The International Apparel Federation (IAF) together with Spesa and Messe Frankfurt is hosting a panel discussion at the Texprocess Fair in Atlant, Georgia on May 2, 2016. Moderated by IAF's Matthijs Crietee, the theme of the discussion will be on ‘How technology is implemented across the globe increase productivity in the apparel industry,’ which will be a fixed item on IAF’s and Messe Frankfurt’s calendar. The concept is that IAF members from all continents join in the discussion around an apparel technology management oriented theme.

In the panel discussion, the organizers will explore the most promising technologies to improve productivity. They will discuss how in different parts of the world technology is being used to improve productivity and if this is all new technology, or sometimes simply a reuse of existing methods. And specifically, the panel will explore how far automation will have proceeded in 2020. Now that the organizers can see examples of the fashion industry returning to high cost locations, leading to trends such as reshoring or newshoring, they wonder how technology is enabling these trends.

The panelists will include: Dave Gardner (Spesa), John Stern (Methods Workshop), Han Bekke (MODINT), Stefanon Festa Marzotto (Sistema Moda Italia and FBS), Mike Fralix ([TC²]), Van Tucker (Nashville Fashion Alliance), Ed Gribbin (Alvanon), Murat Aydin (TCMA and Modega) and Geoff Willis (Trigon Select).