Master of Science in Textile Technology

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/15715

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item: Thesis-Abstract
Potential of upgrading Sri lankan batik industry
(2015-03-01) Ruwanpathirana, US; De Silva, N
This study provides a comprehensive investigation to the potential of upgrading the batik industry in Sri Lanka. The current situation of the industry was analyzed. Information on those involved in the industry was gathered using internet, National craft council, Telephone Directory and by verbal contact. A Sample of manufacturers was visited and information was recorded by using a relevant questionnaire. A literature survey was carried out to find out the history of batik and, techniques used. The Sri Lankan industry uses a minimum of simple techniques, a handful of colour dyes and a few types of fabric available in the local market. This research was to investigate how the scope of batik could be expanded to use new fabric types and structures. By fulfilling one objective of this study, data base of 30 suppliers were established. The information was included in this data base are name, contact information, date of start , number of worker present , Maximum number of workers, dyes and dye suppliers, Monthly capacity ,types of garments, markets, education level, and special requirements. Experiments were carried out for new different fabric structures, which are not available in the market with the control test for cotton poplin material. Testing was carried out according to Marks and Spenser standards for colour properties. All the results were satisfactory. After the dyeing trials were successfully conducted, a survey was carried out to asses consumer satisfaction and the market potential. A result shows that there is a potential market for batik and batik with new fabric structures.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Role of a customer oriented product development facility to strengthen the Jones New York label
(6/22/2011) Herath, HMD; De Silva, N
Gain of maximum returns by providing an integrated service to the buyer must been sured every single day in the fashion industry. Because, the level of value addition to the fashion reaches the prosperity in fashions business. As a franchise license holder from the buyer it is very important Madison Maidens Inc - USA to take extra attention in the front-end activities of the total process. A perfect start is a success of the end. Front end activities like deciding fabrics, trims; colors and design esthetics are not standardized as the bulk manufacturing. It will be a success only because of the rational decision-making and the amount of value adds in all the areas of product development. By setting up a comprehensively addressed product development process, all the team members would be effectively focused on the prospect of value addition; there by increasing buyer's & its retailer's confidence on sourcing from Madison Maidens Inc there after.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Pricing strategy auditing for garment manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka
(4/6/2011) Pathirana, SM; Heenkenda, NK
The Sri Lankan garment manufacturing industry needs to become competitive in terms of pricing with the phasing out of the Multi Fibre Agreement and threat of losing the GSP+ advantage. However, it is difficult for the garment manufacturing companies to identify their weaknesses in pricing due to lack of information on competitor’s prices and thus it is difficult to improve the pricing area.//This study focuses on Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing industry and it reviews the pricing practices in garment manufacturing industry. The current pricing process of the garment manufacturing industry was identified using literature review, interview, questionnaire and observational studies and discussed in the thesis. This also includes the analysed data of the questionnaire survey which was designed to identify the current pricing methods and it was concluded that the Sri Lankan garment manufacturers are using either purely cost plus pricing or a hybrid pricing system with cost plus pricing with slight market based approach.//Further this thesis includes a SWOT analysis which was used to identify the weaknesses and the possible improvement in existing pricing system, when developing the alternative pricing strategies. The study identifies some possible alternative pricing strategies in the forms of pricing models and some detailed cost estimation models to use with them. Further the study builds a pricing audit system which facilitates the garment manufacturing companies to identify their current pricing strategies and to identify the areas of improvement
item: Thesis-Abstract
Reviving textile weaving industry of Sri Lanka
(3/29/2011) Yapa, SR; Nanayakkara, J
The textile weaving industry is considered to be one of oldest industries in the country mind has experienced ups and downs over the post decades. Despite the position of the export oriented apparel industry which has become one of (he highest export earning sources to the country, the textile weaving industry passes a dire stage. Quality and prices of locally woven fabric are not competitive compared with imported fabric. Manufacturers combat with increasing cost of production. Although there is demand from export oriented garment manufacturers as well as from the domestic market, demand uncertainty hinders growth and new investments in the industry. Information collected from several small and medium scald manufacturers reveals failure to meet the product quality requirements, specifications and prices due to use of old and obsolete machinery which leads to low productivity, excessive waste generation in manufacturing and high cost of production, inconsistent tariff policies, untrained work force and financial constraints faced by the firms arc the major causes for the ; evading situation. Having analyzed the situation it is recommended that state of the art technology should be introduced to the industry, the individual firms in textile and clothing industries should exploit opportunities available to form alliances where they can act as fully integrated production facilities, emphasize in developing human resources and continuous lobbying with the government to have coins call tariff structures to improve investor confidence to revive the domestic textile weaving industry.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Information system model for order tracking in textile industry
(3/29/2011) Perera, WPDP; Wijayanayaka, J
The project is aimed at finding out the problems in the information flow and as well as the crder tracking in the textile industry, and to suggest a computer integrated information system model in order to rectify the problems in information flow and to improve the way of order tracking. The current status of information flow and the order tracking of the industry was studied in detail by using information collected from varied sources .Different techniques such as interviewing the workers in different departments of the organization, direct observing of the current system and collecting the related documents from the industry and from the publications. After analyzing the current system, it is found that the whole order tracking and the information flow depend on one document called 'Route card', which consist of all the details of the order. Also it is found that some of the main disadvantages of this process are misplacing data, inaccurate data and long processing time to get information. Finally, a new system is proposed mainly to overcome the major problem identified and to build and improve the strong order tracking system for the industry. This model replaces the old traditional 'Route card' to a Barcode which contain all the details of the order. Each workstation would have a barcode scanner along with the PC and once the operator scanned the barcode, the system will automatically generate all the necessary fields required by new route card and it will display on the monitor at the particular workstation. All these data and details distributed among the departments using a Local Area Networking system with Client Server Architecture
item: Thesis-Abstract
Investigation of tensile properties and durability of coir fibres/geotextiles
(3/28/2011) Pathirana, DSK; De Silva, N; Gunasekera, USW
Coir is a ligno-cellulosic fibre, cheap and abundantly available in Sri Lanka as a byproduct of the coconut industry. Coir-geotextiles, which are manufactured from coir, have been identified as good geotextile material to be used for soil reinforcement in soil erosion problems until sustainable vegetation is established. Because of this reason coir based geotextiles have the potential to be an exportable product. It has become necessary to scientifically study the properties of coir fibres and coir-geotextiles in great detail to meet the suitability requirements of the export market as well as the local market. Mechanical and physical properties including tensile properties, initial modulus, length, mass and diameter of brown and white coir fibre obtained from Kurunegala District have been used in the evaluation. Moisture absorption characteristics of coir fibres were also evaluated. Results show that there is a direct relationship between the length and tenacity as well as extension at break of retted brown coir fibre. This relationship is not significant in unretted white coir fibre, which is a longer fibre with a higher in tenacity and extension at break. Wet tensile strength and wet extension at break of coir fibres were found to be greater than the tensile strength in the conditioned state. In seawater immersion, coir fibres did not lose strength after 24 hours at room temperature. During a 24 hours period coir fibres did not lose strength significantly in the pH 5-9 range at ambient temperature. At different NaOH concentrations and different time periods at 25°C, coir fibres were immersed in alkaline medium to find out whether the strength was affected. After 30min in 10 % NaOH brown coir showed highest strength but white coir fibre showed highest strength in 25% NaOH concentration after 30min immersion. It was attempted to apply the idealized staple fibre yarn model to coir yarns. For this purpose coir-yarn initial modulus was calculated using results of strength tests for coir fibres and coir yarns. Calculated initial modulus is greater than experimentally obtain results but deviate considerably from the actual situvation. The durability of coir fibres was investigated by immersing in distilled water, acid medium, alkaline medium and saline solution at ambient temperature over a period of time and the results showed that brown coir fibre and white coir fibre had similar losses in strength in acidic medium after 3 months. White coir fibre lost strength significantly after 3 months in distilled water (pH=5.89) treatment. But both coir fibres do not lose strength significantly during 3 months time in alkaline medium or saline water. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis of selected treated coir fibres was carried out to investigate the effect on surface structure of fibres. This analysis explained the results of tensile strength tests between brown and white coir fibres and untreated and treated conditions.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Study of indigenous dye producing plants and their derivatives in textile dyeing
(3/28/2011) Gunaratne, KPN; Wijayapala, S; De Silva, NGH
With the discovery of synthetic dyes all colour industries, not only textile industry had turned to the more economical, reproducible, high colour fast and easy to use synthetic dyes and abandoned the natural dyeing tradition which had prevailed as the only colouring technology till then. But recently a revival in the natural dye in technology has occurred as solutions to the environmental pollution arising out of the wet processing of textiles as well as to the growing trend of dye toxicity and all ergie s to the textile consumers. Natural dyes provide not only a good alternative to the environmental pollution arising from synthetic dyes but also provide low toxicity and allergic reactions while giving unique and fascinating colours which are not achieve able from synthetic dyes. A thorough review to the historic background of the origin and progression of natural dyeing techniques in the world with specific concern to Sri Lanka was carried out .During this review a search was also made into the reasons for the erosion of this valuable tradition of natural dyeing. Through a survey of the natural dye producing plants world over, a list of indigenous dye producing plants in Sri Lanka was preparedand investigated the possibility of using one of these plant sources to develop a new natural dye based on its extraction. In selection of this plant source the major concern was given to the fact that it should be abundant as a waste material in Sri Lanka. Black tea, which is highly available as a waste (dust) from tea factories and domestic sources (brewed tea) were used to extract polyphenols, which are an abundant form of natural compounds in tea. These were used as the coupling component to produce a zocompounds by coupling with different diazonium salts. Both polyphenols and azo compounds were separated and solidified and thus obtained azo compounds had variable colour shades depending on their respective diazonium salts. The possibility of applying these azo compounds as in-situ azo dyes on 100% cotton and ready-madeinsoluble disperse azo dyes using HTHP conditions on 100% polyester, 100% nylonand 100% wool were investigated. Different azo compounds produced different colourshades on different fabric types as well as on the same fabric type. Optimisation of dye bath conditions to improve the take up of polyphenols by cotton using the in-situ application of azo dyes was also carried out. The colours produced on cotton were not very bright and showed moderate colour fastness to washing, good colour fastness to rubbing while the brilliant colours produced on polyester showed good to very good wash, rub and sublimation fastness, after reduction clearing. The colour depth and fastness on nylon and wool were better than those on polyester. The light fastness of all the azo dyed samples was poor and should be improved using suitable after treatments. The percentage yield of polyphenols for both used and unused black tealeaves and the percentage yield of different azo compounds obtained from unused black tea leaves were calculated. The study was basically carried out with the aim of investigating the traditional dyeing techniques and indigenous dye producing plant sources in Sri Lanka and to assess the possibility of using polyphenols from one of the selected plant resources. Tea, which is abundantly available as tea waste (dust) from factories and brewed tea leaves fromdomestic sources was selected as the natural source of dye or dye intermediate for textile dyeing.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Telescoping failures in industrial sewing machines
(3/28/2011) Amarasinghe, DAS; Wanigatunga, NL
The patterns of competitive advantage and hence the structure of exports and imports depend on stage of economic development of a country. The relatively advance countries lose competitive advantages in product groups intensive in unskilled labor and shift to products and processes, intensive in capital, skilled labor and innovation. Sri Lanka being a labour abundant country it is logical to demonstrate its competitive advantage in clothing manufacturing. However country is progressively losing the ultimate advantage they had on labor. Even by the mid 1990s labour cost in Sri Lanka were higher than in neighboring countries such as China, India Pakistan and Vietnam. In addition to increasing labour costs Sri Lankan apparel manufactures are to be' confronted with decreasing prices due to increasing competition and additional upward pressures are exerted on the manufacturers by high absenteeism and employee turnovers. Although high mechanization and better utilization of human resource are considered as counter moves to combat increasing manufacturing costs the former has limited practical value due to frequent style mix changes. The selection of personnel who are physically and mentally qualified for maximum quality and quantity performance is the initial step in establishing better human resource utilization system. This study investigates the possibility of using selected motor ability tests such as motor coordination, manual dexterity and finger dexterity as a tool of telescoping quality and quantity performance of one specific human resource in the apparel plant-the sewing machine operators. Randomly selected fifty sewing machine operator trainees were tested on performance criteria based on the four work samples and motor ability tests based on Canadian Force General Aptitude Test Battery. Among the three motor abilities finger dexterity showed the highest correlation with sewing efficiency and motor coordination showed the strongest correlation with quality of workmanship. The results of the study suggest that significant efficiency improvements and quality of workmanship gains can be achieved by using motor ability tests with right selection-ratios.
item: Thesis-Abstract
High fabric utilization through cutting room management
(3/28/2011) Jayawardena, NR; Wanigatunge, N
"High Fabric Utilization Through Cutting Room Management"One of the growing trends of customer service is to reduce the total operational cost that has to bear when supplying services or goods. As a customer service trade, the garment industry which is a high caliber expanding and fast growing fashionable Industry, is also looking for the reduction of production cost. Hence the fabric plays a vital role in the garment trade; it represents a high percentage of the garment cost. Therefore through getting high fabric utilization will provide a better customer service. The Cutting Room is the place that consumes the fabric to make a value addition as cut panels. Therefore a proper planning and carrying out of cutting room operation is a must to reduce the fabric consumption. Collecting data while working in a cutting room is the method used by me to find the best and effective cutting operational methods. The results benefit to the Cutting Managers and related people to get a decision in advance. Therefore this dissertation can be used as a Management tool in garment industry.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Physical properties of sewing threads and their performance in relation to seam construction
(3/25/2011) Geeganage, CRL; Dissanayake, DPD
Polyester spun sewing thread is commonly used in high-speed sewing machines in the garment manufacturing process. Recently core spun sewing threads produced with polyester filament core and polyester sheath fibres have been introduced to the local garment industry .Poly/ploy core spun thread is believed to give superior quality performance inseams. The spun polyester and core spun sewing threads are having different structures and as such, their properties will be significantly different. The behavior of these threads in different types of seams would provide an insight to the performance of core spun (poly/poly) and 100% polyester sewing threads. The results of this research project show that the core spun would give superior performance in seams and the thread consumption is less when the core spun thread is used.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Properties of core spun and spun polyester sewing threads and their performance in seams
(3/25/2011) Paranawidanage, K; Dissanayake, DPD
At present number of sewing threads of different varieties are available in the market and there is no single polyester based substrate. which satisfies the criteria of the complete sewing thread. The thread must be able to withstand ail of the stresses and strains applied to the thread during sewing and wear of the garment. Therefore selecting a proper thread to suite a particular fabric is very complex as it is important to minimize the sewing defects and improve the performance.// The core spun and spun polyester sewing threads are having different thread structures. which contribute to significant changes In their properties. Largely because of its low price and acceptable level of sewing performance, 100% spun polyester sewing thread is the dominant product in sales volume. But the results of the research show that the core spun thread possesses superior properties to those of the other threads. which would provide an answer to the major sewing problems frequently occurring in the apparel industry// The core spun threads considered in this project are of two types, which are cotton wrapped and polyester wrapped core spun threads. When the thread is cotton wrapped it has very good needle heat resistance and polyester wrapped thread is excellent in physical properties and sewing performance. The fibrous surface of the core spun thread reduces shirr, look and contributes to superior frictional characteristics.// In to days competitive market cost is an important factor. To reduce the thread cost of garments without sacrificing seam and sewing performance a better thread selection method is required. The findings of this research on the properties of core spun and spun polyester sewing threads and their performance in seam would provide an insight to many unresolved problems still facing the apparel industry
item: Thesis-Abstract
Use of coir fibre as a raw material for geotextiles
(3/25/2011) Nawarathna, NS; De Silva, N
Geotextiles are defined as 'permeable textile material used with foundation, soil, rock ,earth or any other Geo technical engineering related material, as an integral part of a man-made project, structure or system' where Geotextiles are used in the separation ,reinforcement, drainage and filtration. Geotextiles are of two main types, namely natural and synthetic. The more popular ones are made from polyester, polyamide ,polyethylene and polypropylene. The synthetics are preferred because of their high strength, extensibility and resistance to microorganisms when used in various applications usually in contact with soil particles. There is a rapid growth in the use of bio engineered soil erosion and sedimentation control designs especially in environmentally sensitive areas. Most of these designs incorporate coir products to provide the required initial structural stability until the establishment of sustainable vegetation. Design criteria in these designs assume a certain rate of degradation in the coir products. As a result, there is a growing concern about durability and strength retention in field applications of coir erosion control products. Coir, jute and coir-jute blends are natural geotextiles commonly used use in geo technical engineering applications. Natural geotextiles are totally biodegradable and provides excellent microclimate for plant establishment & growth, easy to install and economical

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