Industry leaders discussed how productivity gains could revolutionise India’s apparel industry in a session at the recently concluded Bharat Tex 2025, which was curated by Rajesh Bheda Consulting (RBC). According to RBC, these improvements could unlock US $ 7.8 billion in value and create production capacity equivalent to 1,350 new factories—all without the need for additional infrastructure investments.
Improving productivity is essential if India wants to boost its market share and make the garment sector more competitive. The industry can only increase its profitability while making investments in people and the environment in this way. Developing a productive mindset will aid in the effort to eliminate waste and increase resource efficiency throughout all procedures, said Dr. Rajesh Bheda, Managing Director of Rajesh Bheda Consulting (RBC), who also stressed that all of these can help achieve business outcomes and advance SDG aims.
Dr. Bheda provided compelling data, stating that the Indian garment sector needs to increase productivity by 15 per cent in order to unleash the US $ 7.8 billion productivity opportunity that is currently untapped. This might generate extra manufacturing capacity equal to 1350 factories that export clothing.
The experts at the session agreed on the points regarding productivity and gave their own viewpoints on the same.
Gokaldas Exports’ MD Siva Ganapathi underlined that half the battle for productivity is won if you hire the appropriate people and train them well. The production floor suffers from a lack of qualified personnel or inadequate training. 1.8 workers per machine must be replaced, if at all possible, by two machines per worker. He emphasised the significance of choosing relevant KPIs for the entire company.
The productivity of human resources becomes the key differentiator in firm-level competitiveness in an industry where technology and raw materials are priced according to international standards.
Suchira Surendranath, Director of Brandix India, discussed cross-country efficiency variations. Depending on the market catered to and the product specialisation, the efficiency gap can range from 3 per cent to 5 per cent. He stated that Brandix benefited greatly from RBC’s 3G Tailor Training System in terms of skills training. To date, more than 100,000 people have received training.
Digital transformations were discussed next, with the productivity directly tied to the digital aspects of an organisation.
Pallab Banerjee, MD of Pearl Global emphasised the company’s recent digital transformation, highlighting that although productivity in the company’s Indian operations has increased over the past two years, it is still less than that of its factories in Bangladesh. He underlined the usefulness of multiskilling in the production of value-added, small-quantity goods.
Sourcing Strategist Deepika Diwan offered the viewpoint of the buyer, saying that a few basic adjustments, such as better processes, layouts, and movements, can result in a 10–15 per cent increase in production in just three to six months. A lot of consumers search for reliable vendors who supply goods on schedule, with the proper quality, are creative, and incorporate sustainability.
Elango Viswanathan, CEO, SNQS International reaffirmed the main point, stating that profit is generated within the factory rather than outside. Profitability and productivity must be linked, and this requires the appropriate training. Maintaining the workforce is difficult. He went on to say that he would like to ask the Indian government to provide MSME with financial assistance for initiatives that promote manufacturing excellence, technological advancement, and migrant worker housing infrastructure.
