Industrial visit to Amul Macho Factory, Agarpara

On September 8th, 2023, the Department of Business Administration of The Bhawanipur Education Society College conducted an Industrial Visit to the Amul Macho factory situated in Agarpara, West Bengal. The final year students of the Business Administration department were taken for the Visit,

organised by Department Coordinator, Dr. Tridib Sengupta. Though it was officially an industrial visit, the true purpose was much deeper. Not only did we visit the factory but also learn about the functioning of the entire unit.

Amul Macho is a well-known producer of inner wear in India, and it currently holds the tenth position in the garment industry. They have two units in Agarpara where the men’s garments are made from scratch. It has gained immense expertise in the supplying and trading of gent’s undergarments, T-shirt, pants, etc. The unit has a capacity to produce approximately 24,000 units per day, with a direct employment of about 1000-1200 workers, inclusive of both male and female.

The Amul Macho products sold in the markets are made from scratch through inclusion of several processes consecutively that give out the finished product of the best quality.

A group consisting of 43 marketing students including a student- reporter and a student-photographer visited the site. The students accompanied by the class coordinator Prof. Jayjit Chakraborty started the trip at 10:50 a.m. and reached the site at around 12:50p.m. Students were provided refreshments on their way to the factory by the college. The office staff at the factory welcomed the group warmly and proceeded to present the workings of the factory and provide a guided tour to the students. Supervisor of each department briefed students about the various steps involved in the garment producing process.

The first process is known as Knitting, which involves creating fabric by interlocking yarns together using knitting machines. Different types of knitting techniques, such as circular knitting or flat knitting, can be used depending on the desired fabric structure. The process starts with selecting the appropriate yarn and setting up the knitting machine with the desired stitch pattern. The machine knits the yarns together to form the fabric. After knitting, the fabric goes through other processes like dyeing, printing, and garment construction.

The next step in the process is to dye the fabrics in required colours. After the Knitting process, the fabric is sent to a vendor, in bulk, for the Dyeing process. The dyed fabric then goes for a quality check. There is a separate testing laboratory in the factory where the colour quality, shrinkage of cloth, tear, stain, creases or defects are inspected manually to provide only the safest and best quality materials to the consumers. These fabrics are then sent to Cutting section. The factory uses cutting machines made by MORGAN and GERBER and CAD software for the fabrics to be cut to perfection.

The third step is the process of Assimilation and Stitching which involves bringing together various fabric pieces to create a finished garment. First, the fabric pieces are aligned and pinned together according to the garment pattern. Then, skilled workers use sewing machines or hand stitching techniques to stitch the pieces together, following specific stitching guidelines and seam allowances. This process ensures that the garment fits properly and maintains its shape. After stitching, additional steps like pressing, trimming excess threads, and adding finishing touches are carried out to give the garment a polished look. Additionally elastic bands are cut, designed, and attached to the garment of different sizes and qualities based on demand. It is an important step in transforming the fabric into a stylish and wearable garment.

In the final process, after the garments are stitched, they undergo a thorough inspection to check for any defects or inconsistencies in stitching, measurements, or overall appearance. Once the garments pass the inspection, the next step is logo printing. This involves applying the brand’s logo or any other designs onto the garments using techniques like screen printing, heat transfer, or embroidery. Finally, the garments are carefully folded, packed, and labelled according to the brand’s specifications. This process ensures that the garments are ready for distribution and display, maintaining the brand’s image and delivering a high-quality product to customers.

Student interaction with the staff from the various departments provided a holistic view of the factory. The visit was quite interactive and informative as they got to know about the various manufacturing processes that go on in garment production. It was an enthralling experience for the students as it will help them to get a foothold in the corporate world. A token of appreciation in the form of a Memento was presented to the Factory Manager of Amul Macho, Agarpara. Altogether, the visit to the Amul Macho factory was a remarkable experience.

Thus, ‘Industrial Visits’ are the most practical approach towards learning through interaction, working practices, etc. and give a perfect reality check to the students.