Smart Textile Testing vs Conventional Textile Testing

Pain Points in Conventional Textile Testing

What are we facing in the textile testing lab every day?

The tests may not be transparent.

Buyers may not trust the suppliers.

So the products from suppliers need to be tested again and again,

causing waiting time, even though the quality may qualify for the first test.

Repeating tests cause longer cycling time.

The production of textiles may take 2 days only,

but factories need to wait for the test results for 3 days:

preparing the samples, cutting samples and writing test records, typing data……a lot of manual work and paperwork.

That causes longer production cycling time.

In the whole value chain, it may take about 15 days.

The Smart Textile Testing Application Scenarios

When you walk into your textile testing lab, all the test tasks are listed on the large screen on the wall, and each test can be clicked to check the current status.

The situation of each instrument is displayed, whether they are running well need to be calibrated, or to be fixed. Besides, licensed brand buyers, supply chain, and quality management can view the textile testing status and results in real-time on their mobile devices.

How about the Workflow of Smart Textile Testing?

 Next to the reception desk of the lab, there is a cutting machine. A fabric sample with a barcode label is scanned and to be identified, and then to be placed on the table.

The sample fabric will be cut according to the requested shape and the needed quantities automatically.

Samples get stuck on the sample clamp with an RFID chip, or sewed with a bar-code label. Then the sample can be scanned and identified by all test instruments and processes.

When the test operators receive a notice that samples are ready, they will take the samples and place them on the instruments.

Then instruments identify the sample ID and then set the requested test methods accordingly (of course some settings are done by test operators), after the sample is installed, the test starts and the operator leaves it alone, he can do other jobs, except for those with immediate results.

1 or 3 minutes before the test is finished,

the operator will receive a ring call, and then he will move to the textile testing machines and confirm the test result.

The textile test results, sample information, test conditions, instrument No. and operator’s ID ……every detail in the Original Record will be sent to the SmarTexLab system to be summarized as a report, and will be sent to the test applicants automatically.

Therefore, smart textile testing greatly shortens the entire testing process through digitized and intelligent technology, and the testing process is open to all stakeholders, testing is truly transparent, avoiding repeated testing and time wastage due to mistrust.

The efficient generation of electronic summarized test reports is even more significant for textile companies’ laboratories and third-party testing organizations, which reduced labor costs and achieved paperless work.

How the Internet of Things (IoT) functionality of textile testing instruments is realized?

Sensor Technology: Various sensors like temperature sensors, humidity sensors, tension sensors, etc., are integrated into textile testing instruments to measure physical, chemical, electronic, and other properties. Data acquisition from sensors is the basis for realizing the Internet of Things.

Data Acquisition and Processing: The data collected by the sensors is acquired in real-time or at regular intervals and initially processed using an embedded system or microcontroller. This includes steps such as data filtering, calibration, etc.

Communication modules: Integration of modules capable of communicating with the Internet, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa (long-range low-power radio frequency communication), etc. These modules enable textile test instruments to exchange data with cloud platforms or other devices.

Cloud Platform Connect: Connecting textile test instruments to a cloud platform provided by a cloud service company (e.g. AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc.) or a platform specifically designed for the IoT. Those Cloud platforms allow for centralized data management, remote monitoring, and control.

Remote monitoring and control: Through the Internet connection, users can remotely monitor the operating status, real-time data, and remote control of the test instruments. This improves equipment work efficiency and management efficiency.

Data Analysis and Intelligent Decision Making: Utilize data analysis tools on the cloud platform to perform in-depth analysis of textile test data and extract useful information. This can include predictive maintenance, quality control optimization, and more. In some cases, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques can also be utilized for intelligent decision-making.

Security: As it relates to the transmission and storage of data, ensuring the security of communications and data storage is critical. The use of encrypted communications, authentication, and other security measures is necessary.

Through these steps, textile testing instruments can be seamlessly integrated with the Internet to form an IoT ecosystem that enables real-time operating and monitoring, remote control, and data analysis & transmission to improve testing efficiency, reduce costs, and optimize production processes.

 How Does Smart Textile Testing Benefit Customers?

Faster obtain the test results: Textile testing instruments connected to the Internet can transmit test data in real time to a cloud platform or server for real-time data analysis and processing. Through cloud analysis, users can get more accurate and timely test results and analysis reports, as well as data visualization to help users better understand the test results.

Traceability and better quality control: Through the Internet connection, the textile testing instrument can support product traceability and quality control. The test data can be combined with the production data to realize the whole process of monitoring and tracing the product production process, to ensure that the product quality is in line with the standard requirements, and to quickly locate and solve quality problems.

Intelligent production and optimization: Integrating Internet-connected textile testing instruments with other production equipment and systems enables intelligent production and optimization. By monitoring and analyzing production data in real-time, the whole system enables automated control and optimization of the production process, improving production efficiency and product quality.

Faster support from the manufacturer: Through an Internet connection, the customers can achieve closer contact with test instrument manufacturers and get more personalized and professional service. Users can also access product information, technical support, and training resources through the Internet platform.