An Assessment of Computer Aided Design Adoption in Apparel Production Among Small and Medium Scale Apparel Manufacturers in Kisumu City, Kenya

The large scale apparel industry can acquire the latest equipment as well as computer software such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to maintain a competitive edge in production. The integration of CAD technology in the apparel production and marketing chain has been explored and emphasized in the large scale industries. The adoption of CAD in production processes in apparel firms was, therefore, crucial if the apparel industry within Kisumu City was to remain competitive in the global market. However, the small and medium scale (SMEs) apparel manufacturers in Kisumu City still employed manual methods of production instead of automation, with no emphasis on upgrading their production methods. The purpose of the study was to assess the proportion of CAD adoption in apparel production among small and medium scale apparel manufacturers in Kisumu city. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the proportion of CAD adoption in apparel production, determine the patterns of CAD use and explore factors influencing the adoption of CAD in apparel production among SME apparel manufacturers in Kisumu city. The study has significantly contributed to the development of knowledge on CAD use and curriculum development on apparel skills training for SMEs within Kisumu city. The study used concepts of Systems theory Betalanffy (1968), which explains that the skills and techniques employed in a production process have an impact on the quantity and quality of apparel products. It was limited to SME apparel manufacturers. On secondary data, a systematic approach was taken to identify published and unpublished literature on the adoption of CAD use. The research used a descriptive survey research design. The study was within Kisumu City. The study population was SME apparel manufacturers. The target population was 293 manufacturers. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample size of 117 respondents which represented 40% of the target population. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and observations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data and presented in frequencies, means, and percentages. Qualitative data were transcribed, organized into themes, and finally reported. The characteristics of the respondents indicated 59% of employees were female, form 4 leavers or below were 85%. A total of 59.1% acquired skills training on the job, and did not hold any certificate on skills training. They employed the use of basic machines for production and lacked specialty among the products. The study established that 80% did not involve the use of CAD. The average level of output for those who used CAD was 93%. On patterns of CAD use, CAD in design was the most popular (35%). The findings further revealed that the level of education and skills acquisition processes influenced production methods and the quality of products. The study concluded that the majority of the respondents had limited capital investment, a low level of education, and obtained their skills on the job. The SMEs were capable of coping with the new trends of technology. The findings also suggested that skills and skills formation were an indispensable part of production. The study provided information which could be of use to strengthen manufacturing in the SME apparel sub-sector and among similar enterprises in Kenya. The study recommends the sensitization of CAD use, CAD training and enforcement of policies within the apparel sector. The research suggests a comparative study to establish if skills influence levels of production.