#Software

2020-10-01

Coats Digital launches GSDCostV5 with fair wage tool and digital feedback loop

Coats Digital, the software business of Coats, the world’s leading industrial thread company, has launched GSDCostV5, the latest, highly intuitive, browser-based version of the only globally recognised, time-cost manufacturing standard for apparel brands and manufacturers.

Gary Thompson, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships and Alliances, Coats Digital commented, “As our industry begins to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, businesses face unprecedented demand volatility and cost pressure, while consumers are increasingly holding brands to account over sustainability. Responding to these challenges will require greater levels of collaboration between brands and manufacturers, more accurate and transparent costings with a fair allowance for a living wage, and optimised manufacturing methods and costs. I am delighted that the launch of GSDCostV5 will play a key role in helping to support brands and manufacturers address these challenges, while also driving sustainable cost-efficiency and speed to market.”

The stand-out enhanced feature of GSDCostV5, is the introduction of a globalised fair wage tool, which combines the international standard time for any given style, with detailed factory efficiencies, contracted hours and the fair living wage for the country. This allows brands and retailers to quickly agree the fair living wage allowance for any given garment, in any factory in the world. The GSDCostV5 fair wage tool brings a new level of visibility and transparency to market-leading brands and manufacturers in discussions on time, cost and compliance. This supports and demonstrates a commitment to fair, sustainable wages and the ethical treatment of garment workers around the world.

GSDCostV5 launches with a native integration into the Res.Q shop floor suite of solutions providing a real-time, digital feedback loop of actual versus standard minute value at the operation level, highlighting variances and opportunities for proactive, continuous improvement. Further integrations with Res.Q will leverage the power of digitised machine inventory and line planning. This will provide the basis for a new level of line balancing, method optimisation and faster, more detailed and accurate capacity planning.

GSDCostV5 supports a more collaborative, transparent, efficient and sustainable apparel supply chain, taking time-cost benchmarking, costing optimisation and method improvement to a new level. By doing this, it places people and fair wages at the heart of the recovery from the global pandemic.

For more than 40 years, GSDCost (previously GSD) has been used by brands and manufacturers to establish and optimise time-cost benchmarks for garment costing and manufacturing excellence. Recognised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and trusted by more than 5,000 customers in 65 countries, GSDCost is proven to optimise costs, increase productivity and speed to market.

GSDCostV5 builds on this market-leading heritage, leveraging the latest software architecture to deliver a highly intuitive SaaS solution, hosted in Microsoft Azure. It is easily integrated with other applications and provides customers of all sizes with fast access from any location to a high performance, cost effective and scalable solution, with no requirement for IT expertise or infrastructure.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Coats Digital appoints Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead next phase of cloud and AI-driven innovation

Coats Digital is delighted to announce the appointment of Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead the company’s strategic direction, innovation agenda, and global growth as it accelerates the development of its cloud-native, AI-powered software solutions for the global apparel and footwear supply chain.

Tunicotex Group boosts OTDP to 85%, cuts planning time by 25% & expands production capacity by 40%

Coats Digital is delighted to announce that following the implementation of FastReactPlan, leading Tunisian premium knitwear manufacturer, Tunicotex Group, has significantly improved its on-time delivery performance from 75% to 85%, reduced planning time by 25%, minimised delays and penalty costs, and unlocked 40% additional capacity to take on more customer orders and support sustained business growth.

Suzhou Tianyuan boosts costing accuracy to 98% with Coats Digital’s GSDCost

Coats Digital is delighted to announce that Suzhou Tianyuan Garments Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of high-quality sportswear and functional apparel for global brands such as Adidas, FILA, ANTA, and The North Face, has achieved remarkable productivity and cost management improvements following the implementation of Coats Digital’s award-winning method-time-cost optimisation solution, GSDCost.

New spinning package with two-step filtration for recycled yarns and more

At the ITM in Istanbul, BB Engineering unveiled its new, patented ValuePack spinning package for the first time, which features a two-stage filtration system. This is particularly beneficial for re-cycling processes. Until now, spinning packs have used either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both options are suitable for differ-ent applications, and each has its own specific advantages and dis-advantages.

ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

In line with the theme "Co-creating the future of textiles", ITMA continues to strengthen its support for start-ups, recognising their role in driving innovation and shaping the future of textile and garment manufacturing. Through the Start-Up Valley, emerging companies gain access to a global marketplace where they can connect with industry leaders, potential partners, investors and customers.

Mongolia: Workshop on Italian textile technologies kicks off in Ulaanbaatar

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies will kick off in Ulaanbaatar from 21 to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.