Web services support textile industry
The clothing and textile industry in Europe has been known for its high quality and style. However, the industry shift in recent years to Asia has prompted the EU to increase innovation and competitiveness. One EU-funded project in this direction was 'Research for a new generation of integrated innovation and knowledge management and development of appropriate Web-based training methods, tools, and best practice demonstrators' (WEB-Texpert). Researchers aimed to create a sophisticated online platform for textile small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to promote competitiveness in the field. It devised a business plan to support the industry and brought together SMEs in textiles and clothing from different parts of Europe. The WEB-Texpert consortium was composed of 12 members to run the project portal and was later opened to many other SMEs from outside the consortium. The project's primary aim was to develop Web services on the websites of industrial associations enabling training and learning for SMEs. This helped the SMEs understand the complete supply chain or life-cycle of the industry and streamline their products and services accordingly. It also allowed different SMEs to collaborate, creating much more innovative and sophisticated product offerings. After its establishment, the portal met with phenomenal success and provided innovative solutions for the European clothing and textile industry. The benefits were felt by all stakeholders, including industrial associations and the public. The project has also helped the industry discover new methods and techniques that enhance production, increase quality and improve competitiveness.
