Manufacturing is an important pillar of national prosperity and an important support for building strategic advantages for future development.
Standing at a new starting point in the first year of the “15th Five-Year Plan”, let us pay attention to the development of China’s sewing machinery industry.
As a key component of the light manufacturing industry, the sewing machinery industry is an important support for the digital upgrading of downstream textile and apparel, automotive interiors, home furnishing and other fields. It is also a typical representative of my country’s high-end equipment manufacturing industry.
During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, the quality and quality of my country’s sewing machinery industry have improved.
Yang Xiaojing, chairman of the China Sewing Machinery Association, accepted a relevant interview and revealed the secrets of industry development for us.
First, let’s learn about the sewing machinery industry.
It is an important branch industry in my country’s light industry. Its main products are divided into two categories: household sewing equipment and industrial sewing equipment.
Household sewing equipment was formerly known as the Heitou household sewing machine in “Three Turns and One Ring”. From the founding of the People’s Republic of China to the beginning of reform and opening up, it has guaranteed the clothing needs of thousands of Chinese families.
Now, it has evolved into multi-functional household sewing machines, all-in-one sewing and embroidery machines and many other new products, which not only meet daily sewing needs, but also carry the culture of fashionable and personalized sewing art.
Industrial sewing equipment covers the equipment and software and hardware systems required for the entire production process before, during and after sewing. It is the core key equipment that supports daily production and intelligent upgrades of many manufacturing industry chains.
It is estimated that more than 70 million workers around the world operate various types of sewing equipment for production every day. Meeting the consumer needs of billions of people around the world for clothing, housing, transportation, and supplies are all closely related to sewing machinery.
So, in what aspects does China’s sewing machinery industry lead the world?
During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, China’s sewing machinery industry accelerated the construction of a new industrial system and achieved a leap from “scale leadership” to “digital intelligence leadership”.
First, the industrial scale has grown steadily and its manufacturing capabilities have led the world.
China’s sewing equipment production has accounted for more than 87% of the world’s share, and CNC equipment accounts for more than 90%, ending the history of overcapacity in low-end and mid-end production and insufficient production capacity in mid-end and high-end.
Product quality has been greatly improved, reaching the world’s advanced level, with some indicators surpassing international brands, and global sewing machinery production capacity achieving in-depth collaboration.
Many companies have won the title of “Little Giant” for specialization and innovation and the title of individual manufacturing champion. Future factories, smart factories, etc. are constantly emerging.
Second, innovation drives the world and the industrial ecology is increasingly improving.
Innovation drive has become the main driving force for the sustained growth of the entire industry.
During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, the total number of industry patent applications exceeded 36,000, and substantial breakthroughs were made in the independence of core technologies.
Industry scientific research investment accounts for an average of 5.43% of revenue, which is higher than the national manufacturing R&D investment intensity.
The popularization of smart sewing complete solutions such as smart workshops and digital factories is accelerating, and the transformation from production-oriented manufacturing to service-oriented manufacturing is accelerating.
‘Development and application verification of autonomous sewing robots’ has been included in the national key research and development plan tasks.
Third, the industrial structure continues to be optimized and the market structure is accelerated.
The product structure adjustment has achieved remarkable results, promoting the digital transformation of the industry, improving international competitiveness and expanding revenue scale.
Intelligent sewing equipment has grown rapidly and has been upgraded to mid- to high-end, becoming an important support for the high-quality development of the industry.
The industry’s export volume has increased significantly, the market covers nearly 200 countries and regions, and the export structure continues to be optimized and upgraded.
In recent years, scientific research and innovation in the industry have continued to deepen, industrial scenarios have expanded to new markets, and China’s core position in the global sewing machinery industry has become increasingly solid.
For the development of the industry during the “15th Five-Year Plan”, the association has given quantitative goals, including high-end sewing equipment accounting for 50% of the total products and service-oriented manufacturing revenue accounting for more than 30%.
The basis for formulating these goals is the profound heritage accumulated by the industry over decades of development and the determination and confidence of the enterprise.
The “Guiding Opinions on High-Quality Development of China’s Sewing Machinery Industry during the ’15th Five-Year Plan'” provides clear action guidelines for industry development.
The association will strengthen overall coordination and promotion, strengthen innovation leadership and incentives, and strive for policy support. Enterprises will also make their own plans to jointly promote the realization of goals.
In terms of artificial intelligence applications, China’s sewing machinery industry actively responds to the “artificial intelligence +” action.
At present, “artificial intelligence + sewing equipment” continues to emerge and be put into mass production, and national key research and development plan projects have also made phased progress.
In the next five years, the industry will follow the guidance and focus on core needs, deeply apply and integrate new generation information intelligence technology, improve the independent controllability of key technologies and industrial chains, promote the upgrade of single-machine intelligence to system-level intelligence, and make “artificial intelligence + sewing equipment” an important starting point for the industry to build a modern industry and achieve global technology leadership.
