Transforming Apparel Manufacturing with Cloud SaaS: A Blueprint for Legacy System Modernization

Abstract

The Cloud SaaS implementation of digital transformation of the apparel manufacturing industry offers a strategic avenue for modernizing the legacy system. This article reports the replacement of an AS/400-based shopfloor management system by a contemporary cloud system in one of the North American garment factories. The hybrid modernization framework did not jeopardize the useful legacy business logic but added cloud-native features using the APIs, middleware, and gradual migration. The integration with the enterprise systems and real-time analytics occurred with Microsoft Azure infrastructure, SEQUEL views, and RFID tracking. The change brought significant gains in production throughput, quality, inventory management, and speed of decision-making. The satisfaction of the workers grew because the administrative overhead was reduced, and the financial evaluation showed impressive returns on an investment at a shorter payback period than the conventional ones. The example offers a subsequent example of digital transformation to be adopted in manufacturing premises that rely on legacy systems.