The RMG industry of Bangladesh is increasingly focusing on enhancing efficiency and improving productivity to become more competitive in the global market in the coming days, said Faruque Hassan, President of BGMEA.
He said, “Bangladesh’s apparel industry has immense potential for growth. We are making all-out endeavors to seize every opportunity that lies ahead where productivity enhancement is a key priority area as we are preparing for the next phase of development.”
BGMEA has established the Centre of Innovation, Efficiency and Occupation Safety and Health Improvement (OSH) at the BGMEA Complex that works on productivity improvements, Industrial Engineering, product development, industry 4.0, sustainability, lean manufacturing and Occupational Health & Safety. The NIPOSH initiative is the 1st stepping stone toward our Centre of Innovation, Efficiency and OSH, he added.
He came up with observations while addressing the closing ceremony of the NIPOSH (Network to Integrate Productivity and Occupational Safety and Health) as chief guest held at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka on October 17.
Ms. Winnie Estrup Petersen, Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh, attended the ceremony as the guest of honor while Prof. Dr. Muhammad Fazli Ilahi, Vice-chancellor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST); Professor Peter Hasle, University of Southern Denmark, Søren Albertsen, Sector Counsellor, Danish Embassy; Abdullah Hil Rakib, Director of BGMEA; Inamul Haq Khan (Bablu), Director of BGMEA; and S.M Khaled, Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Industrial Engineering were present as special guests.
The NIPOSH was initiated to enhance the productivity and efficiency of the RMG industry by integrating LEAN manufacturing and OSH. The project intends to develop a network of professionals in the RMG industry and create a culture of collective consciousness and build strong connectivity amongst the factories.
The project is funded by the Embassy of Denmark, Bangladesh. With the collaboration of the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA); jointly implemented By the Centre of Efficiency, innovation and OSH (BGMEA) and Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST).
A total of 25 factories were onboarded in this project. Every networking meeting was designed to train and motivate the participants through feedback and experience sharing about the implementation in their respective factories.
The network model is developed in such a way as to ensure a conducive learning environment for the factories and smooth and real-time knowledge and experience sharing.
A total of 10.87% efficiency improvements in intervention time in factories and OSH improves 19.83% in the intervention time in factories.
As the project has concluded, BGMEA will continue this work under a new name to support its member factories and continue the momentum.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan invited the audience to the Made in Bangladesh Week which will be organized by BGMEA on 12-18 November in Dhaka to promote Bangladesh and the RMG industry.