Implication of Defects Detection in Indian Apparel Industry for the Global Market:Emerging Challenges

The apparel industry in India has experienced a tremendous upward surge in exports as well as the domestic market. These trends have been the result of newer markers in the industrial manufacturing processes. Market watchers have analysed these changed circumstances and have come up with a number of observations. These signs indicate that there is scope for improving manifold the current status of Indian based apparel products in the world market. The researcher has closely studied the production process of units in northern India and found the singular gatekeeper to the attainment of optimum sales to be located within the manufacturing process undertaken. The world apparel markets have progressed to the idyll of zero defects. India and more particularly, northern Indian apparel manufacturers have been riding high on the benefits of comparatively cheaper labour and raw material availability. However, the past decade has seen an overwhelming increase in the number of rejections. Several manufactures have been severely hit as they have had to suffer losses because of undue investments made on speculative orders. The researcher has attempted to examine the plight of the apparel units in the perspective of the changed world scenario in apparel purchases. Piles of rejected products have driven manufacturing units to revisit and reconsider their policies, approach and process programmes. This paper looks at the various lacunae and issues that have been afflicting the Indian apparel industry. The reasons, the remedies and the future approach have been examined.