Smart Fashion Manufacturing: Semiconductor-Enabled Supply Chains and High-Volume Validation for Apparel

Abstract

The apparel industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation as digital technologies reshape production, validation, and supply chain operations. This study investigates the integration of semiconductor-enabled supply chains and high-volume validation within smart fashion manufacturing frameworks. Using a mixed-method approach that combined surveys, experimental trials, and case analyses, the research assessed variables across four dimensions: digital manufacturing, semiconductor-driven supply chains, large-scale validation mechanisms, and sustainability performance. The findings reveal that higher levels of automation are strongly correlated with advanced digital capabilities such as IoT, AI, and digital twins. Semiconductor-enabled systems significantly enhanced supply chain transparency, reduced lead-time variability, and improved supplier collaboration. High-volume validation processes benefited from substantial gains in defect detection accuracy, cycle time efficiency, and standardization success, ensuring consistent quality across production batches. Additionally, smart systems demonstrated superior sustainability outcomes, including reduced energy and water use, lower carbon emissions, and greater lifecycle traceability. These results underscore that semiconductor-enabled smart manufacturing is not only a technological advancement but also a strategic pathway toward efficiency, resilience, and environmental responsibility in the apparel sector.