggressive and “innovative” business strategies. They will certainly take advantages of the new provisions included in the final Acts of Uruguay Round. One such provision is the phasing out of the MFA.

Before we can answer the question whether the phasing out of MFA will be a threat to Bangladesh, we need to understand the origin and meaning of MFA (Multifibre Agreement). The GATT did not originally include textile and apparel industries in its principles of MFN (Most Favoured Nation). The Uruguay Round (UR) decided to integrate textile and RMG industries into GATT system. As is well known, GATT/WTO prohibits not only unjustified tariff barriers but all forms of non-tariff barriers including imposition of “quota”. In sixties, while GATT principles prohibited discrimination between the trading partners, it allowed certain exceptions to GATT principles on the ground of “fairness”. Such an exception is WA. To achieve this goal, a special provision known as MFA was instituted. Under the MFA provisions, GATT allowed the USA and other importers of RMG to impose quota restrictions. The MFA has been in place since 1974. Later on when trade liberalization policy started riding high, the arguments for phasing out the MFA were put foreword by those countries which were hurt by it.

(2) Other Non-Tariff Barriers

The final Acts of the Uruguay round (UR) negotiations expanded, integrated and strengthened the GATT principles of reducing / eliminating all forms of trade barriers with a view to increase world trade. It is easier to identify and remove trade restrictive tariff barriers because they take so many and such subtle forms that . multilateral negotiators face more disagreement than agreement on their definitions. For example, customs evaluation procedures suitable in a particular country may be interpreted as deliberately created non-tariff barriers by its trading partners. Similarly, there is a scope for “misinterpretations” of subsidies given to exporters by the respective government. The child labor, environmental and human right issues are also susceptible to similar “misinterpretation.

Quota System:

For decades the world’s garment trade has been governed by a system of quotas. It limited the amount efficient countries like China could export to the big markets of the United States and Europe. The original intention was to protect the garment industries in the West. But the effect was to guarantee less developed countries like Bangladesh a slice of the trade. Quotas were abolished from 1 January 2005. Retailers are now free to buy from whatever country can make garments for the lowest price. It could mean cheaper clothes for consumers but the pain will be felt in slums in the developing world.

Competitor

Competition has become intense in the garment industry at present. Garment industry is emerging rapidly in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea in Asia. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Sri Lanka have found the garment industry more attractive to develop their economy from 70’s decade. Vietnam has become a potential entrant in garment industry throughout the world.

Threat from Various Regional Organizations (Such as NAFTA, EEC, EFTA, etc.) The trend of the modern world is regionalism to strengthen the economy of the member countries through co-operation. North American Free Trade Association has been signed recently and the main initiator of NAFTA is the USA, who is the main buyer of garment from Bangladesh. According to the treaty of NAFTA, USA will invest its domestic resources to develop their economy by using 60% of their own raw materials through utilizing the low cost labor of Mexico. So, it is a potential threat to the garment industry of Bangladesh. On the other hand, EC countries have already declared a single currency for European Common Market called ECU (European Currency Unit) to protect the interest of the member countries through co­operation. This sort of protectionism is great threat to the garment industry of Bangladesh, because Germany, Britain, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Italy, etc. are buyers of the garment of Bangladesh.

Scarcity of Raw Materials:

There is no alternative of ample supply of raw materials in order to become self­sufficient in any industry. The raw materials of the garment industry of Bangladesh is foreign dependent. Bangladesh has to import raw materials of garments from abroad in order to process it in Bangladesh. About 70% of garment export income has to be spent for the raw materials. Moreover, the export and import policy of Bangladesh is very weak. So, the scarcity of raw materials for the garment industry’ in Bangladesh is a great threat.

Political Instability:

Bangladesh is not a stable country politically. Political instability is a great threat for any industry of our country. Frequent strikes and hartals are great obstacles for the growth of any industry. The production cost increases and productivity decreases because of frequent hartals and strikes. Garment producers cannot keep their contract with buyers because of hartals and strikes. Hartals and strikes have become a common phenomenon of Bangladesh.

5. Bangladesh economy to grow at 6 percent despite key challenges: IMF

Bangladesh’s economy is expected to grow six percent next fiscal year despite the abolition of quotas for textile exports that was predicted to cause massive job losses. The economy grew 5.5 percent in the fiscal year ended June 30. The IMF forecast is in line with a finance ministry budget estimate in June that said the economy was recovering from devastating floods last summer and had coped well in textile exports deposit the loss of quotas that opened up competition with larger rivals Such as China and India.

The international textile quota system, known as the Multifibre Arrangement, was abolished at the end of December 2004 prompting predictions that as many as one million jobs would be lost in Bangladesh.

In the year to June 2004, Bangladesh exported goods worth 7.56 billion dollars with textiles accounting for 75 percent. “Looking forward, (the IMF) underscored that Bangladesh faces the key challenges of accelerating growth and maintaining macroeconomic stability while overcoming the potentially significant impact of the MFA phase-out” the IMF said.

6. The Conference of LDCs

With the phasing out of Multi-Fibre Agreement (MFA), the readymade garment industries of the countries, which have weak textile base, are feared to be in the brink of an uneven challenge. There have been widespread concerns by the exporters and experts about the possible fate of the countries garment exports, which, the experts think can only get special support if more preferential access to the US market, the biggest destination of local RMG products, could be achieved.

With that aim in view, the BGMEA took the pioneering role in placing a trade bill in the US congress, which, if passed into law, will benefit 14 LDCs including

Bangladesh. To strengthen the efforts, the association has taken a landmark decision to hold a conference of the stakeholder LDCs in Dhaka in June to garner their support in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, tremendous response has been received from the invitees. It is indeed a vivid demonstration of the wisdom of the current BGMEA leadership, which is expected to be culminated into having a joint declaration participant at the end of the conference.

7. The products of LDCs: low-price garments in a higher-quality market

In clothing as in cotton fabrics, the LDCs tend to focus on exporting standard products such as T-shirts, men’s shirts, and woven and printed fabrics, for which price is the main determinant of success and in-depth knowledge of fashion and design trends is not essential. However, in recent years a change has been taking place in the developed markets, away from cheap imports towards better-finished, higher-quality casual fashion and more individual clothing, the opposite of LDC garment exports.

Nevertheless, Bangladesh has a number of ‘champion’ export products (i.e., achieving high growth in a dynamically expanding market), particularly women’s knitwear. Haiti, another example of a textile-exporting LDC, has been doingvery well with exports of cotton T-shirts and women’s clothing. Its garment exporters are increasingly exporting sophisticated items like high-quality suits, jackets and branded items. This has helped them to penetrate Japan’s extremely quality conscious market. Bangladesh has shown that it is possible to move successfully up the value chain by exporting finished products. In 1999, it was by far the largest single LDC exporter of finished, woven fabrics with 85% cotton or more, weighing up to 200 g/m2.

Govt trying to overcome problems in RMG sector

Speakers at a seminar said the government is making all out efforts to overcome the problems of garments sector and trying for duty free and quota free access of Bangladeshi goods to the US and European markets.

The sector is the main foreign currency earner, which earned 70 per cent of the country’s total exports last year. EPB Vice President said that Bangladesh has got duty free access to Australia from 1st July. It is the 4th country to give duty free opportunity for Bangladesh products. Earlier Canada, Japan and Norway have given duty and quota free access of Bangladeshi products.

8. Bangladesh made faster economic growth

The World Bank on Sunday said Bangladesh made faster economic growth in last two financial years and predicted that the projected 5.5 per cent growth of this year’s gross domestic product (GDP) was `very likely’ to be achieved owing to good rice harvests, reports BSS. The export performance also marked a steady progress with 16.2 percent increase in first seven months of the current fiscal. The export of ready made garments (RMG)- both woven and knitwear-has picked up due to increase in global demand and the consolidation process in the industry, which earns over 70 per cent export earnings.

9. The Fastest Growing Export Sector of The Country

Starting in late seventies, the apparel industry of Bangladesh now accounts for over 64% of the country’s total export earning. Country’s apparel export rose to US$2628 million in 1996 from a mere US$6 million in 1981. To about 30 countries around the world, Bangladesh presently exports ready-made garments, with over 45% to USA, 50% to the countries in EU and 3% to Canda and rest to the other countries of the world. Country’s apparel export has been growing on an average at the rate of 25% for last several years. The country, last year ranked 6th larget apparel exporter to the USA the EU.

Bangladesh Garment Export

There are about 2500 export oriented ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh those are clustered over mainly Dhaka and Chittagong. Such distribution offers buyers advantage to choose the right manufacturers and exporters, throuhout the year, with minimum effort.

Garment Factory in Bangladesh

Those are the findings that find after analyzing the whole situation.

10. Statement of the current “Export data of Readymade Garments of Bangladesh”.

Chapter Four

Learning part

1. Yarn Manufacturing Process

Textile mills purchase cotton and receive the bales from gin yards or cotton warehouses. These mills start with raw bales of cotton and process them in stage until they produce yarn (fibers twisted into threads used in weaving or knitting) or cloth (fabric or material constructed from weaving or knitting).

The first stage is in the opening room. Here, bales are opened and laid in a line on the floor, side by side, near a cotton opening machine. This machine travels along the line of opened bales, puling fibers to be sent to a mixing machine and them on to the carding system.

Carding is the process of pulling the fibers into parallel alignment to form a thin web. High speed electronic equipment with wire toothed rollers performs this task. The web of fibers is eventually condensed into a continues, untwisted, rope-like strand called a silver. These silvers then continue to a combing machine. Here, the fibers shorter than half-inch and impurities are removed from the cotton.

This process makes the silver smoother so more uniform yarns can be produced. The drawing or pulling of this sliver is next. Cotton trivia khaki is derived from a Hindu word that means “dust color”. Originally, khaki referred to a dull yellow-brown cotton or wool uniform fabric used for its camouflage effect.

The sliver is drawn out to a thinner strand and given a slight twist to improve strength, then wound on bobbins (spools wound with the thread like product for storage). Having completed this process. It is now called roving. The roving bobbins are now ready for the spinning process.

Spinning is the last process in yarn manufacturing. Today’s mills draw and twist the roving into yearn and place it on bobbins. They do this quite efficiently. A large, modern mill can produce enough yarn of thread in 30 days to wrap around the earth 23000 times or go to and return from the moon 235 times. With the use of automatic winding, the yarn bobbins are transferred to large bobbins called cheese cones can be stored until they are needed in the weaving process.

The weaving process uses yarn that, depending on how it lies in the woven goods. These yarn may now be either a warp or a weft yam. Warp refers to yarns that run lengthwise in woven goods. In preparation of warp yarns for weaving, hundreds of yarn strands are wound from cheese cones onto a large warp beam. Yearns on this beam are then coated with a sizing compound (a starch mixture) to add strength for weaving. The sized yarns are then wound onto a loom beam that will be placed on the loom (a machine used to interlace yarns to from cloth). Weft is the yarn that runs crosswise in woven goods and may be referred to as filling yarn. Sizing is not placed on weft because flexibility is needed in the weaving process. In today’s most modern mills, the weft is fed into the loom from cheese cones with air-jets at such a high speed that its movement cannot be seen.

The woven cloth from the loom, called greign or grey , is whitish but has a natural yellow tint. This cloth is further treated by various means to improve its appearance and feel, and then either bleached, dyed or printed to produce the fabrics used in various products seen on store shelves.

There are three basic weaves that are used. The plain weave, the most common, is produced by passing the weft yarn over and under each warp yarn, alternating each row. This is used for cotton print cloth, sheeting, muslin and more. The twill weave is produced by interlacing yarns in an angle to form straight, diagonal ridges across the fabric. The satin weave, has a surface that consists mostly or warp yarn which is passed over and under all but one weft yarn that intersects in a regular or irregular formatting, not a straight line.

This weave produces a fabric with a smooth surface. It is used for upholstery, home decorating and fashionable apparel.

Knitting is another method of turning yarn into fabric. Knit fabric is constructed of yarns made into loops (stitches) which are linked together by the use of needles. There are two basic types of knitted fabric. The weft knit fabrics are made with yarns forming loops the width of the fabric on a circular machine, producing jersey knit used in T-shirts and underwear. The warp knit fabrics are produced by feeding yarns to form loops in a lengthwise direction and are used for tricot fabrics and cotton lace. Knitted fabrics are softer and more flexible than woven fabrics. Making them ideal for sweaters, active sportswear and hosiery.

2. Fabrics Manufacturers

Knitted Fabric

Knitting is one of the ways of turning thread or yarn into clothes. Knitted fabric completely consists of horizontal parallel courses (crosswise) or yarn. These courses are joined to each other by interlocking loops where a short loop of one course of the yarn is wrapped over the bight of another course.

Knitted fabric is obtained either by hand knitting process or then by machine. In hand knitting process, a base series of twisted loops of yarn are made on a knitting needle before starting the process. A second needle is then used to reach through each loop in succession to snag a bight of yarn and pull a length back through the loop. Knitting by machine use a different mechanical system producing nearly identical results.

Knitted fabric composites show higher impact tolerance compared to the traditional composites or even to woven fabric composites. It is believed that the hand knitting originated among the nomads of the Arabian Peninsula about 1000 BC.

Type’s o knitted fabrics:

Weft knitted fabric-It is either made by hand or machine by looping together the lengths of the yearn. This supports the fabric to become stretchy and comfortable. Weft-knitted fabrics are used in socks. T-shirts an jumpers.

Warp knitted fabric- It is made by machine only. The loops, in this kind of fabrics interlock along the length of the fabric. It is only slightly stretchy and it do not ladders. These are used as swimwear, underwear etc.

Advantages of Knit Wears:

Because of casual and soft in nature as well as inherent good properties such as hygienic properties, fashionable design and color, knit wears have become the popular wear all over the world. Knit wears are informal but fashionable usually with short sleeves. Knit wears are commonly made of knitted fabrics of single jersey, Ribs, Interlock, etc due to the specifications in raw materials by using lower count of yam, construction of fabrics and stitching. Knit wears possess certain properties which are essential for good apparels; some special advantages of knitted-wears are given below:

1) Knit garment products are softer and more comfortable;

2) Knit wears/garments are usually used as underwear

garments i.e. used for soft skin abrasion.

3) Usually lower count of yam is used for knitting fabrics.

So, knitwear has more socking capability.

4) More profitable production can be made due to lower

project cost and cheaper management cost.

5) Knitting wears can be handled more easily while using

and washing. ,

6) Its market price is comparatively cheaper.

Manufacturing process:

For setting up Composite Industries consists of Knitting unit, Fabric Dyeing Finishing unit and Garments unit. The product of one unit will be the raw material of other unit:

The sequential process from yam manufacture to Garments product may be described as follows!

For Knitting Unit:

Knitting machine is various types where various design produces. Fabrics will also be produce in the circular -Knitting machines by altering some attachments mainly changing of camas. Rib Knitting and Interlock (double Knitting) fabrics will be produces in the Rib circular and Interlock Knitting machine.

Flat Knitting fabrics for collar and cuff will be ‘produced in the flat Knitting machine. After the Knit fabrics is produced, it is inspected in running condition while passing over a table of the inspection machine. The technology involved in Knitted fabrics is fairly simple which may be seen in the following flow process chart:

Process Flow Chart

Yarn storing in cone form

Rib Knitting

Circular Knitting

Face side inside turning of the knitted fabrics

3. Fabric Dyeing and Finishing Unit:

The technology involved in dyeing finishing of Knitted fabrics may be seen as below;

Face side inside

Turing of the Knitted

fabrics

Scouring /Bleaching

Washing

Bleached fabric(white)

Dying Was king

Ballooning & Squeezing/Hydro

Extractor

Drying and heat setting stuttering

Calendaring/Softening

Compacting & Shrinkage Controlling

Inspection

Folding & baling

Garments Making;

The operation process with two outputs i.e. T-shirts and Polo shirts are pre-sewing and finishing. A typical process flow-chart for Garments making is shown below: Process Flow Chart for Garments Making

Fabric

Fabric lying on Layers & clipping

Cutting of individual parts as per approved pattern

Sorting & Bundling sizeable for mass sewing

Sewing of collar, cuff Sleeve to shirt

Sewing of size label, washing instruction, Brand label

Button holding & stitching (in case of Polo-shirt)

Loose thread cutting/inspection Ironing (Finishing)

Folding

Packing in carton

Ready for Export

 

4. Production flowchart

Sampling

Price Officer to buyer

Order confirmation

Procurement of raw materials

Stores

Knitting Machines

Grey Fabric quality control

Grey Fabric quality control

Grey Fabric Batch room

Dyeing floor

Dyeing winch

Water squeezer

Dryer

Compactor

Finish Fabric quality control

Fabric stores

Cutting floor

Cutting quality control

Sewing input

Sewing output QC Table

Ironing

Folding/ Hangar

Poly

Assortment

Carton

Internal Inspection

Final Inspection by buyer

Shipment

5. Garments Quality control flow chart

Received finish fabric

Checking finish fabric

Marker

Laying

Cutting

Numbering

Checking

Bounding

Cutting Quality Audit

Input

Enpost Measurement checking

Table inspection

Alter / Rectification

Sewing quality audit

Iron

Enpost checking for finishing

Quality audit for workmanship

Basic Measurement check

Folding

Poly/ Hangar

Metal Detector checking

Carton

Carton quality audit

Internal final inspection

6. Garments Planning:

To establish a garments factory the location choice is an important factor for correct manufacturing, worker management and proper transport system.

The following are some of the factors which will influence the choice of location:­

· Availability of worker.

· Availability of housing facility ( In Bangladeshi system it is not provided by any garments authority)

· Availability of staff amenities.

· Availability of transport.

· Availability of materials.

· Availability of cover-van parking space.

· Adequacy of circulation.

· Availability of services.

· Gas

· Electricity

· Water

· Drainage

· Disposal of waste

· Suitability of land and climate.

· Local building and planning regulation.

· Safety requirements.

· Site cost.

· Political situation.

· Special grants.

According to the place and types of manufacturers goods the building shape has been Chosen. Here mentioned both the advantages of single and multi-story building. It depends on the size of the garments factory, which prefers most.

7. Benefit of team in garments:

· Increase the group activities in production.

· Makes a competition among the team worker.

· Workers get satisfaction to work.

· Instrumental benefits.

8. Control

Control is a regulation of organizational activities so that some targeted elements of performance remains within acceptable limits.

Purposes of control:

· Adapting to environmental changes.

· Limiting the accumulation of errors.

· Coping with organizational completes.

· Minimizing cost.

· Keeping the organizational work on track (according to

plan)

In garments sector the control is divided in three sections.

· Production control.

· Overall/Operational control.

· Financial control

Overall/Operational control:

· Preliminary control

· Screening control

· Post action control

Preliminary control:

Preliminary control concentrates on the resources-financial, material, and human and information-that the organization brings in form the environment. Preliminary control attempts to monitor the quality or quantity of these resources before they enter the organization.

Screening control:

Screening control focus on meeting standards for products or service quality or quantity during the actual transformation itself. Screening control relies heavily on feedback process.

Post action control:

Post action control focus on the outputs of the garments after the transformation process is complete. Coming’s old system of Post action control-final inspection after the product is completed. Although corning abandoned its Post action control system, this still may be an effective method of control, primarily if a product can be manufactured in only one or two steps or if the service is fairly simple and routine. Although Post action control alone. may not be as effective as preliminary or screening control, it can provide management with information for future planning.

Financial control:

Financial Control is the control of financial resources as they flow into the garments (i.e., revenues, investments), are held by the garments (i.e., working capital, retained earning), and flow out of the garments (i.e., pay expenses). Business must manage their finances so that revenues are sufficient to cover costs and still return a profit to the firm’s own

9. Prepare a garments budget:

Budget is a numerical expression. A good budget can provide a good exported or productive garment. Without budget a garments can’t run correctly. Only by the help of a good budget the goals can come out. Budget helps to take correct decision and divers the organization properly in right way. Budget also, shows the capacity of garments in productive market. Only a suitable and acceptable budget can run the garments correctly. For this reason budget is essential for the garments.

The processes of preparing budget in garments are as follows:

· Submission of budget request by the units to division head.

· Integration of unit budget and consolidated into division budget.

· Forwarding of division budget to budget committee.

Chapter Five

Conclusion & Recommendation

1. Conclusion and Recommendation

In order to sustain the smooth growth and development of the garment industry of Bangladesh, Government should play a key role to offer a good export policy. Otherwise the production, employment, earning of foreign currency and economic development of the country will be affected seriously. Some recommendations have been offered to face the problems of the garment industry of Bangladesh.

Regarding the problem of RMG sector I’ve identified some recommendation for the betterment of this sector. The recommendations are as follows:

· The Government of Bangladesh should play a key role for the expansion of the market of garment by diversified items for manufacture and export. It is very important fact that there are many items in the RMG product lines which Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have not yet started production. Leather items, life jackets, gloves, bags etc. are among few such items. Among other items are umbrella, nylon school bags and jackets, ice sport kits and wears, staffed toys, high competitive market fashion garments are examples. There are numerous such items not yet touched by our entrepreneurs.

· All out efforts would be made and steps taken for production and export of high priced readymade garments in the light of the prevailing market demand.

Immediate steps shall be taken to establish a Fashion Institute pending establishment of the Fashion Institute measures will be taken, under special arrangements, to extend expert services to match the actual demand. Liberal credit may be considered for capacity building and hiring technology for producer of high quality garments.

· Product-Specific decisions: Readymade Garments

Provisions have been made for the exporters of readymade garments to retain in their respective foreign currency accounts the portion of their export earnings required for meeting the expenses on importing fabrics and other accessories through back-to-back letter of credit. The exporters that way shall be saved from incurring losses by first converting their export earnings to Taka and then re­converting the same to foreign exchange for payment of import bills on raw materials.

For making hand-woven sweaters of natural and synthetic wool imported under customs and permission would be accorded to take up such wool outside the bonded area, provided the concerned firm furnishes a bank guarantee for equivalent amount of customs duty leviable on such raw materials.

· Labor Productivity Improvement.

However, it is to be noted that the lower material procurement cost may not be enough for Bangladesh to maintain its competitive edge in international markets. Bangladesh must increase productivity, which is lower than many of its competitors. It is true that wages are low in Bangladesh, but it does not necessarily mean that relatively low wages automatically lead to higher productivity. Wages are only one of the determinants of labor productivity. Time required by the

Workers to perform a task is another important determinant. Available efficiencies indicate that Bangladeshi workers are not as those of Hong Kong, South Korea and Sri Lanka. The workers’ skills and supervisors’ managerial efficiency are higher in those countries than in Bangladesh. In addition, those countries use the latest technology, for example, computerize sewing machines, design facilities, etc. but Bangladesh uses relatively older technology.

Other Strategic Implications

· There are potential problems with supplies and financing. A conglomeration or a strategic alliance of domestic firms or with foreign firms or both is the only feasible solution. This tie-up-marketing will ensure long-term business interest to the domestic producers.

· Most of the exporters do not provide good post sales services or are bent on relational marketing. The exporters and entrepreneurs have to take measures in this context.

· The exporters are willing to form joint ventures, but they are more keen to get financial benefits than technological benefits. Exporters should be taught or given necessary counseling in taking the advantage of technology transfer. EPB can take further progressive role and arrange training, workshop, interviews and field works in various capacities.

· Import of samples for each category of garments:

At present, facility exists for duty free import of 20 pieces of samples for each category of garments subject to a maximum of 100 pieces. Imported samples are, however, subject to mutilation at the customs paid.

Disclaimer:

The information contains in this web-site is prepared for educational purpose. This site may be used by the students, faculties, independent learners and the learned advocates of all over the world. Researchers all over the world have the access to upload their writes up in this site. In consideration of the people’s participation in the Web Page, the individual, group, organization, business, spectator, or other, does hereby release and forever discharge the Lawyers & Jurists, and its officers, board, and employees, jointly and severally from any and all actions, causes of actions, claims and demands for, upon or by reason of any damage, loss or injury, which hereafter may be sustained by participating their work in the Web Page. This release extends and applies to, and also covers and includes, all unknown, unforeseen, unanticipated and unsuspected injuries, damages, loss and liability and the consequences thereof, as well as those now disclosed and known to exist.  The provisions of any state’s law providing substance that releases shall not extend to claims, demands, injuries, or damages which are known or unsuspected to exist at this time, to the person executing such release, are hereby expressly waived. However the Lawyers & Jurists makes no warranty expressed or implied or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product process or service by trade name, trade mark, manufacturer or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favouring by the Lawyers & Jurists. The views and opinions of the authors expressed in the Web site do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Lawyers & Jurists. Above all, if there is any complaint drop by any independent user to the admin for any contents of this site, the Lawyers & Jurists would remove this immediately from its site.