Fast Fashion Smart Sourcing

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Solution context

Hemicube has contracted with the customer to build an on-demand supply chain system that leverages next generation technologies to cover the entire supply chain process. This solution streamlines the customer’s production process, allowing them to sell what currently takes three years down to one year by reducing the supply chain process time from 16 weeks to 2 weeks. As a result, the customer needs fewer internal resources to manage their supply chain process, resulting in a lower need for internal headcount. This solution uses a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), mathematical models (custom algorithms), and the creation of a web application.

Supply chain viewpoint

The solution, from a supply chain management viewpoint, was implemented according to the following actions:

  • ●  Modeling the Global process

  • ●  Breakdown into sub-processes

  • ●  Study and optimization of each sub-process

  • ●  Development of contingency plans

    We proposed to subdivide the process into five sub-processes and study them separately:

Modeling of the Global Process: This is the presentation of the end-to-end process in order to have an overview of the flow and sequence of operations within the organization. This view will allow us to identify the main elements and stakeholders required for the desired (optimal) operation.

  • ○  Breakdown into sub-processes: This breakdown will make it possible to focus, in its own right, on each sub-process. The idea is to approach each sub-process, both as a whole and as part of the Global process.

  • ○  Study and optimization of each sub-process: The objective is to go into the details of each phase, identify the inputs and outputs, then propose optimizations specific to the sub-processes and / or which concern the overall process.

  • ○  Development of contingency plans: previous studies will certainly be based on current situations and / or hypotheses of probable scenarios. Suddenly, the development of contingency plans will identify the characteristics of our organization, its limitations and especially the factors to which the decision is sensitive. This will increase the resilience of the Supply Chain model adopted.

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Technical viewpoint

  1. We offer a three-part solution:

    • ●  Web portal: A platform that allows you to place orders and follow the progress of orders in progress.

    • ●  A network of connected sensors for the control of the production line, the real-time capture of the inventory and the immediate detection of faults.

    • ●  A control system that receives new orders, plans capacities, and controls the flow of operations.

      The portal provides basic functionality to view and track the various orders as well as to place a new order. It has a 2D / 3D editor to make changes to the various design models to order, this is done through the development of matrix transformation operators. The editor must associate the various parts of a design with integrity constraints in order to frame the modifications made by the principal.

To achieve this, we suggested setting up a rule language to specify these constraints and an interpreter that checks them on each modification. We proposed to study the different stages that take part in the production process to specify the right sensors to use. We offered sensors based on object presence / absence, size, weight, temperature, and even smart cameras for fault recognition. The solution also allows the customer to ensure the compliance of its processes and those of its subcontractors with the laws in force (employment of minors, number of hours of work, etc.)

All of the sensors are connected to a control center, which allows monitoring of the progress of operations and connection with the web portal.